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Theresa May urged to adopt Labour-style approach to Brexit - politics live Theresa May urged to adopt Labour-style approach to Brexit - politics live
(35 minutes later)
10.10am BST
10:10
Lisa O'Carroll
The former Irish taoiseach and former EU ambassador John Bruton told a gathering at the Irish embassy last night that he believed the EU divorce bill was designed to tease out Britain’s financial red lines before they get down to substantive talks.
The one thing the UK has is money – if it puts out its card on money, it has no other negotiating [position].
The German chancellor, Angela Merkel, put the EU on a potential collision course with Theresa May earlier this year by insisting it made “no sense” to negotiate a future UK-EU relationship without first reaching agreement on the UK’s financial commitment to the EU.The bill has been estimated at anything between £50bn and £85bn.
Speaking after giving the Henry Grattan speech at the Irish embassy on Monday, Bruton also told the audience that he had been told that Boris Johnson was being obstructive for no reason in day to day relations with the EU.
“I think the UK is being obstructive .... a lot of this is in private so there is no electoral gain for Boris Johnson or anybody else,” he said. He said he thought the attitude had to change because “failure in this negotiation is going to be very damaging for everyone.”
10.05am BST
10:05
Heather Stewart
Listening to Michael Gove talking about a collaborative approach to Brexit on Today this morning I was reminded that in his original Vote Leave victory speech on the morning after the referendum result was declared in 2015, he called for representatives of “different political traditions” to be involved in shaping what he called Britain’s “gradual divergence” from the rest of the EU.
“It’s important that representatives from every part of the United Kingdom, every community, every religion and different political traditions are involved in shaping our future, and we should draw on wisdom from great minds outside politics”, he said at the time.
Many of Theresa May’s colleagues complained over the ensuing year that she wasn’t terribly good at drawing on wisdom from within her own cabinet, let alone outside politics. Perhaps the new parliamentary arithmetic will force her into adopting something more like the approach her old rival Gove favoured at the outset?
9.48am BST
09:48
Gove says government must proceed with 'maximum possible consensus' on Brexit
Here is the key quote from Michael Gove’s interview on the Today programme earlier. Gove, the new environment secretary and one of the leaders of the Vote Leave campaign, said the government should proceed with the “maximum possible consensus’” on Brexit.
It’s also the case that we need to recognise that we as Conservatives were not returned with a majority. And that means we need to proceed with the maximum possible consensus and we also need to ensure that the concerns of people who voted remain - many of whom now actually want us to press ahead with leaving the European union as quickly and in as orderly fashion as possible - we need to make sure that their concerns are part of our conversation.
9.39am BST
09:39
SNP shelves fundraising for second independence referendum campaign
Severin Carrell
The Scottish National party has withdrawn a £1m fundraising appeal to help fight a second Scottish independence referendum, the Herald has reported, after its heavy election defeats on Friday.
The SNP launched the ref.scot campaign when Nicola Sturgeon, the first minister and SNP leader, launched her quest for a second independence vote by spring 2019. That goal has now been dropped, and Sturgeon admitted on Friday she had to re-evaluate her referendum strategy after the loss of 21 SNP seats in the general election.
The SNP’s remaining 35 MPs have to elect a new Westminster leader after Angus Robertson, who previously held the role, lost his Moray seat to the Tories.
With that vote taking place tomorrow, four MPs have put their names forward: Drew Hendry, the former leader of Highland council; Ian Blackford, a former SNP party treasurer; Joanna Cherry QC, an advocate; and Tommy Sheppard, a former comedy club director and previously deputy leader of Hackney council’s Labour group.
Robertson remains the SNP’s deputy leader despite losing his seat. The party’s rules only require the deputy leader to be an party member.
The disappearance of the fundraising appeal, which had raised £482,000 with 10 days of its 100-day operation still to go, was first spotted by the Times reporter Daniel Sanderson on Friday morning.
