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| John Major warns May that Tory/DUP deal could threaten Northern Ireland peace process - politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.39pm BST | |
| 13:39 | |
| John Major warns May that Tory/DUP deal could threaten Northern Ireland peace process | |
| This is what Sir John Major, the Conservative former prime minister, said on the World at One about how a Tory/DUP pact could undermine the Northern Ireland peace process. | |
| I am concerned about the deal, I am wary about it, I am dubious about it, both for peace process reasons, and for other reasons as well ... | |
| My main concern is the peace process. A fundamental part of that peace process is that the UK government needs to be impartial between all the competing interests in Northern Ireland. And the danger is that however much any government tries, they will not be seen to be impartial if they are locked into a parliamentary deal at Westminster with one of the Northern Ireland parties. And you never know in what unpredictable way events will turn out. And we cannot know if that impartiality is going to be crucial at some stage in the future .. | |
| If there difficulties with the Northern Ireland executive or with any one of a number of things that might well arise during the Brexit negotiations, it is very important that there’s an honest broker. And the only honest broker can be the UK government. | |
| And the question arises, if they cease to be seen as such by part of the community in Northern Ireland, then one can’t be quite certain how events will unwind. And that worries me a great deal about the peace process. | |
| 1.27pm BST | |
| 13:27 | |
| Here is the audio of Sir John Major’s World at One interview. | |
| 1.24pm BST | |
| 13:24 | |
| Major says voters did not support hard Brexit at election | |
| Major says the government did not get a mandate for hard Brexit at the election. | |
| He says the government now needs to consult widely about a revised Brexit strategy. | |
| Echoing what William Hague says in his Telegraph column (see 9.08am), he says the government should consult much more with other parties. | |
| The interview is now over. | |
| It’s worth a full summary, and I will post one shortly. | |
| 1.20pm BST | |
| 13:20 | |
| John Major says he is 'dubious' of proposed Tory/DUP pact | |
| Sir John Major, the Conservative former prime minister, is on the World at One now talking about the proposed Tory/DUP deal. | |
| He says he is “wary” and “dubious” about it. The deal could undermine the Northern Ireland peace process, he says. | |
| He says he does not think it is necessary, because he says the DUP would never bring down a minority Conservative government anyway. | |
| And he says other parts of the UK will be angered if the deal involves Northern Ireland getting extra funding. | |
| 1.15pm BST | |
| 13:15 | |
| On the Today programme this morning Lord Trimble, who was one of the architects of the Good Friday agreement as Ulster Unionist leader and who went on to become first minister of Northern Ireland, said he did not accept the argument that a Tory/DUP deal would undermine the peace process. | |
| It has been argued that a deal would stop the UK government being a neutral arbiter in negotiations between unionists and nationalists. But Trimble claimed that “a fair amount of scaremongering” was going on and he said the Tory/DUP talks would not put the Good Friday agreement at risk. | |
| Instead, he argued, the deal posed a risk to the DUP. | |
| The DUP, by doing this, are putting themselves in a position where they may have to take responsibility for unpopular actions ... so they are taking a significant risk in going in. | |
| Asked if any deal should go ahead, he said: | |
| They are perfectly entitled to do it, this is not in any way different to what [James] Callaghan did in his arrangements with the liberals way back in the 70s, it’s not any different to what Nick Clegg did. | |
| 1.03pm BST | 1.03pm BST |
| 13:03 | 13:03 |
| The Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn says there is no guarantee we will get a Tory/DUP deal today. | The Sun’s political editor Tom Newton Dunn says there is no guarantee we will get a Tory/DUP deal today. |
| Latest: I understand that a deal with the DUP today is by no means guaranteed. Quite a bit of hard ball is being played. | Latest: I understand that a deal with the DUP today is by no means guaranteed. Quite a bit of hard ball is being played. |
| 1.03pm BST | 1.03pm BST |
| 13:03 | 13:03 |
| Here is the No 10 read-out from today’s cabinet meeting. This is from a spokesperson. | Here is the No 10 read-out from today’s cabinet meeting. This is from a spokesperson. |
| In the first cabinet meeting since the election, ministers discussed the forthcoming Queen’s speech, including the legislative programme required to deliver the best possible Brexit deal for the whole United Kingdom. | In the first cabinet meeting since the election, ministers discussed the forthcoming Queen’s speech, including the legislative programme required to deliver the best possible Brexit deal for the whole United Kingdom. |
