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| Brexit: May refuses to rule out UK taking part in European elections if EU demands long extension – live news | Brexit: May refuses to rule out UK taking part in European elections if EU demands long extension – live news |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street says the government will be not be supporting the Yvette Cooper bill, my colleague Heather Stewart reports. | |
| Downing Street spox says government has no plans to support the Cooper-Boles bill. "We don’t believe that that is the right way forward," he says - because it sets a damaging constitutional precedent. | |
| These are from RTE’s Tony Connelly. | |
| Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission, president is confirming that next Friday has become a hard deadline for the EU. | |
| Juncker says MPs must be able to approve the withdrawal agreement by next Friday, or the UK will face either no-deal or a long Brexit delay. This quashes the very faint prospect that the EU might have agreed another short extension to allow time the deal to pass parliament. But, if MPs were to agree a deal by next week, Theresa May is hoping that the EU would agree to another short extension, lasting not beyond 22 May. | |
| .@JunckerEU hardline on May offer: “If the United Kingdom is in a position to approve the Withdrawal Agreement with a sustainable majority by 12 April, the European Union should be prepared to accept a delay until 22 May. | |
| “But 12 April is the ultimate deadline for the approval of the Withdrawal Agreement by the HoC. If it has not done so by then, no further short extension will be possible. After 12 April, we risk jeopardising the EP elections, and so threaten the functioning of the EU” | |
| This, from the New Statesman’s Patrick Maguire, is interesting. | This, from the New Statesman’s Patrick Maguire, is interesting. |
| Hearing government could accept Cooper Bill in some form... | Hearing government could accept Cooper Bill in some form... |
| Nikki da Costa, who used to be director of legislative affairs for Theresa May in Number 10, is horrified. | Nikki da Costa, who used to be director of legislative affairs for Theresa May in Number 10, is horrified. |
| Words fail me. There just doesn’t appear to be any legislative fight left in government. https://t.co/Sa4oGTRuUz | Words fail me. There just doesn’t appear to be any legislative fight left in government. https://t.co/Sa4oGTRuUz |
| David Davis, the Tory former Brexit secretary, intervenes. He says he is worried about the idea of passing a bill like this in one day. He says the last time the government did this was when it passed the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Davis says he later spent a long time challenging that in court. | David Davis, the Tory former Brexit secretary, intervenes. He says he is worried about the idea of passing a bill like this in one day. He says the last time the government did this was when it passed the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act. Davis says he later spent a long time challenging that in court. |
| Oliver Letwin says that was a much more complicated piece of legislation. | Oliver Letwin says that was a much more complicated piece of legislation. |
| MPs are now debating the business motion for today’s proceedings in the Commons. | MPs are now debating the business motion for today’s proceedings in the Commons. |
| This is the third day that backbenchers have effectively hijacked Commons business (which is normally under the control of the government) to allow for Brexit debates. On Wednesday last week, and on Monday this week, it was for indicative votes. Today it is to allow MPs to pass Yvette Cooper’s bill requiring the PM to seek an article 50 extension. | This is the third day that backbenchers have effectively hijacked Commons business (which is normally under the control of the government) to allow for Brexit debates. On Wednesday last week, and on Monday this week, it was for indicative votes. Today it is to allow MPs to pass Yvette Cooper’s bill requiring the PM to seek an article 50 extension. |
| The business motion is on the order paper here (pdf). | The business motion is on the order paper here (pdf). |
| As well as setting aside today for a debate allowing the Cooper bill to pass its Commons stages by 10pm tonight, the business motion also says MPs must get time to debate it when it comes back from the Lords. | As well as setting aside today for a debate allowing the Cooper bill to pass its Commons stages by 10pm tonight, the business motion also says MPs must get time to debate it when it comes back from the Lords. |
| And Labour’s Hilary Benn has tabled an amendment to the business motion saying next Monday should be set aside for another round of indicative votes. | And Labour’s Hilary Benn has tabled an amendment to the business motion saying next Monday should be set aside for another round of indicative votes. |
| John Bercow, the Speaker, has announced that he will call the Benn amendment. And Sir Oliver Letwin, the Tory former cabinet minister behind the indicative votes process who is opening the debate now, has just said he accepts the Benn amendment. | John Bercow, the Speaker, has announced that he will call the Benn amendment. And Sir Oliver Letwin, the Tory former cabinet minister behind the indicative votes process who is opening the debate now, has just said he accepts the Benn amendment. |