Interesting - the SNP appears to have ditched its crowdfunder from its indyref2 website. First screengrab from May 13. #ge2017 pic.twitter.com/2xBKbUH6GY
The Herald reports today that the SNP confirmed the appeal had been taken down, although the campaign website remained online. “Our fundraising efforts were focused on the general election,” a spokesman said.
Updated
at 9.56am BST
9.37am BST
09:37
Inflation up to 2.9%, a four-year high
Inflation has gone up to 2.9%, a four-year high.
That increase is higher than expected, and bad news for living standards, obviously.
My colleague Graeme Wearden has more on his business live blog.
9.32am BST9.32am BST
09:3209:32
The BBC’s Norman Smith is in Downing Street for the cabinet meeting. And he is following the rule that you can never go wrong with a cat pic on Twitter.The BBC’s Norman Smith is in Downing Street for the cabinet meeting. And he is following the rule that you can never go wrong with a cat pic on Twitter.
Morning folks. Those cabinet meetings are just so dull. Brexit.. blah blah.. Brexit blah... #LazontheLoose pic.twitter.com/smhpbqy3jBMorning folks. Those cabinet meetings are just so dull. Brexit.. blah blah.. Brexit blah... #LazontheLoose pic.twitter.com/smhpbqy3jB
9.25am BST9.25am BST
09:2509:25
The cabinet is meeting this morning. There was a meeting of the political cabinet yesterday, but this is the first meeting of the new cabinet devoted to government business. It is due to start at 9.30am.The cabinet is meeting this morning. There was a meeting of the political cabinet yesterday, but this is the first meeting of the new cabinet devoted to government business. It is due to start at 9.30am.
9.08am BST9.08am BST
09:0809:08
Hague urges May to adopt Labour-style approach to Brexit and to set up cross-party commissionHague urges May to adopt Labour-style approach to Brexit and to set up cross-party commission
In his interviews this morning Michael Gove, the new environment secretary and one of the leaders of the Vote Leave campaign, stressed the importance of achieving a consensus on Brexit (see 8.12am) - although he said almost nothing about what this might mean in practice.In his interviews this morning Michael Gove, the new environment secretary and one of the leaders of the Vote Leave campaign, stressed the importance of achieving a consensus on Brexit (see 8.12am) - although he said almost nothing about what this might mean in practice.
For a much clearer idea of what this might mean, do read William Hague’s column in the Daily Telegraph today (paywall). Hague is a former Tory leader and a former foreign secretary. He backed remain in the EU referendum, but he won the Tory leadership in 1997 because he was seen as a Eurosceptic and he probably has more clout with hardline Tory leavers than many of his remain colleagues.For a much clearer idea of what this might mean, do read William Hague’s column in the Daily Telegraph today (paywall). Hague is a former Tory leader and a former foreign secretary. He backed remain in the EU referendum, but he won the Tory leadership in 1997 because he was seen as a Eurosceptic and he probably has more clout with hardline Tory leavers than many of his remain colleagues.
Essentially Hague is backing calls for a cross-party commission to take charge of Brexit. This is an idea also being pushed by, among others, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister (here), and Yvette Cooper, the senior Labour MP (here, in the Guardian).Essentially Hague is backing calls for a cross-party commission to take charge of Brexit. This is an idea also being pushed by, among others, Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister (here), and Yvette Cooper, the senior Labour MP (here, in the Guardian).
But the Hague argument is quite detailed. Here are the main points.But the Hague argument is quite detailed. Here are the main points.
Hague says Theresa May needs to change and adopt a new approach because a minimalist approach to Brexit is risky. Hague says Theresa May needs to adopt a new approach to Brexit because a minimalist one is risky.
In the worst-case scenario, we end up with a poor Brexit deal rejected in parliament but with no alternative available, presided over by ministers suffering mounting public and business dissatisfaction, leading to the election of a Labour government led, in effect, by Marxists.In the worst-case scenario, we end up with a poor Brexit deal rejected in parliament but with no alternative available, presided over by ministers suffering mounting public and business dissatisfaction, leading to the election of a Labour government led, in effect, by Marxists.