| Ministers also received an update on the appalling terrorist attacks in Manchester and London during the general election campaign. The home Secretary and the health secretary praised the extraordinary response of the police and emergency services to both incidents. | Ministers also received an update on the appalling terrorist attacks in Manchester and London during the general election campaign. The home Secretary and the health secretary praised the extraordinary response of the police and emergency services to both incidents. |
| Cabinet also discussed the ongoing talks with the DUP to secure a confidence and supply arrangement. | Cabinet also discussed the ongoing talks with the DUP to secure a confidence and supply arrangement. |
| 12.55pm BST | 12.55pm BST |
| 12:55 | 12:55 |
| DUP leader Arlene Foster arrives at No 10 for talks with Theresa May | DUP leader Arlene Foster arrives at No 10 for talks with Theresa May |
| Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, and her deputy Nigel Dodds, the leader of the DUP group at Westminster, have arrived at No 10 for talks with Theresa May about the Tory/DUP “confidence and supply agreement”. This is the deal that will keep the minority Conservative government in power by ensuring that the 10 DUP MPs vote with it on confidence motions and key budget votes. | Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, and her deputy Nigel Dodds, the leader of the DUP group at Westminster, have arrived at No 10 for talks with Theresa May about the Tory/DUP “confidence and supply agreement”. This is the deal that will keep the minority Conservative government in power by ensuring that the 10 DUP MPs vote with it on confidence motions and key budget votes. |
| 12.49pm BST | 12.49pm BST |
| 12:49 | 12:49 |
| On the Daily Politics the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said that he agreed with Gavin Barwell and Iain Duncan Smith (see 11.08am) about the need for the government to rethink austerity. He told the programme: | On the Daily Politics the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve said that he agreed with Gavin Barwell and Iain Duncan Smith (see 11.08am) about the need for the government to rethink austerity. He told the programme: |
| I think it was quite clear that austerity was a necessity born of the 2008 financial crisis. It is why the coalition was set up, and it is also why we were re-elected in 2015; it was an appreciation that our financial management made mistakes but was pretty good. And the economy was recovering. | |
| The difficulty that we now have is that the events of last year create instability and anxiety about the future. And if that becomes a state of permanence, people then start asking: ‘I’m quite prepared to make sacrifices if I think it’s leading to an outcome which is going to be good for me and my family’, but if it becomes a state of semi-permanence, and you can’t show the direction of travel in which you’re going, then it’s going to become much harder to persuade people. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.16pm BST | |
| 12.25pm BST | 12.25pm BST |
| 12:25 | 12:25 |
| Ed Miliband and Iain Duncan Smith to guest present Jeremy Vine Show | Ed Miliband and Iain Duncan Smith to guest present Jeremy Vine Show |
| Talking of Ed Miliband, he’s got a new job. The former Labour leader will guest-present Radio 2’s Jeremy Vine Show for the week beginning Monday 19 June, while Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, will guest-present for the following. | |
| Phil Jones, editor of the programme, said: | Phil Jones, editor of the programme, said: |
| This follows a tradition of Radio 2’s popular current affairs show, being occasionally guest-presented by prominent politicians, which began with figures such as Neil Kinnock and the late Charles Kennedy in the early 1990s. Political coverage is the bedrock of the programme and this is a sign of how important politics is to Radio 2, especially at such a key time in the nation’s history. Each day we will cover the big stories that affect our listeners and continue to inform, educate and entertain the Radio 2 audience. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.15pm BST | |
| 12.17pm BST | 12.17pm BST |
| 12:17 | 12:17 |
| It is not just the departure of two Brexit department ministers that has caused surprise. Some of other apparent sackings raised eyebrows too. (I say apparent sackings, because ministers do sometimes choose to leave the government of their own volition, although none of the four MPs on the Downing Street list last night has said publicly they wanted to go.) | It is not just the departure of two Brexit department ministers that has caused surprise. Some of other apparent sackings raised eyebrows too. (I say apparent sackings, because ministers do sometimes choose to leave the government of their own volition, although none of the four MPs on the Downing Street list last night has said publicly they wanted to go.) |