| Theresa May has been warned that a pact with Jeremy Corbyn to deliver a Brexit deal could destroy the Conservative party, as Eurosceptic MPs reacted with horror to her offer to work with Labour. One, Nigel Adams, resigned as a junior minister for Wales this morning saying that, in trying to do a deal with a Marxist who has never once in his political life put British interests first”, May was making a “grave error”. (See 9.46am.) And during PMQs seven Tory Brexiters stood up to criticise what May was doing. (See 1.20pm.) David Jones, the former Brexit minister, asked: | Theresa May has been warned that a pact with Jeremy Corbyn to deliver a Brexit deal could destroy the Conservative party, as Eurosceptic MPs reacted with horror to her offer to work with Labour. One, Nigel Adams, resigned as a junior minister for Wales this morning saying that, in trying to do a deal with a Marxist who has never once in his political life put British interests first”, May was making a “grave error”. (See 9.46am.) And during PMQs seven Tory Brexiters stood up to criticise what May was doing. (See 1.20pm.) David Jones, the former Brexit minister, asked: |
| Does it remain the position of the prime minister that the leader of the opposition is not fit to govern? | Does it remain the position of the prime minister that the leader of the opposition is not fit to govern? |
| And his fellow Tory Brexiter Caroline Johnson said: | And his fellow Tory Brexiter Caroline Johnson said: |
| If it comes to the point when we have to balance the risk of a no-deal Brexit versus the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, antisemite-led government, what does she think at the point is the lowest risk? | If it comes to the point when we have to balance the risk of a no-deal Brexit versus the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, antisemite-led government, what does she think at the point is the lowest risk? |
| Corbyn is under intense pressure from supporters of a second referendum to block any deal that comes without a public vote when he holds Brexit talks with May this afternoon. | Corbyn is under intense pressure from supporters of a second referendum to block any deal that comes without a public vote when he holds Brexit talks with May this afternoon. |
| A key ally of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has called for EU leaders to reject Theresa May’s appeal for a further short delay to Brexit, in a sign of the dangers of the prime minister’s strategy. | A key ally of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, has called for EU leaders to reject Theresa May’s appeal for a further short delay to Brexit, in a sign of the dangers of the prime minister’s strategy. |
| May has refused to rule out the UK taking part in European elections if the EU insists on a long article 50 extension. (See 12.53pm.) | May has refused to rule out the UK taking part in European elections if the EU insists on a long article 50 extension. (See 12.53pm.) |
| May has been accused of only inviting Corbyn to Brexit talks as “a trap”. The SNP’s Stewart Hosie made this charge at PMQs. (See 1.20pm.) And Ben Bradshaw is one of the Labour MPs who have made the same argument. | May has been accused of only inviting Corbyn to Brexit talks as “a trap”. The SNP’s Stewart Hosie made this charge at PMQs. (See 1.20pm.) And Ben Bradshaw is one of the Labour MPs who have made the same argument. |
| I thought momentarily last night May’s “offer” might be genuine. Having heard Barclay on @BBCr4today it is clearly a trap designed to try to get May’s terrible deal through, which some people have fallen for, but Labour mustn’t. Nothing has changed. #BrexitShambles #PeoplesVote | I thought momentarily last night May’s “offer” might be genuine. Having heard Barclay on @BBCr4today it is clearly a trap designed to try to get May’s terrible deal through, which some people have fallen for, but Labour mustn’t. Nothing has changed. #BrexitShambles #PeoplesVote |
| The trap: Any “concessions” are temporary & not legally binding. They will be attached to the political declaration. It will be immediately torn up by the incoming Tory leader. The only possible response from Labour: a public vote on what emerges as the price of our support. | The trap: Any “concessions” are temporary & not legally binding. They will be attached to the political declaration. It will be immediately torn up by the incoming Tory leader. The only possible response from Labour: a public vote on what emerges as the price of our support. |
| Corbyn tackled May over rising poverty in Britain at prime minister’s questions, as he pressed her on the government’s neglect of domestic policies as the Brexit impasse continues. | Corbyn tackled May over rising poverty in Britain at prime minister’s questions, as he pressed her on the government’s neglect of domestic policies as the Brexit impasse continues. |