Faced with such dangers, sitting tight is not an option. Napoleon’s maxim that “the side that stays within its fortifications is beaten” applies fully to this situation. Breaking out of these problems will require a change both of style and substance, treating last week’s terrible outcome as an opportunity and a duty to tackle intractable issues in new ways.Faced with such dangers, sitting tight is not an option. Napoleon’s maxim that “the side that stays within its fortifications is beaten” applies fully to this situation. Breaking out of these problems will require a change both of style and substance, treating last week’s terrible outcome as an opportunity and a duty to tackle intractable issues in new ways.
He says May should the economy, not controlling immigration, the priority in the Brexit talks. He says May should make the economy, not controlling immigration, the priority in the Brexit talks.
Change the emphasis given to the UK’s objectives, with a clear indication that economic growth will have priority over controlling the number of people entering the country for work. This would show a readiness to accommodate the views of Scottish Conservatives, business organisations and, to some degree, opposition parties, within certain parameters.Change the emphasis given to the UK’s objectives, with a clear indication that economic growth will have priority over controlling the number of people entering the country for work. This would show a readiness to accommodate the views of Scottish Conservatives, business organisations and, to some degree, opposition parties, within certain parameters.
Hague does not put it like this, but essentially he is urging May to adopt a Labour-style approach to Brexit. Labour’s Brexit policy is in some respects ambiguous, and in many respects very similar to the government’s, but one key difference is that the party says the economy, not curbing immigration, must come first. It is calling for a “jobs-first Brexit”, a phrase Jeremy Corbyn used three times when he appeared on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.Hague does not put it like this, but essentially he is urging May to adopt a Labour-style approach to Brexit. Labour’s Brexit policy is in some respects ambiguous, and in many respects very similar to the government’s, but one key difference is that the party says the economy, not curbing immigration, must come first. It is calling for a “jobs-first Brexit”, a phrase Jeremy Corbyn used three times when he appeared on the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday.
Hague suggests that that UK should stay in the European Economic Area (ie, adopt the Norway option) for two years after Brexit, as part of the transition.Hague suggests that that UK should stay in the European Economic Area (ie, adopt the Norway option) for two years after Brexit, as part of the transition.
He suggests the UK should grant free movement to EU citizens after Brexit if they have a job. This would be just one stop short of full free movement, he says. He suggests the UK should grant free movement to EU citizens after Brexit if they have a job. This would be one stop short of full free movement, he says.
We can negotiate the “bold and ambitious free trade agreement” that the British people would like to see if we take a pragmatic approach to how we use the control we will have won back.We can negotiate the “bold and ambitious free trade agreement” that the British people would like to see if we take a pragmatic approach to how we use the control we will have won back.
There are various ways of doing this. One of them – put forward in this column before – is to bring in work permits for workers from the EU but agree to grant them to anyone who gets a job in Britain, unless they have a criminal record, or extremist connections. They would not receive any support if out of work, and the same rights would have to apply to British citizens throughout the EU. This approach, just one significant step short of free movement, would set the stage for a promising trade negotiation, and avoid damaging our own industries relying on European workers, from banking to fruit picking.There are various ways of doing this. One of them – put forward in this column before – is to bring in work permits for workers from the EU but agree to grant them to anyone who gets a job in Britain, unless they have a criminal record, or extremist connections. They would not receive any support if out of work, and the same rights would have to apply to British citizens throughout the EU. This approach, just one significant step short of free movement, would set the stage for a promising trade negotiation, and avoid damaging our own industries relying on European workers, from banking to fruit picking.
He calls for a cross-party commission to help decide who the government implements Brexit.He calls for a cross-party commission to help decide who the government implements Brexit.
