Brexit White Paper: Government publishes Theresa May's plan - as it happened

The Government sets out its plans for Brexit in a document before Parliament

Government publishes Brexit White Paper setting out plans for leaving EU

The Government has set out Theresa May's plans for Brexit before Parliament, in a document known as a White Paper. Here are the latest updates.

• Government publishes White Paper as David Davis gives statement to the Commons
• Davis says White Paper means UK is 'definitely leaving' the EU customs union
• EU nationals in UK will only have rights protected if similar promise is made for Britons on continent
• Government wants 'practical solution' to land border between NI and Ireland
• UK to seek to continue science and research programmes with EU countries
• White Paper is based on 12 principles set out in PM's speech on Brexit last month
• Labour says it is "totally unacceptable" White Paper was only published as Davis got up to speak
• SNP says Government's actions prevent parliamentary scrutiny and show "astonishing disrespect" to MPs
• MPs ask questions on White Paper before going away to scrutinise it in detail
• Last night, Commons voted overwhelmingly to grant May power to trigger Brexit
• But a rebel Tory MP tells The Independent they will not give PM a 'blank cheque'
• Minister says May has given up on 'cherry-picking' an EU customs union deal
• Major rebellion over Brexit vote stings Labour
• Two shadow Cabinet members are forced to quit

MPs will spend Thursday poring over a Government White Paper setting out its Brexit strategy as the next battlegrounds in the debate over quitting the EU begin to emerge.

They will also be studying a vast list of amendments from MPs of all sides to legislation which paves the way for Theresa May to trigger Article 50 of the EU treaties to begin Brexit.

Brexit Secretary David Davis presented the White Paper to MPs in an oral statement after 12.30pm on Thursday.

The European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill was overwhelmingly backed by a majority of 384 MPs at its second reading on Wednesday.

However the major Commons skirmishes are expected during next week's committee stage.

Hundreds of amendments have already been tabled for debate and votes between Monday and Wednesday and the objectives set out in the White Paper are sure to inspire more.

Downing Street said the White Paper would "reflect the Government's plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives".

[2 February 2017 13:47 · Adam Withnall]

The continued lack of assurances for EU nationals in Britain was highlighted by Labour's response to the White Paper. 

This was Davis's response in full: "The European Union nationals I want to see have all the rights they currently have.

"But I also want to see British citizens have their rights too.

"And we owe a moral responsibility, a moral debt, to the EU nationals here. But we owe a moral and legal debt to the citizens of Britain abroad, and we will protect both."

Around three million EU citizens are waiting to find out if they can remain in the UK, along with up to two million British citizens in other EU member states, following last June's EU referendum.

[2 February 2017 13:55 · Adam Withnall]

Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer told the Commons there was "nothing" in the white paper to resolve the position of UK nationals living in other EU countries.

And he said the paper failed to guarantee MPs a "meaningful" vote on the deal eventually obtained by May, rather than a simple choice to take it or leave it.

But Mr Davis insisted: "Every vote in this House is meaningful and there will be a meaningful vote at the end."

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: "All we've seen on Brexit this week is a white paper from the Tories and a white flag from Labour.

"Both are now committed to a hard Brexit that will do untold damage to our economy.

"No matter how this Government dresses it up, tearing up Britain's membership of the single market will mean more red tape for business and fewer opportunities for future generations."

Labour's former shadow chancellor Chris Leslie, of the Open Britain campaign, described the paper as "a blueprint for hard Brexit".

"The Government must not be given a blank cheque for hard Brexit," said Mr Leslie.

"It is vital that Parliament is given a meaningful vote at the end of the Article 50 process that amounts to more than 'bad deal or no deal'."

[2 February 2017 13:59 · Adam Withnall]

Norman Smith, the BBC's assistant political editor, says the White Paper offers "no answer on North/Ireland border beyond seeking 'a practical solution'".

This is the specific passage from the White Paper he is referring to there:

We want to protect the ability to move freely between the UK and Ireland, north-south and east-west, recognising the special importance of this to people in their daily lives. We will work with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government and the Crown Dependencies to deliver a practical solution that allows for the maintenance of the CTA, while protecting the integrity of the UK’s immigration system.

In an annex on the UK/Ireland, the White Paper stresses the "importance" of the border - noting that "more than 10,000 live pigs are exported from Ireland to Northern Ireland every week". 

But it provides few practical answers, again, beyond what is in the main body of the text:

We will work with the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to minimise frictions and administrative burdens and to find a practical solution that keeps the border as seamless and frictionless as possible, recognising the unique economic, social and political context of the land border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

[2 February 2017 14:10 · Adam Withnall]

Beyond the trade and customs union points here is a summary of the key points from the White Paper.

Immigration

Britain will regain full control of the number of people coming to the country from the EU and free movement of people will no longer apply.

The new immigration system will be designed to help fill skills shortages and welcome "genuine" students.

But any new approach could be "phased in" to give businesses and individuals time to plan and prepare for the new arrangements.

Businesses and communities will be consulted throughout and Parliament will have an "important role" in shaping a new system, which is likely to be brought forward in its own legislation.

The rights of EU nationals living in the UK

Ministers will seek to secure the rights of around 2.8 million EU nationals who live in the UK as soon as possible in negotiations.

But they will only do so when similar rights are guaranteed for the one million British immigrants in continental Europe.

The Government said it wanted to resolve the issue before formal negotiations but not all EU member states supported its approach.

Sovereignty

Britain will leave the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) but seek to set up separate resolution mechanisms for things like trade disputes.

Ministers say arbitration systems are common in trade deals the EU strikes with other countries, such as with Canada or South Korea.

Avoiding a cliff-edge Brexit

The Government is likely to phase in new rules after leaving the EU to give businesses and the public sector time to plan and prepare.

Ministers will seek to agree a deal on the new relationship within the two-year formal exit process under Article 50 and then have a "phased process of implementation" before being completely free of Brussels regulations.

Security and defence

Britain will continue to collaborate with the EU to fight crime and terror, with a focus on operational and practical cross-border co-operation, while continuing to back European interests around the world, including potential support for sanctions.

The Irish border

The UK will seek to maintain the soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland by protecting the Common Travel Area, which was set up in 1923, long before the EU.

The Government wants to see as "seamless and frictionless" trade and movement of people between Northern Ireland and Ireland as possible.

Workers' rights

The Government will protect workers' rights enshrined in EU law and attempt to enhance them as it takes back powers from Brussels.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

The UK Government will seek to strengthen the Union by devolving powers previously covered by EU laws in areas where the home nations already have some competence, such as agriculture, the environment and transport.

Providing clarity

Ministers will provide certainty wherever it can to reassure business, the public sector and the public during the negotiation talks.

The final deal will be put to a vote in both Houses of Parliament.

Science and innovation

Britain will seek an agreement to continue to collaborate with European countries on science, research and technology initiatives.

Air travel

The Government will attempt to get a deal so Britons can continue to enjoy affordable flights, as they do in the EU's internal aviation market.

Financial services

The Government says it will seek the "freest possible" trade in financial services between the UK and EU, pointing out that provisions exist for countries outside the bloc to do business across the EU, in a similar way to how "passporting" arrangements work for the City currently.

Agriculture

Leaving the Common Agricultural Policy, which at £58 billion in 2014 took up nearly 40% of the EU's budget, will give the UK "a significant opportunity to design new, better and more efficient policies for delivering sustainable and productive farming, land management and rural communities".

[2 February 2017 14:23 · Adam Withnall]