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| May close to abandoning Brexit bill amid growing cabinet backlash - live news | May close to abandoning Brexit bill amid growing cabinet backlash - live news |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Gavin Williamson, the former defence secretary, has formally announced that he is backing Boris Johnson for next Conservative leader. He told his local paper, the Express & Star: | |
| I think he’s the best candidate. | |
| He’s the one who can deliver change for both the Conservative Party and the country. | |
| I will be enthusiastically backing him and very much hope I can play a small role in making sure that his name is the one that the party chooses as leader. | |
| The bottom line is that the only person who can deliver Brexit and defeat Labour is Boris Johnson. | |
| The reference to playing “a small role” in the Johnson campaign will provoke wry smile in Tory circles. Williamson was not a great success as defence secretary, but he was rated as a chief whip and some people regard him as the best backroom fixer/organiser in the Conservative party. He played a leading role in Theresa May’s campaign in 2016. | |
| His endorsement will be valuable to Johnson, not just because of the skills he can bring to the campaign, but because he is seen as someone with a track record for hitching up with the winning candidate. After Williamson, other Tories may feel more inclined to join the bandwagon too. | |
| Michael Gove, the Brexiter environment secretary, has been tweeting his support for the Tory MEP Daniel Hannan, the lead Conservative candidate in the south east region. Gove says Hannan has done more than anyone “to ensure the UK becomes an independent nation again” (which may come as a surprise to anyone who thought it wasn’t an independent nation). | |
| It’s critical that people vote Conservative today in the European elections. I urge everyone in Surrey Heath to support our candidates in the South East - especially @DanielJHannan, who has done more than anyone else to ensure the UK becomes an independent nation again | |
| An army veteran in his 80s acting as a teller for the Brexit party had a milkshake thrown over him outside a polling station in Aldershot, the Telegraph reports. | |
| The broadcaster Piers Morgan is among those speaking up for him on Twitter. | |
| This elderly gentleman served in the British armed forces for 22 years. Today he was manning a Brexit Party polling station when he was attacked & had milkshake thrown all over him. All because he wants the result of a democratic referendum to be honoured. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/1vZMHM31M2 | |
| It wouldn’t be a proper election without #dogsatpollingstations. Here is a selection that have caught my eye. | It wouldn’t be a proper election without #dogsatpollingstations. Here is a selection that have caught my eye. |
| Poppy says...don’t forget to vote! #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/7mBGOvIWBK | Poppy says...don’t forget to vote! #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/7mBGOvIWBK |
| Wallis was particularly excited about going to vote today #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/qUwtGNgOVC | Wallis was particularly excited about going to vote today #DogsAtPollingStations pic.twitter.com/qUwtGNgOVC |
| Where is everybody ??? #earlydoors #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/vtNZyAkJLD | Where is everybody ??? #earlydoors #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/vtNZyAkJLD |
| Parliamentary democracy crumbling around our ears, but some traditions are worth preserving #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/zcVYtS67uY | Parliamentary democracy crumbling around our ears, but some traditions are worth preserving #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/zcVYtS67uY |
| #dogsatpollingstations #VoteSNP pic.twitter.com/SHyNXpW7xj | #dogsatpollingstations #VoteSNP pic.twitter.com/SHyNXpW7xj |
| George says please vote today! #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/utKFLj8igJ | George says please vote today! #dogsatpollingstations pic.twitter.com/utKFLj8igJ |
| Here is the SNP’s Pete Wishart commenting on the government’s announcement that it cannot confirm that the EU withdrawal agreement bill second reading will go ahead in the first week of June. (See 11.22am.) He said: | Here is the SNP’s Pete Wishart commenting on the government’s announcement that it cannot confirm that the EU withdrawal agreement bill second reading will go ahead in the first week of June. (See 11.22am.) He said: |
| The decision to shelve the damaging withdrawal agreement bill has confirmed beyond any doubt that this Tory government is in a state of paralysis, completely dysfunctional and unable to get on with the day job. | The decision to shelve the damaging withdrawal agreement bill has confirmed beyond any doubt that this Tory government is in a state of paralysis, completely dysfunctional and unable to get on with the day job. |
| Rather than seeking a way to end the Brexit impasse, the Tories have instead kicked the can further down the road. | Rather than seeking a way to end the Brexit impasse, the Tories have instead kicked the can further down the road. |
| This is the final humiliation for Theresa May, who surely cannot remain in office much longer. | This is the final humiliation for Theresa May, who surely cannot remain in office much longer. |