Call in the CBI, the Institute of Directors, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the TUC, the first ministers of the devolved governments, and the leaders of all the opposition parties – yes, even Corbyn – leading MPs of all parties, and say: “If you are willing to discuss how to make this work within these parameters, come in and we will be open to your views. There isn’t a perfect solution, but on how to conduct a transitional period and how to help the economy through Brexit as a priority we will work with you. Otherwise, we will just have to try to do this without you.”Call in the CBI, the Institute of Directors, the British Chambers of Commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, the TUC, the first ministers of the devolved governments, and the leaders of all the opposition parties – yes, even Corbyn – leading MPs of all parties, and say: “If you are willing to discuss how to make this work within these parameters, come in and we will be open to your views. There isn’t a perfect solution, but on how to conduct a transitional period and how to help the economy through Brexit as a priority we will work with you. Otherwise, we will just have to try to do this without you.”
Hague admits that getting consensus would be difficult. But he says that, even if the government fails to obtain agreement, it will get credit for changing “both the style and the substance” of its approach.Hague admits that getting consensus would be difficult. But he says that, even if the government fails to obtain agreement, it will get credit for changing “both the style and the substance” of its approach.
Updated
at 9.52am BST
8.26am BST8.26am BST
08:2608:26
Q: Will you guarantee that farmers will keep the funding they get from EU subsidies to the end of this parliament, to 2022?Q: Will you guarantee that farmers will keep the funding they get from EU subsidies to the end of this parliament, to 2022?
Yes, says Gove. He says that was a manifesto commitment.Yes, says Gove. He says that was a manifesto commitment.
Q: Will farmers still be able to hire foreign workers?Q: Will farmers still be able to hire foreign workers?
Gove says he wants to listen to what the farming sector says about this.Gove says he wants to listen to what the farming sector says about this.
Q: You have generally voted against measures to combat climate change?Q: You have generally voted against measures to combat climate change?
Gove says that is a misrepresentation.Gove says that is a misrepresentation.
Mishal Husain cites two examples of votes.Mishal Husain cites two examples of votes.
Gove says he was a member of a government and voted with the party whip.Gove says he was a member of a government and voted with the party whip.
He says before he became a minister he did argue for measures to combat climate change.He says before he became a minister he did argue for measures to combat climate change.
He says that in the Times he wrote in favour of Roger Harrabin, the BBC’s environment analyst, praising his work in raising awareness about climate change.He says that in the Times he wrote in favour of Roger Harrabin, the BBC’s environment analyst, praising his work in raising awareness about climate change.
Q: How did it feel to be called back by Theresa May less than a year after she sacked you?Q: How did it feel to be called back by Theresa May less than a year after she sacked you?
Gove says he is a “great fan” of May. He says as home secretary she did a lot to tackle Islamist extremism.Gove says he is a “great fan” of May. He says as home secretary she did a lot to tackle Islamist extremism.
Q: You accused May of “failing to drain the swamp” in relation to extremism.Q: You accused May of “failing to drain the swamp” in relation to extremism.
No I didn’t, says Gove.No I didn’t, says Gove.
Q: That is what you briefed the Times.Q: That is what you briefed the Times.
Gove says that is a mischaracterisation.Gove says that is a mischaracterisation.
He praises May for tacking the factors that encourage extremism, the “upstream” issues.He praises May for tacking the factors that encourage extremism, the “upstream” issues.
And that’s it.And that’s it.
I will post a summary of all the Gove interviews soon.I will post a summary of all the Gove interviews soon.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.36am BSTat 8.36am BST
8.19am BST8.19am BST
08:1908:19
Q: The DUP want something in return for backing the Tories. They want to avoid customs checks on the Irish border. Could we stay in the customs union?Q: The DUP want something in return for backing the Tories. They want to avoid customs checks on the Irish border. Could we stay in the customs union?
Gove says the DUP wants a stable government.Gove says the DUP wants a stable government.
The talks with the DUP are about ensuring this.The talks with the DUP are about ensuring this.
As for the border, he says there are a number of “pragmatic steps” that can be taken to ensure trade is as frictionless as possible.As for the border, he says there are a number of “pragmatic steps” that can be taken to ensure trade is as frictionless as possible.