| Losing Robert Halfon, the skills minister, and Mike Penning, the defence minister, is surprising because they are both champions of the blue-collar Conservatism that Theresa May is supposed to champion. Penning is a former soldier and fireman and one of the few Tory MPs with experience of a working class job. Halfon has long been an advocate of “white van Conservatism”. | |
| Among those paying tribute to Halfon today has been Ed Miliband. Halfon tweeted this. | Among those paying tribute to Halfon today has been Ed Miliband. Halfon tweeted this. |
| It's been an honour to have served as Apprenticeships Minister. I'm proud we have a record 900K apprentices & to have passed the FE/TE Bill. | It's been an honour to have served as Apprenticeships Minister. I'm proud we have a record 900K apprentices & to have passed the FE/TE Bill. |
| And in response Miliband tweeted this. | And in response Miliband tweeted this. |
| A political opponent but I always thought he was the one man who had an idea what blue collar Conservatism meant. Fired by the Maybot... https://t.co/iNe83YRHI2 | A political opponent but I always thought he was the one man who had an idea what blue collar Conservatism meant. Fired by the Maybot... https://t.co/iNe83YRHI2 |
| Here is the FT’s George Parker on Halfon and Penning. | Here is the FT’s George Parker on Halfon and Penning. |
| really surprised about Halfon and Penning - excellent ambassadors for Tories in the real world | really surprised about Halfon and Penning - excellent ambassadors for Tories in the real world |
| And this is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. | And this is from Sky’s Beth Rigby. |
| Me too - exactly the type of blue-collar Tories that embodied May's 'JAMs' pitch #reshuffle https://t.co/Lpdy9LhBNQ | Me too - exactly the type of blue-collar Tories that embodied May's 'JAMs' pitch #reshuffle https://t.co/Lpdy9LhBNQ |
| And Sir Oliver Heald says he was sacked as a justice minister because he was too old. | And Sir Oliver Heald says he was sacked as a justice minister because he was too old. |
| Enjoyed my time as a Justice Minister. Great department, great officials. Sad to leave. Have been asked to make way for a younger person. | Enjoyed my time as a Justice Minister. Great department, great officials. Sad to leave. Have been asked to make way for a younger person. |
| Heald is 62. In any other walk of life he would probably be able to take this to a tribunal. | Heald is 62. In any other walk of life he would probably be able to take this to a tribunal. |
| He has been replaced by Dominic Raab, who is 43. | He has been replaced by Dominic Raab, who is 43. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.14pm BST | |
| 11.54am BST | 11.54am BST |
| 11:54 | 11:54 |
| Two of Brexit department's four ministers leave week before Brexit talks start | Two of Brexit department's four ministers leave week before Brexit talks start |
| Last night Downing Street announced a new round of ministerial appointments, along with the news that four ministers have left the government: Mike Penning, Sir Oliver Heald, Robert Halfon and David Jones. | Last night Downing Street announced a new round of ministerial appointments, along with the news that four ministers have left the government: Mike Penning, Sir Oliver Heald, Robert Halfon and David Jones. |
| Jones was a minister in the Brexit department. The department has also lost another minister, Lord Bridges, although No 10 has not announced this. Bridges has resigned to pursue business interests, according to a Whitehall source. A Old Etonian and a former Conservative party official, Bridges was made a peer by David Cameron. | Jones was a minister in the Brexit department. The department has also lost another minister, Lord Bridges, although No 10 has not announced this. Bridges has resigned to pursue business interests, according to a Whitehall source. A Old Etonian and a former Conservative party official, Bridges was made a peer by David Cameron. |
| The departure of two of DExEU’s (Department for Exiting the European Union) four ministers just a week before Brexit talks begin might be regarded as less than ideal – although a new one, Lady Anelay, was appointed yesterday. | |
| The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale says Bridges will be a loss to the government. | The BBC’s diplomatic correspondent James Landale says Bridges will be a loss to the government. |
| George Bridges standing down as DExEU Lords' minister a big loss for Tories. Old Major hand who knew about minority government #reshuffle | George Bridges standing down as DExEU Lords' minister a big loss for Tories. Old Major hand who knew about minority government #reshuffle |
| Dominic Cummings, the former Vote Leave campaign director and former special adviser to Michael Gove, is using his Twitter account to argue that the whole department is a shambles. | |
