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Brexit: May to address Commons after EU sets October deadline – live news | Brexit: May to address Commons after EU sets October deadline – live news |
(32 minutes later) | |
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has written an open letter to Theresa May urging her not to waste the “gift of more time” given to the UK by the EU. Here’s an extract. | |
We now have the gift of more time from the EU, and that must be used constructively to re-set the UK government approach. Your ongoing talks with the leader of the opposition should now broaden to include other parties, the devolved administrations, business and civic society, and open up the range of options on the table in an effort to reach a genuine consensus. If such talks are to stand any chance of success you must be prepared to recognise in particular that it is essential for Scotland, at the very least, to stay inside the single market and continue to benefit from freedom of movement. | |
Speaking in the Irish parliament, Simon Coveney, the Irish deputy prime minister and foreign minister, said that a no-deal Brexit now looked “less likely” than it did a week ago. He explained: | |
I want to reassure people that if we do face a no-deal Brexit, which looks less likely today than it did last week, we will be ready to support farm families through what will be a difficult period of change and disruption. | |
For an alternative view, see Mujtaba Rahman at 10.49am. | |
On another point of order the Labour MP Chris Bryant has just said in the Commons that there is a rumour that the government intends to keep this session of parliament running until 31 October. Sessions of parliament normally last a year, but after the 2017 general election the government announced that the first session of this parliament would last two years. | On another point of order the Labour MP Chris Bryant has just said in the Commons that there is a rumour that the government intends to keep this session of parliament running until 31 October. Sessions of parliament normally last a year, but after the 2017 general election the government announced that the first session of this parliament would last two years. |
John Bercow, the Speaker, said he had not been told when the government intends to wrap up this session. | John Bercow, the Speaker, said he had not been told when the government intends to wrap up this session. |
In the Commons Sir Bill Cash, the Tory Brexiter, has just used a point of order to say the Commons should sit tomorrow to debate the order changing the date of Brexit in the EU Withdrawal Act following the decision last night to extend article 50. He described the decision last night as “abject surrender”, and said not holding a debate was “cowardice and chicanery”. | In the Commons Sir Bill Cash, the Tory Brexiter, has just used a point of order to say the Commons should sit tomorrow to debate the order changing the date of Brexit in the EU Withdrawal Act following the decision last night to extend article 50. He described the decision last night as “abject surrender”, and said not holding a debate was “cowardice and chicanery”. |
MPs held a debate when the exit date was originally changed from 29 March to 12 April or 22 May. But, as an amendment to the Yvette Cooper bill that was passed on Monday, the government changed the procedure. Previously the date had to be changed under secondary legislation using the affirmative resolution procedure, which meant there had to be a vote first. Now it can be changed under the negative resolution procedure, which means the change goes through unless MPs pass a motion to annul. | MPs held a debate when the exit date was originally changed from 29 March to 12 April or 22 May. But, as an amendment to the Yvette Cooper bill that was passed on Monday, the government changed the procedure. Previously the date had to be changed under secondary legislation using the affirmative resolution procedure, which meant there had to be a vote first. Now it can be changed under the negative resolution procedure, which means the change goes through unless MPs pass a motion to annul. |
Speaking at an Institute for Government event this morning, Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the CBI, said that businesses would not be “dancing in the streets” over the Brexit delay until 31 October. She said the new delay would provide “brief relief” for businesses worried about the “cliff edge” of a no deal. But she went on: | Speaking at an Institute for Government event this morning, Carolyn Fairbairn, the director general of the CBI, said that businesses would not be “dancing in the streets” over the Brexit delay until 31 October. She said the new delay would provide “brief relief” for businesses worried about the “cliff edge” of a no deal. But she went on: |
It will be quickly followed by frustration, exasperation, we’re still here. Six months will come around extremely quickly and I think members will already be thinking ‘but that’s the run-up to Christmas’. | It will be quickly followed by frustration, exasperation, we’re still here. Six months will come around extremely quickly and I think members will already be thinking ‘but that’s the run-up to Christmas’. |
I’m afraid there will be no dancing in the streets around this and I wouldn’t expect much in the way of ramming down of no-deal planning. | I’m afraid there will be no dancing in the streets around this and I wouldn’t expect much in the way of ramming down of no-deal planning. |
Fairbairn also said that the government should use the next fews months to set up a process to find an acceptable Brexit compromise. And that had to involve more than just Labour and the government holding talks, she said. | Fairbairn also said that the government should use the next fews months to set up a process to find an acceptable Brexit compromise. And that had to involve more than just Labour and the government holding talks, she said. |
Our huge hope off the back of this six-month reprieve is that it’s used to set up a process and it’s not just people locked in a room on their own which we’ve seen in the last few days. | Our huge hope off the back of this six-month reprieve is that it’s used to set up a process and it’s not just people locked in a room on their own which we’ve seen in the last few days. |
She said there should be a three to four-month initiative bringing together civic society and wider stakeholders to discuss Brexit. | She said there should be a three to four-month initiative bringing together civic society and wider stakeholders to discuss Brexit. |
