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| Delaying Brexit worse than no deal, says Liam Fox | Delaying Brexit worse than no deal, says Liam Fox |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Delaying or cancelling Brexit would be a "calamitous" breach of trust with the electorate and worse than leaving the EU with no deal, Liam Fox has said. | Delaying or cancelling Brexit would be a "calamitous" breach of trust with the electorate and worse than leaving the EU with no deal, Liam Fox has said. |
| The Brexiteer minister told BBC's Radio 4's Today programme MPs pushing for a delay actually wanted to stop Brexit. | The Brexiteer minister told BBC's Radio 4's Today programme MPs pushing for a delay actually wanted to stop Brexit. |
| He said this was the "worst outcome" of the current wrangles. | He said this was the "worst outcome" of the current wrangles. |
| MPs are proposing alternative plans to the PM's deal with the EU, including seeking an extension to the UK's exit date - which is scheduled for 29 March. | MPs are proposing alternative plans to the PM's deal with the EU, including seeking an extension to the UK's exit date - which is scheduled for 29 March. |
| But the prime minister has said the "right way" to rule out no-deal Brexit is to approve her withdrawal agreement. | But the prime minister has said the "right way" to rule out no-deal Brexit is to approve her withdrawal agreement. |
| Under current law, the UK will exit the EU on 29 March, whether or not a deal has been struck. The decision to leave was taken by 52% to 48% in a referendum in June 2016. | Under current law, the UK will exit the EU on 29 March, whether or not a deal has been struck. The decision to leave was taken by 52% to 48% in a referendum in June 2016. |
| Liam Fox said MPs should think about the "political consequences" of delaying Brexit not just the "short-term economic consequences". | Liam Fox said MPs should think about the "political consequences" of delaying Brexit not just the "short-term economic consequences". |
| "There is no doubt that leaving with a deal and minimising disruption both to the UK and our EU trading partners is in our best interest," the international development secretary said. | "There is no doubt that leaving with a deal and minimising disruption both to the UK and our EU trading partners is in our best interest," the international development secretary said. |
| "But I think the most calamitous outcome would be for Parliament, having promised to respect the result of the referendum, to turn around and say it wouldn't." | "But I think the most calamitous outcome would be for Parliament, having promised to respect the result of the referendum, to turn around and say it wouldn't." |
| But Conservative Remainer Anna Soubry said it was "not true" that Tory MPs backing a move to prevent a "no deal" Brexit - such as Nick Boles, Nicky Morgan and Sir Oliver Letwin - wanted to stop Brexit and had in fact voted for Theresa May's withdrawal deal. | But Conservative Remainer Anna Soubry said it was "not true" that Tory MPs backing a move to prevent a "no deal" Brexit - such as Nick Boles, Nicky Morgan and Sir Oliver Letwin - wanted to stop Brexit and had in fact voted for Theresa May's withdrawal deal. |
| Mr Boles said Mr Fox had "never been very good at detail". | Mr Boles said Mr Fox had "never been very good at detail". |
| Osborne's 'Russian roulette' warning | Osborne's 'Russian roulette' warning |
| Former Chancellor George Osborne, a key player in the Remain campaign during the referendum, has said delaying the UK's exit from the EU was now the "most likely" option. | Former Chancellor George Osborne, a key player in the Remain campaign during the referendum, has said delaying the UK's exit from the EU was now the "most likely" option. |
| Speaking to BBC business editor Simon Jack in Davos, Mr Osborne, now a newspaper editor, said that the prospect of no-deal meant "the gun is held to the British economy's head". | Speaking to BBC business editor Simon Jack in Davos, Mr Osborne, now a newspaper editor, said that the prospect of no-deal meant "the gun is held to the British economy's head". |
| "Russian roulette is a game which you should never play because there's a one-in-six chance that the bullet goes into your head," he said. | "Russian roulette is a game which you should never play because there's a one-in-six chance that the bullet goes into your head," he said. |
| Mr Osborne, who was sacked by Mrs May when she became prime minister after the referendum, said his successor Philip Hammond had "sensibly" told businesses that leaving without a deal was not a possibility. | Mr Osborne, who was sacked by Mrs May when she became prime minister after the referendum, said his successor Philip Hammond had "sensibly" told businesses that leaving without a deal was not a possibility. |
| "But we now need to hear it from the British prime minister," he said. | "But we now need to hear it from the British prime minister," he said. |
| The other 27 EU member states would need to agree to an extension of the UK's departure date. | The other 27 EU member states would need to agree to an extension of the UK's departure date. |
| What is going to happen next? | What is going to happen next? |
| Next Tuesday MPs will get to vote on Theresa May's way forward on Brexit, after rejecting her initial plan by a record-breaking 230 votes last Tuesday. | Next Tuesday MPs will get to vote on Theresa May's way forward on Brexit, after rejecting her initial plan by a record-breaking 230 votes last Tuesday. |
| Mrs May is hoping to tweak the deal to address concerns about the Northern Irish "backstop" among her own backbenchers and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which she relies on to keep her in power. | Mrs May is hoping to tweak the deal to address concerns about the Northern Irish "backstop" among her own backbenchers and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which she relies on to keep her in power. |
| But MPs are attempting to take control of the Brexit process by tabling amendments to Mrs May's plans. | But MPs are attempting to take control of the Brexit process by tabling amendments to Mrs May's plans. |
| What are the main amendments? | What are the main amendments? |