| 1 of Heywood's many disastrous decisions was creating the shambles of DEXU. Whitehall is exact OPPOSITE structure to what Brexit talks need | 1 of Heywood's many disastrous decisions was creating the shambles of DEXU. Whitehall is exact OPPOSITE structure to what Brexit talks need |
| Doesn't matter what ministers you shuffle in/out, when the management structure as fkd as Downing St/DEXU individuals = irrelevant | Doesn't matter what ministers you shuffle in/out, when the management structure as fkd as Downing St/DEXU individuals = irrelevant |
| Top Whitehall officials are screaming that DEXU under Heywood/DD is total shambles & disaster likely: news today just tip of iceberg | Top Whitehall officials are screaming that DEXU under Heywood/DD is total shambles & disaster likely: news today just tip of iceberg |
| Updated | |
| at 1.13pm BST | |
| 11.19am BST | 11.19am BST |
| 11:19 | 11:19 |
| Damian Carrington | Damian Carrington |
| Donald Trump was “wrong” to pull the US out of the global Paris climate change accord, the new environment secretary Michael Gove has said. | Donald Trump was “wrong” to pull the US out of the global Paris climate change accord, the new environment secretary Michael Gove has said. |
| “I think he is wrong,” Gove told ITV’s Good Morning Britain show. | “I think he is wrong,” Gove told ITV’s Good Morning Britain show. |
| I think that we need international cooperation in order to deal with climate change. The only way in which you can deal with this challenge, the only way in which we can enhance the environment to pass on to our children in a better state is by working across borders. | I think that we need international cooperation in order to deal with climate change. The only way in which you can deal with this challenge, the only way in which we can enhance the environment to pass on to our children in a better state is by working across borders. |
| Theresa May was criticised for failing to join other EU leaders in condemning Trump’s decision, which met with near universal derision. | Theresa May was criticised for failing to join other EU leaders in condemning Trump’s decision, which met with near universal derision. |
| Gove, touring the broadcast studios, told BBC Radio 5 Live that he will re-examine the science of the controversial badger cull, which is aimed at curbing tuberculosis in cattle, and seen over 14,000 badgers shot. Almost all scientists outside government say the cull is ineffective and that the disturbance it causes could actually increase TB infections. | Gove, touring the broadcast studios, told BBC Radio 5 Live that he will re-examine the science of the controversial badger cull, which is aimed at curbing tuberculosis in cattle, and seen over 14,000 badgers shot. Almost all scientists outside government say the cull is ineffective and that the disturbance it causes could actually increase TB infections. |
| Gove said he would also reconsider the government’s planned ban on elephant ivory sales, which currently excludes “antique” ivory more than 70 years old. Campaigners say any trade in ivory give the opportunity for newly poached and illegal ivory to be laundered. | Gove said he would also reconsider the government’s planned ban on elephant ivory sales, which currently excludes “antique” ivory more than 70 years old. Campaigners say any trade in ivory give the opportunity for newly poached and illegal ivory to be laundered. |
| One of the biggest challenges is replacing the huge EU subsidy scheme for farmers after Brexit. On on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he confirmed the Conservative manifesto pledge that subsidies would remain at today’s levels until 2022. | One of the biggest challenges is replacing the huge EU subsidy scheme for farmers after Brexit. On on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he confirmed the Conservative manifesto pledge that subsidies would remain at today’s levels until 2022. |
| Farmers are also extremely concerned that Brexit may mean the migrant workers who pick much of their harvest will not be available after Brexit. Gove said: | Farmers are also extremely concerned that Brexit may mean the migrant workers who pick much of their harvest will not be available after Brexit. Gove said: |
| As we bring migration down to sustainable levels, we’ll do so in consultation with industry and one of our most important manufacturing industries is agriculture, so we need to make sure that the workforce is there and the support is there. | As we bring migration down to sustainable levels, we’ll do so in consultation with industry and one of our most important manufacturing industries is agriculture, so we need to make sure that the workforce is there and the support is there. |