| Theresa May has bowed to pressure from backbenchers and cabinet ministers and abandoned plans to publish her controversial EU withdrawal agreement bill (Wab) tomorrow. She triggered a ferocious backlash in her party on Tuesday when she announced that the bill would include plans to give MPs a vote on holding a second referendum and on a temporary customs union, and this has intensified calls for her to announce that she will resign. Yesterday No 10 said the bill would be published on Friday, and that it would get its second reading vote in the week beginning Monday 3 June. But today the government announced that publication has been delayed until the first week of June, and a minister had to admit that it is now possible that the second reading won’t take place that week after all. (See 11.22am.) The news has heightened speculation that the bill will eventually be abandoned, although May is in talks with cabinet colleagues about whether it could be rescued via a rewrite. The fate of the bill is inextricably linked to her survival as prime minister because last week she agreed with the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee to postpone any announcement about when she will stand down until after the bill’s second reading. Any decision to kill the bill would leave her with no excuse not to resign as Conservative leader immediately, triggering the leadership contest that will choose her successor as PM. | |
| May has appointed Mel Stride as leader of the Commons in a mini reshuffle prompted by the resignation yesterday of Andrea Leadsom. (See 1.18pm.) | May has appointed Mel Stride as leader of the Commons in a mini reshuffle prompted by the resignation yesterday of Andrea Leadsom. (See 1.18pm.) |
| Jean-Claude Juncker has suggested that the UK is drifting towards another Brexit extension in October as he criticised MPs for prioritising the prime minister’s removal over finding agreement on a Brexit deal. | Jean-Claude Juncker has suggested that the UK is drifting towards another Brexit extension in October as he criticised MPs for prioritising the prime minister’s removal over finding agreement on a Brexit deal. |
| A disturbing picture is emerging of EU citizens in the UK being denied their democratic right to vote in the European parliament elections taking place today because of administrative errors by local councils. | A disturbing picture is emerging of EU citizens in the UK being denied their democratic right to vote in the European parliament elections taking place today because of administrative errors by local councils. |
| Boris Johnson lied when he repeatedly claimed during the 2016 referendum on EU membership that the UK sent £350m a week to Brussels, lawyers attempting to launch a private prosecution of the MP have told a court. | Boris Johnson lied when he repeatedly claimed during the 2016 referendum on EU membership that the UK sent £350m a week to Brussels, lawyers attempting to launch a private prosecution of the MP have told a court. |
| Peter Hain, the Labour peer who used parliamentary privilege to accuse Sir Philip Green of being an abusive bully, has said he did so after hearing “horrible” claims of repeated sexual assaults resulting in hundreds of grievance cases. | Peter Hain, the Labour peer who used parliamentary privilege to accuse Sir Philip Green of being an abusive bully, has said he did so after hearing “horrible” claims of repeated sexual assaults resulting in hundreds of grievance cases. |
| Theresa May has left Downing Street and is heading for her Maidenhead constituency, the Press Association reports. | Theresa May has left Downing Street and is heading for her Maidenhead constituency, the Press Association reports. |
| The appointment of Mel Stride to the cabinet, as the new leader of the Commons, will be seen as a discreet boost to Michael Gove, the environment secretary, who is a candidate to succeed Theresa May. Stride has reportedly been campaigning on behalf of Gove although, according to a recent report in the Sunday Times (paywall), he has been so discreet about it that some MPs got the impression he was running himself. Here is an extract from a story Gabriel Pogrund and Tim Shipman wrote earlier this year. | The appointment of Mel Stride to the cabinet, as the new leader of the Commons, will be seen as a discreet boost to Michael Gove, the environment secretary, who is a candidate to succeed Theresa May. Stride has reportedly been campaigning on behalf of Gove although, according to a recent report in the Sunday Times (paywall), he has been so discreet about it that some MPs got the impression he was running himself. Here is an extract from a story Gabriel Pogrund and Tim Shipman wrote earlier this year. |
| Mel Stride, a Treasury minister, has hosted dinners at his home in recent weeks during which he has made the case for Gove, gathering a cadre of supporters from different wings of the party should he decide to run. | Mel Stride, a Treasury minister, has hosted dinners at his home in recent weeks during which he has made the case for Gove, gathering a cadre of supporters from different wings of the party should he decide to run. |
| The role of Stride, who runs the Deep Blue group of traditional Tories, as a cheerleader for Gove was so shrouded in secrecy that some MPs believed he was running for leader himself. | The role of Stride, who runs the Deep Blue group of traditional Tories, as a cheerleader for Gove was so shrouded in secrecy that some MPs believed he was running for leader himself. |
| Stride further muddied the waters by hosting a dinner a week ago on behalf of the leadership team of Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary. | Stride further muddied the waters by hosting a dinner a week ago on behalf of the leadership team of Jeremy Hunt, the foreign secretary. |
