Andrea Leadsom: no-deal Brexit next week would not be so grim
Senior minister says she could not accept long extension or full customs union A no-deal Brexit at the end of next week would be “not nearly as grim” as many… Read more »
Category: Foreign policy
Furious Tory MPs will bid to oust May if UK fights Euro poll
Prime minister says Brexit could ‘slip through our fingers’ as Tory party fears that taking part in EU election would boost far right Theresa May is being warned by her… Read more »
Brexit: Ireland’s Leo Varadkar says EU27 ‘unlikely’ to veto delay
Taoiseach suggests if an EU state decides to veto extension, ‘they wouldn’t be forgiven’ It is “extremely unlikely” that an EU27 country will veto a UK request for a delay… Read more »
Tory MP says joining in EU elections would be ‘existential threat’ to party
Education minister Nadhim Zahawi says parliament needs to ‘act quickly’ on Brexit Theresa May has been warned that a long delay to Brexit could deal a fatal blow to the… Read more »
France, Spain and Belgium ‘ready for no-deal Brexit next week’
Chance of May getting 30 June extension appear slim after notes of EU meeting emerge France has won the support of Spain and Belgium after signalling its readiness for a… Read more »
Hopes of Brexit progress fade as Labour says May has failed to compromise
Opposition criticises PM after talks, while risk of EU taking tough line on extension rises Theresa May’s prospects of cobbling together a cross-party majority to convince EU leaders to grant… Read more »
May asks for Brexit extension to 30 June as Tusk offers up to a year
European council chief suggests delay that could end early if deal agreed The latest Brexit developments – live updates Theresa May has written to Donald Tusk to ask for Brexit… Read more »
Theresa May to make written Brexit offer to Jeremy Corbyn
Letter to include proposal to offer MPs vote on second referendum, source suggests Theresa May is expected to write to Jeremy Corbyn to set out the government’s offer on Brexit,… Read more »
UK must offer ‘credible and realistic way forward’ to justify new Brexit delay, says Irish PM – live news
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen 6.12pm BST Matters continue to play out in London and I think we need to be patient and understanding of… Read more »
Brexit department stuffed with McMinisters is the government’s meta joke | John Crace
A metaphor for the absence of power from Lino – the department exists purely so it can be seen to exist Man down. Again. Ministers are now resigning quicker than… Read more »
I’m in no-deal planning ops. Here’s a briefing from our Whitehall bunker | Anonymous
My fellow civil servants in Operation Yellowhammer are mainly young, resourceful – and surprisingly chipper Inside the gurgling, labyrinthine large intestine of Operation Yellowhammer, the government’s multibillion-pound scheme to prepare… Read more »
Brexit: Leadsom unable to tell MPs when next debate due to be held – live news
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen 12.01pm BST At Westminster it is generally assumed that EU leaders at their summit on Wednesday next week will offer… Read more »
The value of the customs union to the UK is overrated | Larry Elliott
It’s seen as a key part of a soft Brexit, but in reality the union has not provided much of a boost to trade of goods with the EU The… Read more »
Corbyn and May agree to more talks after ‘constructive’ first day
Labour leader under pressure from Emily Thornberry to put any pact to a second public vote Follow the day’s political developments – live Jeremy Corbyn will resume Brexit talks with… Read more »
Brexit: Bercow uses casting vote after first Commons tie in 26 years to block backbench indicative votes – live news
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments, including May’s Brexit talks with Corbyn, and MPs debating Cooper bill to rule out no deal May’s cabinet: where do they stand on… Read more »
Jeremy Corbyn under pressure to back public vote on Brexit deal
Senior Labour figures call on party leader to block any deal that lacks ‘people’s vote’ option Follow the day’s political developments – live Jeremy Corbyn is under intense pressure from… Read more »
May calls for talks with Corbyn in bid to save Brexit
Prime minister opens the door to accepting softer Brexit, as she moves to seek article 50 extension Follow the latest political developments – live Theresa May has offered to enter… Read more »
May kicks her Brexit can firmly into Corbyn’s face | John Crace
Sick of seeing the Tory party tearing itself apart, May is now getting Labour in on the act Almost three years into the Brexit process and trust levels are near… Read more »
No-deal Brexit more likely by the day, says Michel Barnier
EU negotiator says strong justification needed to extend article 50 beyond 22 May Michel Barnier has said a no-deal Brexit is “very likely” and becoming more likely by the day… Read more »
Brexit deadlock continues as MPs fail to find compromise
MPs fail to back any option in sufficient numbers to forge cross-party alternative to PM’s deal Follow the latest political developments – live updates Parliament was mired in deadlock once… Read more »
Brexit: MPs reject all options in second round of indicative votes – live news
Rolling coverage of Commons votes on alternative Brexit options Brexit deadlock continues as MPs fail to find compromise How did each MP vote in the indicative votes? What were the… Read more »
This is no time for a compromise with Brexiters: there is no middle way | Polly Toynbee
A customs union is no better than a hard Brexit, and it’s a delusion that peace will break out if MPs are lured into the trap “Believe in Britain”, say… Read more »
Brexit indicative votes round 2: what happened and what next?
Four Brexit options failed to get a majority in the Commons. Now what? MPs were again unable to find a majority for any alternative Brexit deal in a series of… Read more »
May orders divided cabinet to boycott Brexit indicative votes
Backbench MPs and junior ministers to get free vote on alternatives to PM’s deal Follow Monday’s Brexit developments – live Theresa May’s warring cabinet ministers will once again be instructed… Read more »
Brexit: Labour to back common market 2.0/Norway amendment for staying in single market – live news
Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the second day of Commons votes on alternative Brexit options What are the four indicative vote options chosen? Analysis:… Read more »
Would the UK be better off in or out of a customs union?
The popularity of the Brexit option has forced a crash course in global trade policy Along with ending free movement of people, it was the reddest of Theresa May’s red… Read more »
Brexit customs union bad for foreign policy and trade, says Truss
Government should not back option if MPs choose it in indicative votes, minister says Follow Monday’s Brexit developments – live The idea of Brexit based on a customs union is… Read more »
Ministers try to force May’s hand over Brexit as cabinet rift widens
Remainers and Brexiters alike threaten to resign as MPs prepare for second round of indicative votes Theresa May’s government is on the verge of meltdown as cabinet ministers prepare to… Read more »
Anger in Whitehall as Brexit strife delays key policies and legislation
Ministers and officials said to be exasperated as no-deal preparations result in paralysis Brexit is delaying key pieces of policy and legislation, angering ministers and officials, amid reports of paralysis… Read more »
PM may have to accept soft Brexit if Commons backs it, says minister
David Gauke says May would have to ‘look closely’ at customs union if MPs voted for it Theresa May will have to consider the possibility of accepting a softer Brexit… Read more »