| The British economy is at risk of sliding into a deepening downturn after stalling in the first quarter, following the weakest performance in the private sector in almost seven years as Brexit approaches. | The British economy is at risk of sliding into a deepening downturn after stalling in the first quarter, following the weakest performance in the private sector in almost seven years as Brexit approaches. |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused the BBC of having a “lefty obsession” during heated questioning over his tweet of a video of a speech by a senior member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland. | Jacob Rees-Mogg has accused the BBC of having a “lefty obsession” during heated questioning over his tweet of a video of a speech by a senior member of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland. |
| The Scottish government will use Brexit talks with the prime minister to try to push for voters to be given another say on staying in the European Union, Nicola Sturgeon’s Brexit Secretary has said. As the Press Association reports, with the first minister in London for discussions with Theresa May, Mike Russell suggested the “best outcome” to the Brexit deadlock would be a People’s Vote. He told MSPs in Edinburgh: | The Scottish government will use Brexit talks with the prime minister to try to push for voters to be given another say on staying in the European Union, Nicola Sturgeon’s Brexit Secretary has said. As the Press Association reports, with the first minister in London for discussions with Theresa May, Mike Russell suggested the “best outcome” to the Brexit deadlock would be a People’s Vote. He told MSPs in Edinburgh: |
| If I were able to wave a magic wand and get what I want - apart from no Brexit, which has been a complete distraction and disaster for the last two and half years of massively damaging proportions - then it would have to be a very long delay, a referendum, the European elections taking place and perhaps some calmness coming into this to look at the damage that would be done by proceeding along the present lines. | If I were able to wave a magic wand and get what I want - apart from no Brexit, which has been a complete distraction and disaster for the last two and half years of massively damaging proportions - then it would have to be a very long delay, a referendum, the European elections taking place and perhaps some calmness coming into this to look at the damage that would be done by proceeding along the present lines. |
| That PMQs was the second longest on record, according to the Press Association. Today’s lasted 55 minutes. The longest took place on April 26 2017 and lasted 56 minutes. | That PMQs was the second longest on record, according to the Press Association. Today’s lasted 55 minutes. The longest took place on April 26 2017 and lasted 56 minutes. |
| This is from my colleague Heather Stewart. | This is from my colleague Heather Stewart. |
| NEW - Jeremy Corbyn will take Keir Starmer, Nick Brown and Rebecca Long-Bailey with him to meet the PM later. “A substantial number of our demands relate to her brief,” a spokesman says. She’s also *not* a big referendum fan. | NEW - Jeremy Corbyn will take Keir Starmer, Nick Brown and Rebecca Long-Bailey with him to meet the PM later. “A substantial number of our demands relate to her brief,” a spokesman says. She’s also *not* a big referendum fan. |
| PMQs - Snap verdict: There is an alternate universe where perhaps David Cameron never announced a referendum, or remain won, and politics in 2019 is devoted to the usual arguments about things like the economy, wages, poverty and welfare reform. After a brief and rather gracious statement welcoming her invitation for Brexit talks, Jeremy Corbyn took us into this parallel universe for about 15 minutes or so by devoting all his questions to economy/welfare issues. “Parallel universe” is not quite right though, because it’s the real world he was describing - Britain in 2019 - and his questions sounded like a reliable canter through what would be the main issues in a (Brexit-free) election campaign. Theresa May seemed happy to engage with Corbyn on this territory, although his talking points were more compelling than hers. But it all felt like a huge distraction from the crisis engulfing the government, and the country, and May came under much more pressure from her own MPs than she did from Corbyn. By my count, seven Tory Brexiters (Davis Amess, David Jones, Lee Rowley, Julian Lewis, Caroline Johnson, Christopher Chope and Nigel Evans) taunted her with varying degrees of anger over her decision last night to embrace Labour in the hope of getting a Brexit deal through parliament. They weren’t calling for her to quit, because she has promised that already, but nevertheless from that wing of the party all respect for her has now vanished. The best question came from Evans, who tried, and failed, to get an assurance from her that the UK would not fight European elections. (See 12.53pm.) Expect to hear a a lot more about this in the coming days. And the other standout question came from the SNP’s Stewart Hosie. He asked May: | PMQs - Snap verdict: There is an alternate universe where perhaps David Cameron never announced a referendum, or remain won, and politics in 2019 is devoted to the usual arguments about things like the economy, wages, poverty and welfare reform. After a brief and rather gracious statement welcoming her invitation for Brexit talks, Jeremy Corbyn took us into this