| Gove’s appointment was attacked on Monday by the Green party MP Caroline Lucas, who said he was “entirely unfit” to hold the post. But Gove said it was a “misrepresentation” to say he had often voted against measures to tackle climate change. | Gove’s appointment was attacked on Monday by the Green party MP Caroline Lucas, who said he was “entirely unfit” to hold the post. But Gove said it was a “misrepresentation” to say he had often voted against measures to tackle climate change. |
| My own approach has always been to argue for strong action to deal with man-made climate change. | My own approach has always been to argue for strong action to deal with man-made climate change. |
| 11.16am BST | 11.16am BST |
| 11:16 | 11:16 |
| Henry McDonald | Henry McDonald |
| While Arlene Foster arrives in Westminster with the Democratic Unionist party’s 10 MPs, the talks back home in Northern Ireland aimed at restoring power sharing have stuttered and spluttered once more. | While Arlene Foster arrives in Westminster with the Democratic Unionist party’s 10 MPs, the talks back home in Northern Ireland aimed at restoring power sharing have stuttered and spluttered once more. |
| There will now be no more roundtable talks between all the parties with the DUP busy over in London negotiating with Theresa May and the Tories. The cross community Alliance Party said today that this latest halt to all party discussions in Belfast hardly inspired confidence in the talks process there. Dr Stephen Farry, Alliance’s deputy leader said: | There will now be no more roundtable talks between all the parties with the DUP busy over in London negotiating with Theresa May and the Tories. The cross community Alliance Party said today that this latest halt to all party discussions in Belfast hardly inspired confidence in the talks process there. Dr Stephen Farry, Alliance’s deputy leader said: |
| This has been branded an intensive three-week process. However, no roundtable between the parties until Thursday at least means the first week will have effectively passed by without meaningful discussions between the parties at the same table. | This has been branded an intensive three-week process. However, no roundtable between the parties until Thursday at least means the first week will have effectively passed by without meaningful discussions between the parties at the same table. |
| I understand there is a new UK government and changes in the government in the Republic but there remains no impetus to this process, which doesn’t inspire confidence. We need people to step up to the plate and do so without delay. The consequences of not doing so are too severe. | I understand there is a new UK government and changes in the government in the Republic but there remains no impetus to this process, which doesn’t inspire confidence. We need people to step up to the plate and do so without delay. The consequences of not doing so are too severe. |
| His point about big changes in Dublin brings us to the other big political development on this side of the Irish Sea today. This is Enda Kenny’s last day as Taoiseach before he hands over the reins of power to the new Fine Gael Leader Leo Vradakar. | His point about big changes in Dublin brings us to the other big political development on this side of the Irish Sea today. This is Enda Kenny’s last day as Taoiseach before he hands over the reins of power to the new Fine Gael Leader Leo Vradakar. |
| Kenny will resign after speeches are made paying tribute to the Irish prime minister who in his final hours in office expressed concern about how the Tory-DUP axis at Westminster might negatively impact on the Stormont devolution talks. | Kenny will resign after speeches are made paying tribute to the Irish prime minister who in his final hours in office expressed concern about how the Tory-DUP axis at Westminster might negatively impact on the Stormont devolution talks. |
| 11.12am BST | 11.12am BST |
| 11:12 | 11:12 |
| In his Today programme interview Michael Gove, the environment secretary, suggested that the government would need to adopt a more generous approach to public spending. Here is Peter Walker and Henry McDonald’s story. | In his Today programme interview Michael Gove, the environment secretary, suggested that the government would need to adopt a more generous approach to public spending. Here is Peter Walker and Henry McDonald’s story. |
| 11.08am BST | 11.08am BST |
| 11:08 | 11:08 |
| Iain Duncan Smith urges government to rethink public sector pay freeze | Iain Duncan Smith urges government to rethink public sector pay freeze |
| Theresa May’s failure to win a majority is encouraging some Tories to demand a new approach to Brexit. But it is also leading to calls for a rethink on austerity, and this is what the Times has splashed on this morning. | Theresa May’s failure to win a majority is encouraging some Tories to demand a new approach to Brexit. But it is also leading to calls for a rethink on austerity, and this is what the Times has splashed on this morning. |
| TIMES: Austerity is over, May tells Tories #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/8ZclskEr29 | TIMES: Austerity is over, May tells Tories #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/8ZclskEr29 |