It could ask the question ‘what kind of Brexit do we want?’ We should have done it two years ago, why don’t we do it now? Me personally, I might have liked a slightly longer extension to enable that to happen, but actually this focuses minds. | It could ask the question ‘what kind of Brexit do we want?’ We should have done it two years ago, why don’t we do it now? Me personally, I might have liked a slightly longer extension to enable that to happen, but actually this focuses minds. |
This sounds a bit like Gordon Brown’s proposal for a people’s royal commission to find a version of Brexit acceptable to the country. | This sounds a bit like Gordon Brown’s proposal for a people’s royal commission to find a version of Brexit acceptable to the country. |
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, had a meeting in Brussels today with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. She was accompanied by the Tory Brexiters Owen Paterson and Iain Duncan Smith. Afterwards she said: | Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, had a meeting in Brussels today with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator. She was accompanied by the Tory Brexiters Owen Paterson and Iain Duncan Smith. Afterwards she said: |
We wanted to have the unionist voice heard so that he could hear the impact of the backstop and what it will do to the balance in Northern Ireland. We had good engagement around that issue today. | We wanted to have the unionist voice heard so that he could hear the impact of the backstop and what it will do to the balance in Northern Ireland. We had good engagement around that issue today. |
Duncan Smith said they had told Barnier about “alternative arrangements” to the backstop, and “what possibilities there were around the border” | Duncan Smith said they had told Barnier about “alternative arrangements” to the backstop, and “what possibilities there were around the border” |
Asked if she still had confidence in Theresa May, Foster said: | Asked if she still had confidence in Theresa May, Foster said: |
As you know the confidence and supply agreement that we signed was with the Conservative party and whoever the leader of the party is we will work with. We believe in national stability. We want to see Brexit delivered. | As you know the confidence and supply agreement that we signed was with the Conservative party and whoever the leader of the party is we will work with. We believe in national stability. We want to see Brexit delivered. |
This is from my colleague Jessica Elgot. | This is from my colleague Jessica Elgot. |
Mood in Westminster feels a lot like the pressure valve has been released. They can't force May out, cabinet seemed resigned rather than resigning. Everyone desperate for a break. But will tone change when May stands up at 1? | Mood in Westminster feels a lot like the pressure valve has been released. They can't force May out, cabinet seemed resigned rather than resigning. Everyone desperate for a break. But will tone change when May stands up at 1? |
During questions in the Commons earlier, Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, said the government was willing to “listen” to requests for a second referendum. | During questions in the Commons earlier, Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, said the government was willing to “listen” to requests for a second referendum. |
The SNP’s Joanna Cherry asked him what discussions the cabinet had had about holding a second referendum. Cox said he would not comment on what came up at cabinet, but he went on: | The SNP’s Joanna Cherry asked him what discussions the cabinet had had about holding a second referendum. Cox said he would not comment on what came up at cabinet, but he went on: |
What I can say is this; the discussions that are currently going forward, with the Labour Party, with the opposition, are being pursued in good faith, there are no preconditions to it. | What I can say is this; the discussions that are currently going forward, with the Labour Party, with the opposition, are being pursued in good faith, there are no preconditions to it. |
And of course we will listen to any suggestions that are made, whether it be about a second referendum or any other matter, to see if we can find common ground in the interest of the country to leave the European Union as swiftly as possible. | And of course we will listen to any suggestions that are made, whether it be about a second referendum or any other matter, to see if we can find common ground in the interest of the country to leave the European Union as swiftly as possible. |
After the Commons business statement there will be a statement on discrimination in football. The prime minister’s statement on Brexit will come after that, which means it begin at some point after 1pm. | After the Commons business statement there will be a statement on discrimination in football. The prime minister’s statement on Brexit will come after that, which means it begin at some point after 1pm. |
Two Government Statements today after Business Questions:1. Discrimination in Football @DCMS_SecOfState 2. European Council @theresa_may | Two Government Statements today after Business Questions:1. Discrimination in Football @DCMS_SecOfState 2. European Council @theresa_may |
There will be a further ministerial statement on the arrest of Julian Assange after the PMs statement (Javid / Abbott) | There will be a further ministerial statement on the arrest of Julian Assange after the PMs statement (Javid / Abbott) |
Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, has just confirmed that, if MPs a motion on the order paper today, the house will rise for the Easter recess this afternoon and not return until Tuesday 23 April. | Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the Commons, has just confirmed that, if MPs a motion on the order paper today, the house will rise for the Easter recess this afternoon and not return until Tuesday 23 April. |
And she has just announced the business for the first week after Easter, which does not include any Brexit indicative votes, or the introduction of the long-awaited EU withdrawal agreement bill. | And she has just announced the business for the first week after Easter, which does not include any Brexit indicative votes, or the introduction of the long-awaited EU withdrawal agreement bill. |