Q: So you think that can be achieved by the government’s plans?Q: So you think that can be achieved by the government’s plans?
Yes, says Gove.Yes, says Gove.
Q: The DUP want to end the bedroom tax and keep the triple lock. Will the price of the pact with them be ending austerity?Q: The DUP want to end the bedroom tax and keep the triple lock. Will the price of the pact with them be ending austerity?
Gove does not accept the premise of the question. He says he wants to relieve the next generation from the burden of debt.Gove does not accept the premise of the question. He says he wants to relieve the next generation from the burden of debt.
He says the phrases austerity and cuts programme come from “a part of the political lexicon” (ie, they are Labour terms, he is saying).He says the phrases austerity and cuts programme come from “a part of the political lexicon” (ie, they are Labour terms, he is saying).
He says public spending has to be kept at a sustainable level.He says public spending has to be kept at a sustainable level.
But the government has to respond to “legitimate public concerns” about public services being funded properly.But the government has to respond to “legitimate public concerns” about public services being funded properly.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.39am BSTat 8.39am BST
8.15am BST8.15am BST
08:1508:15
Q: But what does this mean in practice? What will change from the Lancaster House speech?Q: But what does this mean in practice? What will change from the Lancaster House speech?
Gove says May made it clear she was determined to honour the result of the referendum.Gove says May made it clear she was determined to honour the result of the referendum.
But we know have to think about what comes next.But we know have to think about what comes next.
He says he is now environment secretary. As we leave the common agricultural policy, we need to ensure we maintain high-quality environmental protection.He says he is now environment secretary. As we leave the common agricultural policy, we need to ensure we maintain high-quality environmental protection.
Q: William Hague has proposed a cross-party Brexit commission. Do you back that?Q: William Hague has proposed a cross-party Brexit commission. Do you back that?
Gove says there is already a cross-party Brexit committee in the Commons. He used to sit on it.Gove says there is already a cross-party Brexit committee in the Commons. He used to sit on it.
He says he does not want to endorse specific ideas.He says he does not want to endorse specific ideas.
Q: So you would oppose this idea?Q: So you would oppose this idea?
Gove says this idea is Hague’s copyright.Gove says this idea is Hague’s copyright.
He says the Brexit department has been talking to the widest possible group of people.He says the Brexit department has been talking to the widest possible group of people.
UpdatedUpdated
at 8.38am BSTat 8.38am BST
8.12am BST
08:12
Michael Gove's Today interview
Andrew Sparrow
Good morning. I’m taking over from Matthew.
Michael Gove has given at least two interviews already this morning, but now he is on Today.
Q: You say in the Telegraph today that the EU referendum was a vote for leaving the single market and ending free movement. But you also say the Brexit outcome must command the widest possible support.
Gove says the Tories must recognise they did not win a majority. They must obtain the maximum possible consensus. So the concerns of people about leaving the EU must be part of the conversation.
Q: That sounds like softening Brexit.
No, says Gove. It means ensuring the the referendum result is honoured in the right way.
7.55am BST
07:55
Gove confirms Brexit discussions with Labour
Matthew Weaver
Michael Gove has confirmed he has discussed Brexit with Labour politicians after a report in the Telegraph claimed that senior cabinet ministers were in secret talks with Labour MPs to secure cross-party backing for a soft Brexit.
Asked about the report, Gove said he rejected the terms soft and hard Brexit. But speaking to BBC Breakfast, he added: “I talk to politicians from every party in order to make sure that we get the right approach. During the referendum campaign I worked with Labour politicians like Gisela Stuart and in this [last] parliament I’ve been on the Brexit select committee with Hilary Benn and a variety of others, so of course I talk to people from different parties, that’s what governing in the national interest is all about.”
On Monday, the former shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called for a cross-party commission on Brexit. Writing in the Guardian, she said:
After the referendum last year, I called for the government to approach this in a cross-party way to get the best deal. Now it is more important than ever. There is neither strength nor stability in a narrow, bunkered one-party approach; you need to include people with different ideas to get the best deal and widest support.