| Here’s an extract from the Times’ splash (paywall.) | Here’s an extract from the Times’ splash (paywall.) |
| Sources said that [Theresa May] accepted that voters’ patience with austerity was at an end after Boris Johnson, David Davis and a series of Tory MPs told her that she had misjudged the public mood. | Sources said that [Theresa May] accepted that voters’ patience with austerity was at an end after Boris Johnson, David Davis and a series of Tory MPs told her that she had misjudged the public mood. |
| In a Panorama documentary broadcast last night Gavin Barwell, who was appointed as May’s chief of staff after losing his Croydon Central seat in the election, said austerity cost the Tories votes. | In a Panorama documentary broadcast last night Gavin Barwell, who was appointed as May’s chief of staff after losing his Croydon Central seat in the election, said austerity cost the Tories votes. |
| There’s a conversation I particularly remember with a teacher who had voted for me in 2010 and 2015 and said ‘you know I understand the need for a pay freeze for a few years to deal with the deficit but you’re now asking for that to go on potentially for 10 or 11 years and that’s too much’. That is something that Jeremy Corbyn was able to tap into. | There’s a conversation I particularly remember with a teacher who had voted for me in 2010 and 2015 and said ‘you know I understand the need for a pay freeze for a few years to deal with the deficit but you’re now asking for that to go on potentially for 10 or 11 years and that’s too much’. That is something that Jeremy Corbyn was able to tap into. |
| Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative former leader and former work and pensions secretary, may not want a rethink on Brexit (see 10.58am), but he told BBC News that, on austerity, he did favour a new approach. | Iain Duncan Smith, the Conservative former leader and former work and pensions secretary, may not want a rethink on Brexit (see 10.58am), but he told BBC News that, on austerity, he did favour a new approach. |
| I resigned over a year ago because I disagreed with George Osborne’s direction of travel. And I have for some time asked us to rethink whole areas of where we are. The length of time that we were likely now to be asking public servants and others to put up with reduced, flattened salaries has been an issue for me and for many other people. We would like to see that revisited. | I resigned over a year ago because I disagreed with George Osborne’s direction of travel. And I have for some time asked us to rethink whole areas of where we are. The length of time that we were likely now to be asking public servants and others to put up with reduced, flattened salaries has been an issue for me and for many other people. We would like to see that revisited. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.49pm BST | at 12.49pm BST |
| 10.58am BST | 10.58am BST |
| 10:58 | 10:58 |
| Iain Duncan Smith hits back at Tories trying to shift Brexit policy | Iain Duncan Smith hits back at Tories trying to shift Brexit policy |
| William Hague’s Telegraph article (see 9.08am) is significant because there is a briefing war going on between different factions in the cabinet over whether or not Theresa May’s failure to obtain a majority will, or should, lead to a change in government policy on Brexit. | William Hague’s Telegraph article (see 9.08am) is significant because there is a briefing war going on between different factions in the cabinet over whether or not Theresa May’s failure to obtain a majority will, or should, lead to a change in government policy on Brexit. |
| Yesterday the Evening Standard, which is edited by George Osborne, the former chancellor, did its best to stir things up with a splash depicting it as conflict between the “sensibles” and the “Creationists”. Osborne wants Brexit to be as open, pro-business and pro-immigration as possible, and so there are no prizes for guessing who the “sensibles” are. | Yesterday the Evening Standard, which is edited by George Osborne, the former chancellor, did its best to stir things up with a splash depicting it as conflict between the “sensibles” and the “Creationists”. Osborne wants Brexit to be as open, pro-business and pro-immigration as possible, and so there are no prizes for guessing who the “sensibles” are. |
| Our second edition @EveningStandard has more on Cabinet splits + on the Queen's Speech delay before it was confirmed - quite extraordinary. pic.twitter.com/qKdcEHRR2d | Our second edition @EveningStandard has more on Cabinet splits + on the Queen's Speech delay before it was confirmed - quite extraordinary. pic.twitter.com/qKdcEHRR2d |
| The Daily Telegraph has picked up on the same issue for its splash this morning. | The Daily Telegraph has picked up on the same issue for its splash this morning. |