| Downing Street has just announced | Downing Street has just announced |
| Mel Stride, the Treasury minister, will become leader of the Commons. | Mel Stride, the Treasury minister, will become leader of the Commons. |
| Jesse Norman, the transport minister, will replace Stride as financial secretary to the Treasury and paymaster general. | Jesse Norman, the transport minister, will replace Stride as financial secretary to the Treasury and paymaster general. |
| Michael Ellis, a culture minister, replaces Norman as transport minister. | Michael Ellis, a culture minister, replaces Norman as transport minister. |
| And Rebecca Pow joins the government, replacing Ellis as culture minister. | And Rebecca Pow joins the government, replacing Ellis as culture minister. |
| Margaritis Schinas, the European commission’s chief spokesman, has posted a tweet saying that a video promoted by a pro-unionist Twitter account from Northern Ireland contains a quote falsely attributed to Martin Selmayr, the secretary general of the EU Commission. The video claims Selmayr said Northern Ireland was “the price to pay for Brexit”. Selmary has denied saying that, and Schinas said the claim was being “spread maliciously”. | Margaritis Schinas, the European commission’s chief spokesman, has posted a tweet saying that a video promoted by a pro-unionist Twitter account from Northern Ireland contains a quote falsely attributed to Martin Selmayr, the secretary general of the EU Commission. The video claims Selmayr said Northern Ireland was “the price to pay for Brexit”. Selmary has denied saying that, and Schinas said the claim was being “spread maliciously”. |
| The sentence attributed to the @EU_Commission Secretary General at 1:16 of this video is fake, fraudulent and pure disinformation that has been spread maliciously. https://t.co/3mR2KuipVR | The sentence attributed to the @EU_Commission Secretary General at 1:16 of this video is fake, fraudulent and pure disinformation that has been spread maliciously. https://t.co/3mR2KuipVR |
| The Twitter account has no name attached to it and just describes itself as “promoting the positive benefits of NI’s membership of the UK”. | The Twitter account has no name attached to it and just describes itself as “promoting the positive benefits of NI’s membership of the UK”. |
| During an urgent question in the Commons earlier Caroline Dinenage, the care minister, apologised on behalf of the NHS for the abuse of people with learning disabilities and autism at the specialist hospital Whorlton Hall. The abuses were exposed in a harrowing report by an undercover reporter working for the BBC’s Panorama which has led to a police investigation, 16 staff being suspended and the hospital being closed. | During an urgent question in the Commons earlier Caroline Dinenage, the care minister, apologised on behalf of the NHS for the abuse of people with learning disabilities and autism at the specialist hospital Whorlton Hall. The abuses were exposed in a harrowing report by an undercover reporter working for the BBC’s Panorama which has led to a police investigation, 16 staff being suspended and the hospital being closed. |
| Dinenage said: | Dinenage said: |
| On behalf of the health and care system, I am deeply sorry that this has happened. | On behalf of the health and care system, I am deeply sorry that this has happened. |
| She said the actions revealed by the Panorama programme were “quite simply appalling” and that the government would look at whether criminality was involved, whether the regulatory framework was working and whether oversight was fit for purpose. She told MPs: | She said the actions revealed by the Panorama programme were “quite simply appalling” and that the government would look at whether criminality was involved, whether the regulatory framework was working and whether oversight was fit for purpose. She told MPs: |
| Where it is essential that somebody has to be supported at distance from their home, we will make sure that those arrangements are supervised. | Where it is essential that somebody has to be supported at distance from their home, we will make sure that those arrangements are supervised. |
| We won’t tolerate having people out of sight and out of mind. Where someone with a learning disability or an autistic person has to be an inpatient out of area, they will be now visited every six weeks if they are a child or every eight weeks if they are an adult. | We won’t tolerate having people out of sight and out of mind. Where someone with a learning disability or an autistic person has to be an inpatient out of area, they will be now visited every six weeks if they are a child or every eight weeks if they are an adult. |
| There are a lot of reports on social media of EU nationals being denied a vote in today’s European elections. | There are a lot of reports on social media of EU nationals being denied a vote in today’s European elections. |
| EU nationals can vote in the UK in European elections. They have to register, like UK nationals. But they also have to fill in a form, known as the UC1 or EC6 form, saying they will only be voting in the UK, and not in other EU countries. | EU nationals can vote in the UK in European elections. They have to register, like UK nationals. But they also have to fill in a form, known as the UC1 or EC6 form, saying they will only be voting in the UK, and not in other EU countries. |
| Local authorities have to process these forms. But, as my colleague Lisa O’Carroll reported on Tuesday, there have been reports that in some areas this has not been happening properly. | Local authorities have to process these forms. But, as my colleague Lisa O’Carroll reported on Tuesday, there have been reports that in some areas this has not been happening properly. |
