Brexit news: Jeremy Hunt claims Merkel is willing to look at new deal as PM hopeful lays out withdrawal plans
All the developments from Westminster on Monday
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Your support makes all the difference.Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt has unveiled his 10-point plan to handle a no-deal Brexit, vowing to “cease all discussions” with Brussels on 30 September if the EU fails to budge.
He also claimed to have been told by the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, that she would be willing to look at any new Brexit the next British PM comes up with.
It came as his rival, Boris Johnson, was heckled at a garden centre and accused of misrepresenting the ideas of a 14th century Tunisian scholar after claiming he could cut taxes and increase revenue.
Meanwhile, pro-Jeremy Corbyn organisation Momentum has launched a fresh drive to unseat Mr Johnson – who could not name the amount paid under the living wage during his latest TV interview – at the next general election.
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Mr Hunt dismisses statements by the EU that they will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
He says Angela Merkel has told him that she will look at any new proposals the UK presents.
"I believe that my credentials are someone who could possibly pull this off."
He says he would "100 per cent not" suspend parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit.
"I think this is why you have a prime minister who has a prospect of getting a deal through parliament," he adds.
Boris Johnson has so far refused to rule out proroguing parliament, albeit he has said he doesn't like the idea and doesn't want to.
Jeremy Hunt attempts to lay out his plan to come up with a new withdrawal agreement within six weeks.
How do you fix the backstop?
Mr Hunt says: "My solution is based on technology... invisible borders... I think there is technology there now... you can do checks away from borders."
Asked about a leaked government document saying that would not be available until 2030, he says: "I think overall it is technically possible."
Mr Hunt says he will unite the country by having a Brexit that works for people who voted Remain.
"Remainers will see that Brexit has worked and that it hasn't fundamentally changed the tolerances of this country," he claims.
Asked what promises he would put on the side of a bus, he says he would have four buses.
Asked about his commitment to the environment, Jeremy Hunt says he has moved to metal straws at home rather than plastic straws.
Jeremy Hunt is now repeating his hashtag jokes from an earlier hustings, including the potential campaign slogan #HuntyMcHuntface
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