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| Brexit: Government tables motion for Commons to sit on Saturday as talks continue – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson has been speaking to the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee. But he was not there for long. Only five minutes, or eight minutes, or 10 minutes - the lobby can’t agree. | |
| PM leaves 1922 cttee after just 5mins | |
| Boris leaves 1922 committee after 8/9 minutes inside. Lots of banging and "hear hear" from inside | |
| Very rapid 22 with Boris Johnson, his appearance done in ten mins | |
| Whatever, he wasn’t there for long. Normally when the PM attends a meeting of the 1922, the session lasts for around an hour. | |
| Downing Street has announced that it has tabled a motion for the House of Commons and the House of Lords to sit on Saturday, from 9.30am until 2pm. | |
| MPs are due to vote on the motion tomorrow. But if the government decided at the last minute not to go ahead with the Saturday sitting (because the deal did not materialise), it could decide not to move the motion tomorrow (which would mean it did not get put to a vote). | |
| From ITV’s Joe Pike | |
| NEW: The Government have tabled a motion calling for the House of Commons and House of Lords to sit this Saturday.It is possible they won’t move the motion tomorrow.#Brexit | |
| When Theresa May was prime minister she told MPs that she was opposed to the EU’s original plan for a Northern Ireland-only backstop because no British prime minister could accept a customs border of that kind down the Irish Sea. The quote will come back to haunt her if Boris Johnson does negotiate a deal that would in practice keep Northern Ireland in the customs union. May told MPs in February 2018: | When Theresa May was prime minister she told MPs that she was opposed to the EU’s original plan for a Northern Ireland-only backstop because no British prime minister could accept a customs border of that kind down the Irish Sea. The quote will come back to haunt her if Boris Johnson does negotiate a deal that would in practice keep Northern Ireland in the customs union. May told MPs in February 2018: |
| The draft legal text the commission have published would, if implemented, undermine the UK common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and no UK prime minster could ever agree to it. | The draft legal text the commission have published would, if implemented, undermine the UK common market and threaten the constitutional integrity of the UK by creating a customs and regulatory border down the Irish Sea, and no UK prime minster could ever agree to it. |
| Boris Johnson faces the same problem because, as the People’s Vote campaign points out, he also said that no Conservative government could sign up to a plan that would impose customs controls between Britain and Northern Ireland. What makes this particularly awkward for him is that he made this comment in a speech to the DUP annual conference in November 2018. He said: | Boris Johnson faces the same problem because, as the People’s Vote campaign points out, he also said that no Conservative government could sign up to a plan that would impose customs controls between Britain and Northern Ireland. What makes this particularly awkward for him is that he made this comment in a speech to the DUP annual conference in November 2018. He said: |
| If we wanted to do free trade deals, if we wanted to cut tariffs ... if we wanted to vary our regulation then we would have to leave Northern Ireland behind as an economic semi-colony of the EU and we would be damaging the fabric of the union with regulatory checks and even customs controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland – on top of those extra regulatory checks down the Irish Sea that are already envisaged in the withdrawal agreement. | If we wanted to do free trade deals, if we wanted to cut tariffs ... if we wanted to vary our regulation then we would have to leave Northern Ireland behind as an economic semi-colony of the EU and we would be damaging the fabric of the union with regulatory checks and even customs controls between Great Britain and Northern Ireland – on top of those extra regulatory checks down the Irish Sea that are already envisaged in the withdrawal agreement. |
| Now I have to tell you, no British Conservative government could or should sign up to any such arrangement. | Now I have to tell you, no British Conservative government could or should sign up to any such arrangement. |
| Here is the clip. | Here is the clip. |
| REVEALED: In 2018 Boris Johnson admits that 'no Conservative government' could sign up to a border in the Irish Sea. But that's exactly what his hard Brexit proposal does. No one can trust Boris Johnson to solve the #Brexit crisis. Only the people can: https://t.co/Q3yda24SQF pic.twitter.com/RhffGzTWj8 | REVEALED: In 2018 Boris Johnson admits that 'no Conservative government' could sign up to a border in the Irish Sea. But that's exactly what his hard Brexit proposal does. No one can trust Boris Johnson to solve the #Brexit crisis. Only the people can: https://t.co/Q3yda24SQF pic.twitter.com/RhffGzTWj8 |
| You might be tempted to see this as another Boris Johnson Brexit lie (see 3.36pm), but breaking a promise is not the same as saying something you know to be untrue (although both are offences against trust). | You might be tempted to see this as another Boris Johnson Brexit lie (see 3.36pm), but breaking a promise is not the same as saying something you know to be untrue (although both are offences against trust). |
| Here is the full version of what Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said in remarks broadcast on TV about the Brexit talks. | Here is the full version of what Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said in remarks broadcast on TV about the Brexit talks. |
| Theoretically in seven to eight hours everything should be clear. | Theoretically in seven to eight hours everything should be clear. |
