Brexit - as it happened: Tories turn on 'insolent' Rees-Mogg after Brexiteer threatens open revolt against May
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Theresa May has been mocked for failing to secure unity within her own cabinet on Brexit as Tory infighting spilled out into the open ahead of a crunch meeting on Friday.
Jeremy Corbyn questioned how Ms May could get a Brexit deal if she could not get her ministers in line, and warned that cabinet infighting was having a "debilitating effect" on jobs and business.
It comes as senior Tories piled in to criticise Jacob Rees-Mogg for "insolence" after the leading Eurosceptic fired off a warning over Ms May's Brexit strategy.
Mr Rees-Mogg, who chairs the European Research Group of pro-Brexit backbench Tories, said she must deliver the Brexit she promised or risk collapsing the government, ahead of crunch cabinet talks at her Chequers retreat on Friday.
Foreign office minister Alan Duncan accused him of "insolence" towards the prime minister, while Alistair Burt, another FCO minister, tweeted: "Enough. Just tired of this endless threat and counter threat. Why don’t we want the best for the U.K. than for our own ideological cliques?"
His comments also attracted criticism from respected backbenchers, such as health committee chair Sarah Wollaston and Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames, who told his Tory colleague to "shut up".
Tory grandee Sir Nicholas Soames - who is fond of a hashtag - tells Jacob Rees-Mogg to "shut up" and let May get on with negotiating Brexit.
Theresa May is under growing pressure to increase military spending, after the US hinted that France could overtake Britain as America’s “partner of choice” in world affairs.
US defence secretary Jim Mattis said Washington is concerned the UK’s military power and diplomatic influence is “at risk of erosion” .
He made the comments in a letter to his UK counterpart Gavin Williamson, who is now locked in a tussle with Downing Street to try and secure more money for his department.
Story here:
Another senior Tory here, complaining about Jacob Rees-Mogg and his Eurosceptic allies.
Ministers are being urged to force political parties to report their "gender gap" among election candidates, by enacting a crucial piece of legislation.
Only 32% of MPs and 33% of councillors in the UK are women, according to the Centenary Action Group, which is made up of more than 100 campaigners and activists.
Jess Garland, Director of Policy and Research at the Electoral Reform Society, said: “On the 90th anniversary of equal suffrage, it is a sad fact that no clear way of knowing where we stand in terms of women’s representation in politics.
“Now that companies have revealed their gender pay gaps, it’s time UK parties tackled the inequality in their own back yards. We’ve seen businesses play their part – now government and political parties must play theirs in showing their diversity figures.
“Much like the gender pay gap, political inequality is holding back progress in this country."
Downing Street has refused to comment on speculation that Theresa May is considering a third model for customs rules after Brexit. Ms May will bring together her warring cabinet at Chequers, her country retreat, on Friday to agree a way forward.
The PM's official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: "There is going to be a lot of speculation between now and Chequers.
"Some of it might even be true but I'm not going to engage in advance of the away day taking place."
Responding to Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments on Brexit, the spokesman said: "Our focus is on delivering the will of the British people.
"The PM has set out what she wants to achieve - that is to leave the single market, leave the customs union, leave the jurisdiction of the ECJ and be free to sign and implement trade deals around the world."
Theresa May will make a statement on her appearance at the European Council summit last week, then David Lidington will set out the terms of reference of the inquiry into contaminated blood.
Here's a piece on the background of the contaminated blood scandal.
A former minister who was sacked from government for calling his secretary "sugar tits" and asked her to buy sex toys has said he would "recruit better" next time.
Mark Garnier, an ex-trade minister, told BBC's Sunday Politics that he was annoyed that he lost his job over the incident, which emerged last year at the height of the Westminster sexual harassment scandal.
Asked if he thought it was unfair, he said “I do, given the fact that three weeks earlier when I was exonerated by this, I was promised that if I wrote a letter at the time that my job would be secure.
“So yes, I do feel slightly annoyed about it.”
The MP was later formally cleared by the Cabinet Office of charges that he breached the ministerial code.
Unite boss Len McCluskey has urged a small but "noisy group of backbench Labour malcontents" to get behind Jeremy Corbyn.
The union leader, who is one of Mr Corbyn's biggest supporters, said Labour MPs attacking the party leader should "put a sock in it".
He told Unite's policy conference in Brighton: "The only people being served by the constant disloyal sniping, the feral smearing of our own party and leader, are the Tories.
"If you disagree with a particular policy, say so. Otherwise, try saying nothing.
"This wretched Tory Government is reeling and on the ropes. We have to be ready to be rid of them when the opportunity arises."
However Mr McCluskey warned the leadership that it must do more to address a "weakness" in its efforts to reach older working-class voters.
He said: "There is a broader sense of disconnect between London and the often run-down and ignored industrial areas.
"Extra seats in London are not going to get Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street. So test every policy against how it is going to play in Walsall and Wakefield, Mansfield and Middlesbrough, Glasgow and Gateshead.
"Put the necessity of decent secure jobs, skilled work, at the heart of everything. If you're talking about any policy which cuts against that, it is almost certainly a mistake."
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