parallel universe for about 15 minutes or so by devoting all his questions to economy/welfare issues. “Parallel universe” is not quite right though, because it’s the real world he was describing - Britain in 2019 - and his questions sounded like a reliable canter through what would be the main issues in a (Brexit-free) election campaign. Theresa May seemed happy to engage with Corbyn on this territory, although his talking points were more compelling than hers. But it all felt like a huge distraction from the crisis engulfing the government, and the country, and May came under much more pressure from her own MPs than she did from Corbyn. By my count, seven Tory Brexiters (Davis Amess, David Jones, Lee Rowley, Julian Lewis, Caroline Johnson, Christopher Chope and Nigel Evans) taunted her with varying degrees of anger over her decision last night to embrace Labour in the hope of getting a Brexit deal through parliament. They weren’t calling for her to quit, because she has promised that already, but nevertheless from that wing of the party all respect for her has now vanished. The best question came from Evans, who tried, and failed, to get an assurance from her that the UK would not fight European elections. (See 12.53pm.) Expect to hear a a lot more about this in the coming days. And the other standout question came from the SNP’s Stewart Hosie. He asked May: |
| After two years of Brexit deadlock, intransigence and a seven-hour cabinet meeting, the best the prime minister can do is invite the leader of the British Labour party to become the co-owner of her Brexit failure. Let me ask her, had she been the leader of the opposition, and invited into a trap like this, would she have been foolish enough to accept? | After two years of Brexit deadlock, intransigence and a seven-hour cabinet meeting, the best the prime minister can do is invite the leader of the British Labour party to become the co-owner of her Brexit failure. Let me ask her, had she been the leader of the opposition, and invited into a trap like this, would she have been foolish enough to accept? |
| Hosie did not get a proper answer, but many Labour MPs were probably thinking his analysis was spot on. | Hosie did not get a proper answer, but many Labour MPs were probably thinking his analysis was spot on. |
| And that’s it. PMQs has finally ended, after 56 minutes - almost double the amount of time for which it is scheduled. I’m not keeping count, but that could be a record. | And that’s it. PMQs has finally ended, after 56 minutes - almost double the amount of time for which it is scheduled. I’m not keeping count, but that could be a record. |
| Nick Boles, who resigned the Tory whip, says sitting next to the Lib Dems and the SNP is unusual for him. But he remains a progressive conservative, he says. He asks for an assurance that May will enter the talks with Corbyn without the red lines that have bedevilled the talks so far. | Nick Boles, who resigned the Tory whip, says sitting next to the Lib Dems and the SNP is unusual for him. But he remains a progressive conservative, he says. He asks for an assurance that May will enter the talks with Corbyn without the red lines that have bedevilled the talks so far. |
| May says she wants to find a resolution to this issue. | May says she wants to find a resolution to this issue. |
| Nigel Evans, a Tory Brexiter, asks May if she will say “no, no, no” if the EU insist that the UK has to fight European elections to get another article 50 extension. | Nigel Evans, a Tory Brexiter, asks May if she will say “no, no, no” if the EU insist that the UK has to fight European elections to get another article 50 extension. |
| May says she wants a deal that enables the UK to leave on 22 May, so it does not have to fight the European elections. But that will only happen if MPs vote for a deal, she ways. | May says she wants a deal that enables the UK to leave on 22 May, so it does not have to fight the European elections. But that will only happen if MPs vote for a deal, she ways. |
| May refuses to rule out the UK holding European elections if the EU insists on a long article 50 extension. | May refuses to rule out the UK holding European elections if the EU insists on a long article 50 extension. |
| The SNP’s Kirsty Blackman says freedom of movement is good socially and economically, and it is good for young people. Will May be honest about those benefits, and retain them? | The SNP’s Kirsty Blackman says freedom of movement is good socially and economically, and it is good for young people. Will May be honest about those benefits, and retain them? |
| May says she wants an immigration system that means people are admitted on the basis of their skills, not on the basis of coming from the EU. | May says she wants an immigration system that means people are admitted on the basis of their skills, not on the basis of coming from the EU. |
| Labour’s Karin Smyth says some government suggestions for schools, like cutting the size of lunches, are unacceptable. They belong in the days of the workhouse. | Labour’s Karin Smyth says some government suggestions for schools, like cutting the size of lunches, are unacceptable. They belong in the days of the workhouse. |
| May says funding for schools is going up. | May says funding for schools is going up. |