So we should set up a small cross-party commission to conduct the negotiations, and have a clear and transparent process to build consensus behind the final deal. It should be accountable to parliament but avoid getting caught up in the inevitable hung parliament political rows.
Gove claimed the government was in “listening mode” after the election.
He said: “We underestimated some of the reasons behind Labour’s support. It is important after this general election that we do two things. One, that we form a government that is capable of carrying through the public’s wishes, including leaving the European Union. And at the same time we reflect on the fact that we didn’t get that majority that we wanted, and therefore we need to be properly in listening mode to appreciate what the public’s concerns are.”
On his relations with the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, whose leadership bid he scuppered last year, Gove said: “Boris and I spoke at the weekend and we had a great friendly conversation. He was kind enough to welcome me back to the cabinet with a very generous tweet. And we were chatting yesterday in the margins of cabinet.”
Updated
at 8.37am BST
7.42am BST
07:42
Peter Walker
Harriet Harman, the veteran Labour MP and former party deputy leader, has been speaking before this evening’s meeting of the parliamentary Labour party. Traditionally, under Corbyn’s leadership, these have been quite feisty, occasionally mutinous affairs. Not any more.
Harman is among many Labour MPs since the election to concede she was wrong in thinking Corbyn could not lead the party to election success, even the limited success of gaining seats while remaining out of government.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “My concern about Jeremy Corbyn was he could not take us towards government let alone into government. And he has confounded those expectations. Just as, if we’d have lost seats under his leadership, he would have had to take responsibility, we’ve gained seats under his leadership, and he can take the credit for that.”
She said the atmosphere among Labour MPs even shortly before the election was morbid: “We were expecting the Tories to lay waste to us. Instead it turned around, and we come back coherent, united. The atmosphere is verging from on one hand relief to jubilant, and the Tories are in disarray. And Jeremy Corbyn has to take the credit for that, because he was the leader and he’s gone forward.”
Updated
at 7.57am BST
7.32am BST
07:32
Gove accuses Tom Watson of 'mischief making' over his return to cabinet
Matthew Weaver
Michael Gove has dismissed claims that he was brought back into the cabinet at Rupert Murdoch’s behest as “political mischief making.”
The Labour deputy leader, Tom Watson, has written to Theresa May asking if Murdoch asked her to reappoint Gove to the cabinet or face bad press in his newspaper titles.
Gove’s shock return as environment secretary comes just under a year after May fired him as justice secretary following his ill-fated attempt to lead the Conservative party.
Gove accused Watson of pedalling conspiracy theories. Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said:
Tom sees Rupert Murdoch’s hand behind everything. I think Tom believes that Rupert Murdoch picks the England cricket XI and the rugby first XV as well as decide who is on Britain’s Got Talent. This is par for the course for Tom when it comes to political mischief making.
Updated
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7.23am BST
07:23
It’s worth noting that in his GMB interview Gove was asked about the Daily Telegraph’s front page story which claimed senior cabinet ministers have been “secretly” talking with Labour about a cross-party agreement to soften Brexit. (See our Paper round up below).
PA again reports:
Mr Gove, a staunch Brexit supporter, was also asked about a Daily Telegraph report that senior Cabinet ministers were engaged in secret talks with Labour MPs to secure a soft Brexit.
Despite writing a column for the same edition of the paper, the former journalist said it was “news to me”, adding that the story may have involved a “slight amount of top spin”.
Updated
at 7.25am BST
7.19am BST
07:19
The effusive Mr Gove:
‘She’s got my backing for as long as she wants to be Prime Minister’ - Michael Gove MP speaks on supporting Theresa May pic.twitter.com/KI2Ge6eUab
7.17am BST
07:17
Michael Gove is doing the rounds of the media this morning after his surprise Cabinet re-entry. He’s written a column for the Daily Telegraph, is on the BBC Today programme at 8.10am and has just appeared on Good Morning Britain where he has been super effusive about his boss Theresa May, saying she has “amazing gifts and incredible talents”.