| Labour MP Yvette Cooper has tabled an amendment that would give time for a bill to suspend the Article 50 process for leaving the EU if a new deal has not been agreed with Brussels by the end of February. | Labour MP Yvette Cooper has tabled an amendment that would give time for a bill to suspend the Article 50 process for leaving the EU if a new deal has not been agreed with Brussels by the end of February. |
| It has been backed by several Remainer Conservatives and is the only amendment that would be legally binding on the government, if passed. | It has been backed by several Remainer Conservatives and is the only amendment that would be legally binding on the government, if passed. |
| Other amendments would ask the government to consider a range of options over six full days in Parliament before the March deadline or set up a "Citizens' Assembly" to give the public more say. | Other amendments would ask the government to consider a range of options over six full days in Parliament before the March deadline or set up a "Citizens' Assembly" to give the public more say. |
| Another proposal seeks to win over some opponents of the prime minister's deal by insisting on "an expiry date to the backstop", the "insurance policy" intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. | Another proposal seeks to win over some opponents of the prime minister's deal by insisting on "an expiry date to the backstop", the "insurance policy" intended to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. |
| Where does Labour stand? | Where does Labour stand? |
| Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC's Newsnight that it was "highly likely" the party would back Yvette Cooper's amendment, which would significantly increase its chances of getting through. | Shadow chancellor John McDonnell told the BBC's Newsnight that it was "highly likely" the party would back Yvette Cooper's amendment, which would significantly increase its chances of getting through. |
| Are Brexiteers warming to the PM's deal? | |
| Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg will tell a meeting later he is encouraged by "outbreaks of realism" over the Northern Ireland backstop. | |
| The Conservative MP is expected to say he believes "commons sense and practicality will prevail" in order to reach "a feasible deal". | |
| He is the latest Brexiteer to strike a more conciliatory tone after Theresa May announced on Monday she would return to Brussels to seek further re-assurances over the backstop. | |
| The DUP's Sammy Wilson has said he would back Mrs May's deal if she managed to get a time limit on the backstop. | |
| The prime minister's supporters say they believe some opponents of Mrs May's deal are now willing to consider backing it because of the moves by other MPs to delay Brexit. | |
| What else is happening on the Brexit front? | What else is happening on the Brexit front? |
| Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is meeting Mrs May for talks on Wednesday, said she supports seeking an extension to the Brexit deadline. | Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who is meeting Mrs May for talks on Wednesday, said she supports seeking an extension to the Brexit deadline. |
| Meanwhile, Dyson, the company founded by vocal Brexit advocate Sir James Dyson, has announced it is moving headquarters to Singapore. | Meanwhile, Dyson, the company founded by vocal Brexit advocate Sir James Dyson, has announced it is moving headquarters to Singapore. |
| However, chief executive Jim Rowan said the decision was prompted by growing opportunities in Asia rather than by Brexit. | However, chief executive Jim Rowan said the decision was prompted by growing opportunities in Asia rather than by Brexit. |
| What's the latest on the backstop - and what is it? | What's the latest on the backstop - and what is it? |
| The backstop is a position of last resort, designed to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland whatever arrangement the UK and the EU end up with. | The backstop is a position of last resort, designed to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland whatever arrangement the UK and the EU end up with. |
| At present, goods and services are traded between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland with few restrictions because the UK and Ireland are both part of the EU single market and customs union, so products do not need to be inspected for customs and standards. | At present, goods and services are traded between the two jurisdictions on the island of Ireland with few restrictions because the UK and Ireland are both part of the EU single market and customs union, so products do not need to be inspected for customs and standards. |
| But, after Brexit, all that could change - the two parts of Ireland could be in different customs and regulatory regimes, which could mean products being checked at the border. Both the UK and the EU worry that having a visible border could put the peace process at risk. | But, after Brexit, all that could change - the two parts of Ireland could be in different customs and regulatory regimes, which could mean products being checked at the border. Both the UK and the EU worry that having a visible border could put the peace process at risk. |
| The backstop is opposed by some Conservative MPs and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party because it could mean keeping the UK in a customs union with the EU indefinitely and having different rules for different parts of the UK. | The backstop is opposed by some Conservative MPs and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party because it could mean keeping the UK in a customs union with the EU indefinitely and having different rules for different parts of the UK. |
| But the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he could not give up the formal guarantee of the backstop "for a promise that it will be all right on the night". | But the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar said he could not give up the formal guarantee of the backstop "for a promise that it will be all right on the night". |
| The European Commission also warned that it was "obvious" that a no-deal Brexit would mean a hard border in Ireland. | The European Commission also warned that it was "obvious" that a no-deal Brexit would mean a hard border in Ireland. |