| It is still undergoing changes and the basic foundations of this agreement are ready and theoretically we could accept a deal tomorrow ... | It is still undergoing changes and the basic foundations of this agreement are ready and theoretically we could accept a deal tomorrow ... |
| Yesterday evening I was ready to bet on it ... today again certain doubts have appeared from the British side ... | Yesterday evening I was ready to bet on it ... today again certain doubts have appeared from the British side ... |
| Everything is going in the right direction, but you will have noticed yourselves that with Brexit and above all with our British partners anything is possible. | Everything is going in the right direction, but you will have noticed yourselves that with Brexit and above all with our British partners anything is possible. |
| And here is the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on cabinet. | And here is the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on cabinet. |
| Cabinet not briefed on full contents of a deal cos it isn't done yet - mood was 'steady as she goes', one of those present said | Cabinet not briefed on full contents of a deal cos it isn't done yet - mood was 'steady as she goes', one of those present said |
| They did however discuss the plan to hold a Saturday sitting for MPs, and putting down a resolution to make that happen tomorrow | They did however discuss the plan to hold a Saturday sitting for MPs, and putting down a resolution to make that happen tomorrow |
| From RTE’s Tony Connelly | From RTE’s Tony Connelly |
| New: Barnier briefing of EU27 ambassadors has been postponed again from 17hr to 19hr | New: Barnier briefing of EU27 ambassadors has been postponed again from 17hr to 19hr |
| This afternoon’s cabinet is over. Sky’s Beth Rigby has some lines from ministers as they were coming out. | This afternoon’s cabinet is over. Sky’s Beth Rigby has some lines from ministers as they were coming out. |
| Coming out of cabinet Alun Cairns said there was still a long way to go. Robert Jenrick also said there was some way to go. Villiers said work to do but added that she thought agreement could be reached by Summit. Going to the wire isn’t it | Coming out of cabinet Alun Cairns said there was still a long way to go. Robert Jenrick also said there was some way to go. Villiers said work to do but added that she thought agreement could be reached by Summit. Going to the wire isn’t it |
| Cabinet.... David Frost still in the tunnel so no full briefing on deal. XO cttee apparently know but not the rest. - AG Cox was upbeat- Meanwhile PM apparently said he thought DUP would be fine & NI will be in UK CU. Raab said should sell this as a win win for GB & NI 1/ | Cabinet.... David Frost still in the tunnel so no full briefing on deal. XO cttee apparently know but not the rest. - AG Cox was upbeat- Meanwhile PM apparently said he thought DUP would be fine & NI will be in UK CU. Raab said should sell this as a win win for GB & NI 1/ |
| Cabinet cont.... - More discussion on the Pol declaration. Issues around the ‘level playing field’ commitments. PM well aware of those concerns- So no Cabinet sign off as deal still in the making (or not). They’ll have to have another meet/call b4 summit IF deal across line | Cabinet cont.... - More discussion on the Pol declaration. Issues around the ‘level playing field’ commitments. PM well aware of those concerns- So no Cabinet sign off as deal still in the making (or not). They’ll have to have another meet/call b4 summit IF deal across line |
| Ipsos MORI has also published some polling on Brexit today. Its headline finding is that the people think a no-deal Brexit is more likely than an election, a deal, a second referendum or the UK staying in the EU. | Ipsos MORI has also published some polling on Brexit today. Its headline finding is that the people think a no-deal Brexit is more likely than an election, a deal, a second referendum or the UK staying in the EU. |
| But what is likely to attrack most interest at Westminster is what the polling says about party leaders and Brexit. When voters are asked if they are satisfied with how Boris Johnson is handling Brexit, he gets a net satisfaction rating of -9 (satisfied minus dissatisfied). That is not great, but it is better than his ratings in August and September. | But what is likely to attrack most interest at Westminster is what the polling says about party leaders and Brexit. When voters are asked if they are satisfied with how Boris Johnson is handling Brexit, he gets a net satisfaction rating of -9 (satisfied minus dissatisfied). That is not great, but it is better than his ratings in August and September. |
| However, it is far better than Jeremy Corbyn’s rating on the same measure. His net Brexit satisfaction score is -57. Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, is on -33 and Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is on -23. | However, it is far better than Jeremy Corbyn’s rating on the same measure. His net Brexit satisfaction score is -57. Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, is on -33 and Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, is on -23. |
| Johnson even beats Corbyn when people are asked if they trust leaders to tell the truth. He has a three-point lead over Corbyn on “tells the truth in general” (22% over 19%) and an eight-point lead over Corbyn on “tells the truth about Brexit” (23% over 15%). | Johnson even beats Corbyn when people are asked if they trust leaders to tell the truth. He has a three-point lead over Corbyn on “tells the truth in general” (22% over 19%) and an eight-point lead over Corbyn on “tells the truth about Brexit” (23% over 15%). |