The Press Association reports:
Asked how long he would support the woman who sacked him less than a year ago, he told Good Morning Britain: “For as long as she wants to be Prime Minister.”
7.10am BST
07:10
So to this morning’s papers ...
The election remains the focus although notably – on a day when Theresa May has owned up to the full “mess” of the Conservative election campaign – the Daily Mail decides to splash on a legal aid story. “An insult to terror victims” says the headline on the splash, which tells how a “terrorist fighting deportation has won £250,000 in legal aid”. May’s mea culpa is a single column.
The other papers are more obsessed with recording the day and what lies ahead. The Sun – previously very supportive of May – has the witty headline “Mess, Prime Minister” and says the PM was “hauled” before Tory MPs and “grovelled” as she admitted the “disaster” of the election result was all her fault. The Mirror goes all Star Wars with a picture of May as Princess Leia and the headline “May the farce be with you”.
The Times extrapolates what it thinks was the message from May to MPs, saying she told them: “Austerity is over” and seven years of cuts are poised to come to an end. The Guardian’s front has the May quote about getting everyone into this mess but also says her new approach with MPs has bought her time in office and there are signals of a new approach to Brexit.
The Telegraph has a splash that claims senior cabinet ministers have been “secretly” talking with Labour about a cross-party agreement to soften Brexit – no names, no real detail in the story, but obviously interesting if true. Lastly, the FT turns to Europe with a warning from the EU’s chief negotiator: “Stop wasting time or risk and exit without a deal”.
7.01am BST
07:01
So much going on that you will need more than one pair of eyes to keep track of all the developments. That’s sort of where we come in.
We will be following the critical talks at Downing Street between Theresa May and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster who the Tories hope will do a deal to prop up a minority administration.
Read our Ireland correspondent Henry McDonald’s piece here about what the DUP hope to get out of an informal tie up with the Conservatives.
6.43am BST
06:43
Hello and welcome to politics live where we will chart the highs and lows in Westminster and beyond in the wake of last week’s election. I’m Bonnie Malkin holding the fort until Andrew Sparrow takes over later on.
First up: Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet meets today for the first time since the election and the Labour leader is being urged to reappoint its members because of their loyalty during the campaign.There have been indications that Corbyn might reach out to past critics including Yvette Cooper, Angela Eagle and Chuka Umunna, who have said they would be willing to serve. But Clive Efford, chair of the party’s Tribune Group, said: “Jeremy has got a shadow cabinet that remained loyal and allowed him to perform extremely well during the general election. He can’t sack those people. They deserve to be rewarded for what they have done.”
That is today. But I think it is worthwhile recapping the extraordinary goings on of yesterday.
Theresa May gave a “contrite and genuine” apology to backbench MPs for her election failure, telling the party’s 1922 Committee: “I got us into this mess, and I’m going to get us out of it.”
Hard Brexit is increasingly sounding like a thing of the past, with the Tories looking to drop the “no deal is better than a bad deal” mantra. Ruth Davidson, the Conservative leader in Scotland, said she was pushing for an “open Brexit” with maximum economic access. May needs to cobble together a Queen’s speech – due on 19 June, but possibly delayed. Brexit and counter-terrorism policy will figure prominently, but items like new grammer schools could be scaled back.There’s still a list of other Conservative factions Theresa May needs to appease – from David Davis and the senior cabinet “greyhairs” who offer stability, to Boris Johnson and those who think he’d do a better job, as well as both Brexiters who still want a clean break and Remainers determined to salvage an economic relationship with the EU.
The Moodys ratings agency meanwhile says the inconclusive election is likely to delay Brexit progress and could harm Britain’s international credit rating. Domestically though, UK employers are saying they plan to continue hiring despite slow growth and uncertainty about the EU exit negotiations.
May and the new French president, Emmanuel Macron, will announce a war on online terror today and attend the England v France friendly at the Stade de France tonight.
Updated
at 6.47am BST