Conference and Brexit 1) May warns critics to stop “playing politics” “In an interview with The Sunday Times on the eve of her party conference, the prime minister confronted her critics, accusing those who refuse to back her Chequers blueprint for Brexit of “playing politics” with Britain’s future and undermining the national interest. In an […]
Four-fifths of members say May should not fight the next election in our survey “Theresa May is facing a massive blow to her authority as a poll out today finds that 80 per cent of Tory members want her gone before the next election. Meanwhile, another survey found that 60 per cent of global investors do not […]
Boris Johnson: My vision for a better Brexit “Britain should seek the same freedoms and opportunities in its relations with the EU as any other independent and democratic country. That means the right to make our own laws, in the interests of our own economy; the right to control our own trade policy; and the […]
May criticises Putin at the UN… “Theresa May last night launched a furious attack on Vladimir Putin over the Salisbury poisonings, accusing him of using ‘desperate fabrication’ to hide the identities of his would-be assassins. With the country’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov sitting only metres away, the Prime Minister used a UN Security Council meeting on chemical weapons […]
May promises businesses low taxes and “smart regulation” ‘Theresa May will today pledge to oversee a “low tax” economy after we leave the EU as she makes a major Brexit sales pitch to global business leaders. Speaking in New York she will tell the world’s biggest firms they should have confidence to invest in post-Brexit […]
May wins cabinet backing on Chequers (for the moment)… “Theresa May has faced down cabinet critics of her Chequers plan and won backing from ministers to sell it to next week’s Conservative Party conference. The prime minister also secured cabinet agreement yesterday for a new immigration system after Brexit despite objections from Philip Hammond, the […]
A Cabinet majority now supports Canada rather than Chequers ‘A majority of the Cabinet now supports moving towards a Canada-style trade deal with the EU following the outright rejection of Theresa May’s Chequers plan, the Prime Minister will be told today. Mrs May will be urged to rethink her approach to the Brexit negotiations by […]
Rees-Mogg: The Prime Minister’s fine words don’t make a bad plan good ‘This glorious, widely praised performance showed the Prime Minister at her best. Polite and conciliatory though she is in normal times, when treated rudely there is an inner steel. Not that this should blind people to the problems with her Chequers plan. Her […]
The EU collapses Chequers “A visibly furious Theresa May rounded on EU leaders for hanging her our to dry yesterday as she battled to keep her Chequers Brexit plan alive in the face of fierce Tory criticism. At an extraordinary press conference in Salzburg, Mrs May said she still believed a deal was possible, and […]
Stalemate in Salzburg. May makes her case. The EU wants concessions. “Theresa May told EU leaders last night that she would never countenance calling a second Brexit referendum as she warned them that they had a choice between her proposals and a mutually damaging hard Brexit. In a short address over dinner at the Salzburg […]
Barnier says EU is prepared to ‘improve’ Irish border offer… “The EU has revealed it is willing to ‘improve’ its offer to the UK on the Irish border to help seal a quick Brexit deal. Brussels’ chief negotiator Michel Barnier has revealed his team is working on a compromise to avoid the return of a […]
Brexit 1) May suggests that EU nationals “won’t get special treatment” post-Brexit “EU migrants will not get special treatment after Brexit, Theresa May has suggested, ahead of the launch of a major report into immigration on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said British people voted for a fairer immigration system as she gave the strongest hint yet […]
EU is “secretly preparing to accept frictionless Irish border”… “The European Union is secretly preparing to accept a frictionless Irish border after Brexit in a move that raises the prospect of Theresa May striking a deal by the end of the year. In a concession to British concerns, EU negotiators want to use technological solutions […]
Leadership 1) “I never want to be PM,” declares Davidson… “Ruth Davidson has ruled out ever running for the Tory leadership, revealing that she values her mental health too highly to seek the role of prime minister. In an interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, the head of the Scottish Conservatives today reveals that her […]
Johnson urges MPs to get rid of Chequers, not May… “Boris Johnson has urged MPs to focus on ‘chucking Chequers’ rather than Theresa May, days after Brexiteers met to war-game ways to oust the Prime Minister. Fevered speculation continues to mount over the former foreign secretary’s leadership ambitions and Tory peer Lord Heseltine has predicted Mr Johnson […]