| Many EU citizens will be unable to vote in UK, campaigners warn | Many EU citizens will be unable to vote in UK, campaigners warn |
| Lisa has met EU nationals today being denied the right to vote and she has asked people with similar stories to get in touch. | Lisa has met EU nationals today being denied the right to vote and she has asked people with similar stories to get in touch. |
| Just been to polling booth in London Tower Hamlets where two German nationals denied vote. They returned their UC1 form by hand on 2 May. I witnessed Kat phone the no she was given by officials and she was told the form was not processed until 16 May - 9 days after deadline. | Just been to polling booth in London Tower Hamlets where two German nationals denied vote. They returned their UC1 form by hand on 2 May. I witnessed Kat phone the no she was given by officials and she was told the form was not processed until 16 May - 9 days after deadline. |
| EU citizens denied their legal right to vote because local council did not process their forms...man on phone told them they could no nothing about it | EU citizens denied their legal right to vote because local council did not process their forms...man on phone told them they could no nothing about it |
| #deniedmyvoteEU citizens - please do contact me. I am doing story on this today and want to hear your stories. lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com | #deniedmyvoteEU citizens - please do contact me. I am doing story on this today and want to hear your stories. lisa.ocarroll@theguardian.com |
| The pro-European campaigner Gina Miller is also asking people affected to get in touch. | The pro-European campaigner Gina Miller is also asking people affected to get in touch. |
| Knew about UK expats being denied a vote today. https://t.co/qGgoDjQftRBut now hearing EU citizen are being turned away from polling stations & told 'vote in your own country' - if this has happened to you email us at info@remainunited.org as a breach of your rights@remainutd | Knew about UK expats being denied a vote today. https://t.co/qGgoDjQftRBut now hearing EU citizen are being turned away from polling stations & told 'vote in your own country' - if this has happened to you email us at info@remainunited.org as a breach of your rights@remainutd |
| And on Twitter some people are sharing their experiences using the hashtag #DeniedMyVote. Here is an example, from Agata Patyna, a barrister. | And on Twitter some people are sharing their experiences using the hashtag #DeniedMyVote. Here is an example, from Agata Patyna, a barrister. |
| Turned away from polling station this morning. Told I should vote in my EU member state. Called local council yesterday, they confirmed I could vote. Called again today. Apparently council had no time to send out forms to all EU residents. Nothing they can do now #DeniedMyVote | Turned away from polling station this morning. Told I should vote in my EU member state. Called local council yesterday, they confirmed I could vote. Called again today. Apparently council had no time to send out forms to all EU residents. Nothing they can do now #DeniedMyVote |
| To clarify, I registered before the deadline. Have been here since 2005. Voted many times before. This is ‘my’ EU member state. | To clarify, I registered before the deadline. Have been here since 2005. Voted many times before. This is ‘my’ EU member state. |
| The Evening Standard has more examples here. | The Evening Standard has more examples here. |
| Margot James, the digital minister, has said Theresa May is being hounded out of office. Speaking to the Press Association after an event in London, she said: | Margot James, the digital minister, has said Theresa May is being hounded out of office. Speaking to the Press Association after an event in London, she said: |
| It’s all very regrettable but she’s being hounded out of office because parliament will not make a decision and the parties just have an inability to compromise. But in the end there’s got to be a compromise. | It’s all very regrettable but she’s being hounded out of office because parliament will not make a decision and the parties just have an inability to compromise. But in the end there’s got to be a compromise. |
| Theresa May is due to appoint a new leader of the Commons today, Number 10 has said. | Theresa May is due to appoint a new leader of the Commons today, Number 10 has said. |
| This is what Valerie Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, said in the chamber earlier about the government’s decision not to publish the EU withdrawal agreement bill tomorrow. (See 11.22am.) She said: | This is what Valerie Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, said in the chamber earlier about the government’s decision not to publish the EU withdrawal agreement bill tomorrow. (See 11.22am.) She said: |
| Yesterday the prime minister told the house that the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill would be in the week commencing June 3rd, now we hear it’s not, so in less than 24 hours the prime minister has broken her word. This is yet another broken promise by the prime minister on Brexit. | Yesterday the prime minister told the house that the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill would be in the week commencing June 3rd, now we hear it’s not, so in less than 24 hours the prime minister has broken her word. This is yet another broken promise by the prime minister on Brexit. |