As it happenedended

Brexit: Government to publish forecasts comparing May's deal with remaining in EU

Monday 19 November 2018 09:35 GMT

Theresa May on leadership dispute: 'a change of leadership isn't going to make the negotiations any easier'

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MPs have forced the government to agree to publish analysis comparing the economic impact of Theresa May's Brexit deal with remaining the European Union.

Before MPs vote on Ms May's Brexit deal, the government will have to publish an analysis comparing the impact of the proposed agreement with the consequences of the alternative scenarios of a no-deal Brexit and remaining in the EU.

The cross-party amendment was backed by more than 70 MPs from six political parties, including enough Tory rebels to deprive Ms May of her majority.

Facing a certain defeat in the Commons, ministers caved and agreed to accept the motion.

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog - where we will be bringing you the latest updates from Westminster.

Stories regarding Theresa May's future as prime minister are dominating the news bulletins this morning once more, with reports that the 48 letters of no confidence required to trigger a vote is perilously close.

Speaking this morning on Radio 4, Simon Clarke, one Tory MP who publicly said he has submitted a letter of no confidence to the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs, said: "It is quite clear to me that the captain is driving the ship at the rocks."

Theresa May faces showdown with cabinet after draft Brexit deal agreed in BrusselsPrime minister faced an immediate backlash from Brexiteers and DUP partners after agreement was announced

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 08:32

Theresa May faces defeat over plan to force release of economic analysis of her Brexit plansTheresa May faces an embarrassing defeat over plans to force her into publishing data comparing Britain’s economic prospects under her Brexit deal to staying in the EU.Eleven Conservatives – including Jo Johnson, who resigned as a minister last week – have publicly signed up to the cross-party push, with the rebellion set to grow if it comes to a vote on Monday.The prime minister has so far refused to commit to releasing the analysis, which is likely to underline how remaining in the EU would deliver a more prosperous future for the country.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 08:33

Not everyone is out this morning calling for a confidence vote in the PM - some Tory MPs are out on the airwaves saying such a move would be an 'unnecessary distraction'.

Therese Coffey - the Conservative MP for Suffolk Coastal, also said that Ms May would win any vote "convincingly".

She said: "Coming out without a trade deal in March would lead to, frankly, quite a lot of disruption to businesses and jobs.

"Meanwhile the negotiation, the future political declaration, already sets freedom of movement comes to an end, the ECJ will not be our supreme court.

"We will be able to negotiate our own free trade deals around the world, everything that was promised in the Brexit referendum will be delivered in that future trade deal.

"I recognise it is not what's delivered in the withdrawal agreement, but Brexit is coming."

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 08:53

Arriving at the General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, Luxembourg's foreign minister, Jean Asselborn, said: "Boris Johnson once said 'Britain is leaving the EU, It is not leaving Europe'.

"I think the challenge now is for these Brexit dogmatists to show whether that is true.

"I think Theresa May deserves praise for her position. 'No deal is better than a bad deal' has disappeared. 'Any deal is better than no deal' is now the slogan. That is right.

"This deal that is now on the table is the best there is. There is no better deal for this crazy Brexit."

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 08:57

Speaking on Sunday - Sir Graham Brady said he had not even told his wife if the magic number of 48 letters had been reached.

He refused to reveal the total number he had received, but said: “I can tell you how many times a day I’m asked that question, including in the supermarket and on the street."

Threshold of 48 letters to trigger vote of no confidence in May not yet met, says Graham BradyThe threshold for challenging the prime minister has not yet been met, said the chairman of the committee in charge of Conservative Party leadership contests.Sir Graham Brady said he had not received the 48 MPs’ letters needed to trigger a confidence vote that could see Theresa May removed as Tory leader.More than 20 of the party’s MPs have said publicly they have submitted letters, but the exact number sent is not known.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 09:05

Greg Clark, the business secretary, has told Radio 4's Today programme that it makes sense to extend the transition period - due to end in December 2020.

Pressed on whether it would be until the end of 2022, Mr Clark told the BBC: "It would be at our request and that would be a maximum period."

Mr Clark suggested it could be extended for a matter of "weeks or months", saying: "If we were six weeks away from concluding a future economic partnership and agreeing that then it may make sense to extend the transition period."

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 09:13

Moderate Tories warn anti-EU 'purists' they could turn against Brexit if Theresa May's deal is torn downModerate Conservatives have warned they will push Britain towards tighter relations with the EU or even turn against Brexit altogether if “purists” in their party tear down Theresa May’s draft withdrawal deal.A string of Tory MPs told The Independent that Eurosceptic colleagues who have begun a sustained push to bring down both Ms May and her Brexit plans, should not be mistaken that a no-deal exit risking the livelihoods of British people is obtainable.The moderates say the only remaining option if Brexiteers block Ms May’s approach will mean being more closely bound to the single market or even revisiting the 2016 referendum result.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 09:32

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Jeremy Corbyn: I don't know how I would vote in second Brexit referendumJeremy Corbyn has said he does not know how he would vote in a new referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union. The Labour leader said he would need to know what the options are in any fresh test of public opinion as he reiterated his opposition to Theresa May’s Brexitagreement. Mr Corbyn’s words came as Remain-supporting Labour MPs urged the leader to more solidly get behind a plan for a final say referendum, something which he said was an “option for the future”.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 09:59

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Boris Johnson's unusable water cannon sold for scrap at £300,000 loss to the taxpayerThree unusable armoured water cannon purchased by Boris Johnson when he was London mayor have been sold at a loss of more than £300,000.Sadiq Khan, the current mayor of London, announced the water cannon had been sold to a firm which will dismantle them and export the parts.He added that “we have finally managed to get rid of them”.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 10:34

Irish PM Leo Varadkar says no to any further negotiations of Brexit dealIrish prime minister Leo Varadkar has said no to any renegotiation with the British government over the Brexit withdrawal agreement. His remarks come as Theresa May faces pressure to head back to the negotiating table in Brussels from MPs across the political spectrum, including Jeremy Corbyn, who insists there is still time to renegotiate rapidly.Ministers in her own cabinet are also lobbying the prime minister to change course and seek further concessions from the EU or risk the deal falling in Parliament when Ms May asks MPs to vote on her plans next month.

Ashley Cowburn19 November 2018 10:55

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