As it happenedended

Conservative MP says 'we have to change prime minister' if policy not overhauled

Ashley Cowburn

Political Correspondent

Tuesday 23 October 2018 16:57 BST

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Theresa May delivers Brexit statement to MPs

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A Conservative MP has warned that the party must either change Theresa May's Brexit policy or change the prime minister.

Andrew Bridgen, who had submitted a letter of no confidence in Ms May earlier this summer, added he had not changed his mind over her leadership.

His remarks came as the prime minister convened her cabinet on Tuesday morning, telling her top team they will be given a weekly update on Britain's preparations for a no-deal Brexit.

A spokesman for the prime minister told journalists at a regular briefing: “As we move towards exit day, it makes sense that all ministers are informed all that’s taking place in relation to all scenarios.”

He explained that the briefings would take in what preparations and developments are taking place both in relation to no-deal planning and also for planning for a deal.

On Tuesday Mr Raab told ministers that “good progress” was being made, but it comes amid concern that the UK is not ready for the March 29 2019 departure day.

The meeting came as the Prime Minister faced increasing pressure for a breakthrough in talks with the EU, after last week's summit ended with no deal.

Mrs May told MPs on Monday that the terms of Britain's withdrawal from the EU were 95% agreed but the "sticking point" remained the issue of the Irish border.

On Wednesday - after prime minister's questions - Ms May will also attend the 1922 committee of Conservative backbench MPs

It means the prime minister will have to speak to and take questions from her backbenchers behind closed doors with many of them said to be plotting her downfall.

Please see below The Independent's live coverage of today in Westminster

Welcome to The Independent's live coverage of events in Westminster today.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:41

Speaking on Radio 4's Today programme this morning, Andrew Bridgen, a Conservative MP, who submitted a letter of no confidence in Theresa May in July, said: "We either change the PM's policy or we have to change the PM."

Mr Bridgen said he understood that, if 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady receives the 48 letters needed to trigger a confidence ballot, he would first call each of the MPs involved to check whether they wish to withdraw their letter. He confirmed he would not change his mind.

He played down the prospect of Ms May being toppled by the votes of fewer than 158 Tory MPs - 50% of the total. In the past, as few as 70-100 negative votes would be enough to force her to stand down, but a "new paradigm" had been created by the survival of Jeremy Corbyn when many of his MPs have no confidence in him, said Mr Bridgen.

"Toppling the PM isn't the only solution," he added. "The PM could pivot away from the Chequers deal which is deeply unpopular in the country and doesn't deliver the Brexit we promised."

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:42

Hard Brexit ‘could cripple UK science’, warn Nobel laureatesWorld-leading scientists and mathematicians from across Europe have warned against a hard Brexit if the UK is to preserve its vital research.In a letter addressed to Theresa May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, 29 Nobel Prize winning scientists and six winners of the prestigious Fields Medal urged them to pursue the “closest possible cooperation”.French biologist Jules Hoffmann, Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen and German biologist Christiane Nusslein-Volhard were among those warning that leaving the EU could establish barriers to scientific partnerships that have provided a massive boost for European research.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:44

Theresa May sidesteps Tory rebellion by announcing plans to enshrine her Brexit proposals in lawTheresa May has sidestepped a Brexit rebellion from Eurosceptic Tories threatening to seize control of a key part of her negotiating strategy.The prime minister said she would make the UK’s proposals for the Irish border after Brexit legally binding, claiming this would negate the need for the EU’s alternative, which is hated by Eurosceptic rebels.She also argued there had been a “substantial shift” in the EU’s willingness to engage with her ideas on the problem of the Irish border.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:45

Government failing to stop 'routine and relentless' sexual harassment of women and girls in public places, MPs warnThe government is failing to tackle harassment of women and girls in public places despite the problem being "routine and sometimes relentless", a damning report by a committee of MPs has warned.Ministers have committed to tackling harassment overseas but are not doing enough to address the problem at home, the Commons women and equalities committee said.It demanded “urgent” action to tackle sexual harassment, which it said was “ingrained” in British culture. This should include tougher action on pornography and against people taking sexual photos of women, it said.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:45

David Davis' former chief of staff appears to call child in hospital a 'pathetic cretin'David Davis' former chief of staff has provoked uproar after appearing to call a hospitalised child a "pathetic cretin".Stewart Jackson, a former Conservative MP, was responding to a Twitter user who had posted a picture of his ill stepson draped in a EU flag.The former Brexit secretary's top aide was widely condemned for the comment, with other MPs demanding he make a "grovelling apology".

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 08:55

Brexiteers accused of using firearms debate for 'proxy row' over EU withdrawalProminent Brexiteers have been accused of attempting to hijack a firearms debate in parliament in a "proxy row" over Britain's departure from the European Union. It comes after MPs from both the Conservative and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - hostile to Theresa May's Brexit plans - tabled an amendment to a government bill aimed at reclassifying certain firearms. While the bill has no relevance to Brexit, critics have suggested any potential rebellion on Monday evening could be interpreted as a show of strength against Downing Street.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 09:23

Leo Varadkar, the Irish PM, has said the UK Government will not want to move away from its commitments to the backstop agreement.

Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Varadkar said: "From our point of view, what Ireland is looking for is what we have always been looking for from day one and what has been committed to by us and the UK Government in principle and in writing on a number of occasions now.

"That is, we have a backstop that gives us an assurance that there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland no matter what happens, that that backstop is legally operable and that applies unless and until there is a new agreement.

"That is something that the UK Government has committed to in principle, committed to in writing, and I have every confidence that the UK Government will honour that commitment.

"Britain is an important country, a serious country, a great country with great history. I don't think they will want to be moving away from their commitment."

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 09:39

MPs to vote on legalising abortion in Northern IrelandMPs will be gvien a chance to vote on legalising abortion in Northern Ireland, after a cross party coalition of politicians launched a 10-Minute Rule bill to decriminalise women who end their own pregnancies. Although they rarely make it into law, those behind the move hope the vote will step up pressure on the government for repeal.The bill would remove the criminal provisions from the Offences Against the Persons Act 1861 that make abortion illegal except when there is a risk to the life of the mother or a serious risk to her physical or mental health.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 10:19

EU set to decide whether British citizens will need visas after no-deal BrexitThe European Commission will decide next month whether British citizens will need a visa to visit the EU in the event of a no-deal Brexit. A draft agenda for the college of commissioners, effectively the EU’s cabinet, shows the body will consider whether “to place the UK on either the ‘visa required’ list of third countries or the ‘visa free’ list”.

Ashley Cowburn23 October 2018 10:51

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