| This is remarkable because it is very hard to square with any reasonable assessment of the two men’s honesty. Johnson has twice been sacked from jobs for lying, and he is widely seen as someone who is cavalier about the truth. He was described as “the father of lies” recently in no less a venue than the supreme court. By contrast, at Westminster Corbyn is generally seen as someone who is not prone to dissembling and who finds it hard to say something he does not mean. | This is remarkable because it is very hard to square with any reasonable assessment of the two men’s honesty. Johnson has twice been sacked from jobs for lying, and he is widely seen as someone who is cavalier about the truth. He was described as “the father of lies” recently in no less a venue than the supreme court. By contrast, at Westminster Corbyn is generally seen as someone who is not prone to dissembling and who finds it hard to say something he does not mean. |
| These figures also suggest that the entire, ongoing three-year demolition of Johnson’s “We send the EU £350m a week” claim by the fact-checking lobby has been in vain. | These figures also suggest that the entire, ongoing three-year demolition of Johnson’s “We send the EU £350m a week” claim by the fact-checking lobby has been in vain. |
| One explanation for Corbyn’s appalling performance on this measure might be that voters detect the inherent contradiction in a lifelong opponent of the EU leading a pro-European party (although, to be fair, Corbyn has never pretended to be a huge fan of EU membership). Another explanation might be that these figures are a consequence of Corbyn’s overall approval ratings being lower than Johnson’s. | One explanation for Corbyn’s appalling performance on this measure might be that voters detect the inherent contradiction in a lifelong opponent of the EU leading a pro-European party (although, to be fair, Corbyn has never pretended to be a huge fan of EU membership). Another explanation might be that these figures are a consequence of Corbyn’s overall approval ratings being lower than Johnson’s. |
| Here is the full quote from Donald Tusk, president of the European council. | Here is the full quote from Donald Tusk, president of the European council. |
| Theoretically in seven to eight hours everything should be clear. | Theoretically in seven to eight hours everything should be clear. |
| Tusk was speaking to journalists in comments broadcast on private news channel TVN 24. | Tusk was speaking to journalists in comments broadcast on private news channel TVN 24. |
| Veteran Brexit observers will know that whenever anyone sets a deadline in this process, it tends to be missed. In fact, you don’t have to be a veteran Brexit watcher; anyone reading this blog only yesterday will recall Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, being quoted as saying that the UK and the EU would have to agree legal text by last night for a deal to be possible at this week’s summit. That legal text has still not been finalised, but the negotiators have not given up hope of there being some agreement at the EU summit. | Veteran Brexit observers will know that whenever anyone sets a deadline in this process, it tends to be missed. In fact, you don’t have to be a veteran Brexit watcher; anyone reading this blog only yesterday will recall Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, being quoted as saying that the UK and the EU would have to agree legal text by last night for a deal to be possible at this week’s summit. That legal text has still not been finalised, but the negotiators have not given up hope of there being some agreement at the EU summit. |
| From Sky News | From Sky News |
| European Council President Donald Tusk says it should be known in seven to eight hours when Brexit could happen | European Council President Donald Tusk says it should be known in seven to eight hours when Brexit could happen |
| Here is the full text of Leo Varadkar’s statement to Irish MPs about the EU summit starting tomorrow. | Here is the full text of Leo Varadkar’s statement to Irish MPs about the EU summit starting tomorrow. |
| The Irish taoiseach (PM) said he still thought a Brexit deal was possible, but he could not say when. Here is the key passage. | The Irish taoiseach (PM) said he still thought a Brexit deal was possible, but he could not say when. Here is the key passage. |
| I do not think it would be helpful today to say too much about the precise state of play of the discussions or the exact timeframe in which an agreement may be possible. | I do not think it would be helpful today to say too much about the precise state of play of the discussions or the exact timeframe in which an agreement may be possible. |
| I said last week that I thought that there was a pathway to a possible agreement. That is still my view. However, the question is whether the negotiators will be able to bridge the remaining gaps in advance of tomorrow’s council. What’s important now is that all focus is kept on achieving a deal that delivers for everyone. | I said last week that I thought that there was a pathway to a possible agreement. That is still my view. However, the question is whether the negotiators will be able to bridge the remaining gaps in advance of tomorrow’s council. What’s important now is that all focus is kept on achieving a deal that delivers for everyone. |
| This is from Sky’s Stephen Murphy. | This is from Sky’s Stephen Murphy. |
| New: Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar tells the Dail (Irish parliament) he still sees pathway to #brexit deal but that there are issues still to be resolved: consent [of the people of NI] and customs | New: Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar tells the Dail (Irish parliament) he still sees pathway to #brexit deal but that there are issues still to be resolved: consent [of the people of NI] and customs |
| From Reuters’ Peter Thal Larsen | From Reuters’ Peter Thal Larsen |
| Currency markets seem to think @tconnellyRTE is twice as credible as @DUPleader. Pound jumped 0.8% following Connelly's tweet, but only dropped 0.4% after Foster's denial.https://t.co/rNAoR0N3bThttps://t.co/SNVSLZGMwc pic.twitter.com/HRloMmg7x1 | Currency markets seem to think @tconnellyRTE is twice as credible as @DUPleader. Pound jumped 0.8% following Connelly's tweet, but only dropped 0.4% after Foster's denial.https://t.co/rNAoR0N3bThttps://t.co/SNVSLZGMwc pic.twitter.com/HRloMmg7x1 |