| Tuesday's Telegraph: "Tories and Labour hold secret talks on soft Brexit" #tomorrowspaperstoday (via @hendopolis) pic.twitter.com/FYvdWkCGuj | Tuesday's Telegraph: "Tories and Labour hold secret talks on soft Brexit" #tomorrowspaperstoday (via @hendopolis) pic.twitter.com/FYvdWkCGuj |
| This is what the Telegraph story says about said “secret talks”. | This is what the Telegraph story says about said “secret talks”. |
| Senior Labour sources told The Telegraph that conversations have taken place to allow back-channels between the two parties to negotiate amendments to Brexit bills which would soften the exit. | Senior Labour sources told The Telegraph that conversations have taken place to allow back-channels between the two parties to negotiate amendments to Brexit bills which would soften the exit. |
| If there is no agreement to set up a Brexit Commission, one alternative would be for Labour backbenchers to table amendments, with agreement from pro-remain Conservatives, which would be easier for Tory MPs to support than if they came from Mr Corbyn’s own team. | If there is no agreement to set up a Brexit Commission, one alternative would be for Labour backbenchers to table amendments, with agreement from pro-remain Conservatives, which would be easier for Tory MPs to support than if they came from Mr Corbyn’s own team. |
| The shadow cabinet would then “fall in behind” the same amendment, the source said, making it look like the change had not been won by Mr Corbyn himself. | The shadow cabinet would then “fall in behind” the same amendment, the source said, making it look like the change had not been won by Mr Corbyn himself. |
| They claimed that many Conservative MPs are “horrified” by Mrs May’s decision to hammer home her message that “no deal would be better than a bad deal” - seen as a devastating outcome for many low-paid workers. | They claimed that many Conservative MPs are “horrified” by Mrs May’s decision to hammer home her message that “no deal would be better than a bad deal” - seen as a devastating outcome for many low-paid workers. |
| These reports are likely to alarm Tory MPs who are staunchly pro-Brexit and on BBC News this morning one of them, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader and former work and pensions secretary, said that it would be a mistake to shift policy on Brexit. He said only “a minority” wanted this and that all they would achieve would be to generate a “row”. | These reports are likely to alarm Tory MPs who are staunchly pro-Brexit and on BBC News this morning one of them, Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader and former work and pensions secretary, said that it would be a mistake to shift policy on Brexit. He said only “a minority” wanted this and that all they would achieve would be to generate a “row”. |
| The party overall is settled. What we want is to engage and discuss these matters with people, but in essence those negotiations are due to start very, very shortly, ie next week, and the Conservative government needs to get on and make sure they now start talking to our European allies and friends ... | The party overall is settled. What we want is to engage and discuss these matters with people, but in essence those negotiations are due to start very, very shortly, ie next week, and the Conservative government needs to get on and make sure they now start talking to our European allies and friends ... |
| I think the Conservative party, people in cabinet who may well seem to think that they are going to start reopening all of this, the answer is I would not try and reopen this before you start the negotiations. Because all that you’ll get is what we don’t want at the moment, which is another argument and row going on in the governing party. It had a settled position. We had agreed that position before we went into the last election. | I think the Conservative party, people in cabinet who may well seem to think that they are going to start reopening all of this, the answer is I would not try and reopen this before you start the negotiations. Because all that you’ll get is what we don’t want at the moment, which is another argument and row going on in the governing party. It had a settled position. We had agreed that position before we went into the last election. |
| So in a sense what you’ve got is a minority of people who are just trying to prise this open again. And my answer is: it should not be opened, we should just get on with it really. | So in a sense what you’ve got is a minority of people who are just trying to prise this open again. And my answer is: it should not be opened, we should just get on with it really. |
| 10.10am BST | 10.10am BST |
| 10:10 | 10:10 |
| Lisa O'Carroll | 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 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 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. | 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. | 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.” | “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.” |