5.48pm EDT 17:48 My colleagues Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart have summed up the current state of despair in the Conservative party, which seems to only have been exacerbated by May’s address tonight. 5.41pm EDT 17:41 The fact that Theresa May has used her speech to point the finger at MPs could massively backfire, pundits
My colleagues Rowena Mason and Heather Stewart have summed up the current state of despair in the Conservative party, which seems to only have been exacerbated by May’s address tonight.
The fact that Theresa May has used her speech to point the finger at MPs could massively backfire, pundits seem to suggest, one of them being the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg:
Laura Kuenssberg
(@bbclaurak)Problem is MP s are the ones who have to vote on her deal
And Jessica Elgot seems to agree:
Jessica Elgot
(@jessicaelgot)It was a hard task, but from a couple of phone calls tonight, it seems like the prime minister’s speech has actually made Tory MPs more likely to vote against her deal
A petition to revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU has received nearly 130k signatures in less than a day. Revoke Article 50 is trending on Twitter.
Mike Butcher
(@mikebutcher)Just FYI: The #RevokeArticle50 tag is trending on twitter and this petition has just shot up from 17K to 25K in the last hour or so. It was started two days ago. https://t.co/9SzBG5J4fX
According to the BBC’s Chris Mason the DUP remains unimpressed and is set to block May’s deal again:
Chris Mason
(@ChrisMasonBBC)Sources tell @BBCJayneMcC tonight’s meeting with the Prime Minister “doesn’t change anything” for DUP in terms of backing the PM’s plan
Here the the PM’s full statement:
“Nearly three years have passed since the public voted to leave the European Union.
“It was the biggest democratic exercise in our country’s history.
“I came to office on a promise to deliver on that verdict.
“In March 2017 I triggered the Article 50 process for the UK to exit the EU and Parliament supported it overwhelmingly.
“Two years on, MPs have been unable to agree on a way to implement the UK’s withdrawal.
“As a result, we will now not leave on time with a deal on the 29th of March.
“This delay is a matter of great personal regret for me.
“And of this I am absolutely sure: You, the public, have had enough.
“You’re tired of the infighting, you’re tired of the political games and the arcane procedural rows, tired of MPs talking about nothing else but Brexit when you have real concerns about our children’s schools, our National Health Service, knife crime.
“You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. I am on your side.
“It is now time for MPs to decide.
“So, today, I have written to Donald Tusk the President of the European Council to request a short extension of Article 50 up to the 30th of June to give MPs the time to make a final choice.
“Do they want to leave the EU with a deal which delivers on the result of the referendum, that takes control of our money borders and laws while protecting jobs and our national security?
“Do they want to leave without a deal, or do they not want to leave at all causing potentially irreparable damage to public trust not just in this generation of politicians but to our entire democratic process?
“It is high time we made a decision.
“So far, Parliament has done everything possible to avoid making a choice.
“Motion after motion and amendment after amendment has been tabled without Parliament ever deciding what it wants.
“All MPs have been willing to say is what they do not want.
“I passionately hope MPs will find a way to back the deal I’ve negotiated with the EU, a deal that delivers on the result of the referendum and is the very best deal negotiable.
“And I will continue to work night and day to secure the support of my colleagues, the DUP and others for this deal.
“But I am not prepared to delay Brexit any further than the 30th of June.
“Some argue that I’m making the wrong choice and I should ask for a longer extension to the end of the year or beyond to give more time for politicians to argue over the way forward.
“That would mean asking you to vote in European elections nearly three years after our country decided to leave.
“What kind of message would that send? And just how bitter and divisive would that election campaign be at a time when the country desperately needs bringing back together.
“Some have suggested holding a second referendum.
“I don’t believe that’s what you want and it is not what I want.
“We asked you the question already and you’ve given us your answer.
“Now you want us to get on with it.
“And that is what I am determined to do.”
The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman also seems to be among those the Prime Minister’s speech has failed to capture, and fears MPs will not be overly enthusiastic either:
Tim Shipman
(@ShippersUnbound)May’s statement based very heavily on No10 polling showing that even leave voters want an end to parliamentary bickering and get on with Brexit. But was it enough to rouse them to badger MPs into backing her?
Chuka Umunna MP makes the case for indicative votes:
Chuka Umunna
(@ChukaUmunna)We made it clear we would not stand in the way of the PM’s #Brexit deal IF she puts it to the people in a confirmatory #PeoplesVote with Remain on the ballot. At the very least a series of indicative votes should be held to determine where a majority lies in the Commons. /2
Faisal Islam, political editor at Sky News, does not believe the PM chose her words very wisely, given that she has never relied more on the support of MPs:
Faisal Islam
(@faisalislam)Rather risky that the PM has chosen to blame the delay on MPs – the very people who she very specifically needs within days to change their mind and vote for her deal
Updated
Nothing really novel in May’s statement. MP’s face a “final choice”, the PM emphasises.
Jessica Elgot
(@jessicaelgot)PM says she will work “night and day” to try and convince MPs to back her deal. She says she is not prepared to delay Brexit longer than the 30 June. She says the EU elections would be “bitter and divisive” at the time that the country needs to come back together.
Buzzfeed’s Europe editor Alberto Nardelli seems particularly underwhelmed by the PM’s speech:
Alberto Nardelli
(@AlbertoNardelli)In other news, I was forced to have microwaved “arrabbiata” for dinner to follow that speech. I don’t think Brexit can get any worse tbh
Updated
Dominic Grieve MP tells the BBC that he will not be bullied by anybody in Government to support something he does not believe in.
Adds his “preferred option” remains to hold a second referendum.
May statement over. She said her deal was “the best deal negotiable”, and attacked MPs for failing to make a decision, urging that it was “high time” they made up their minds. “I am on your side”, she said, addressing the British people.
Updated
PM’s statement has started. It is “of great personal regret” that Britain is not leaving on March 29, she says.
So this just seems to have happened, according to a tweet of the Guardian’s Brexit correspondent:
lisa o’carroll
(@lisaocarroll)Theresa May ruled out a general election at meeting just now with ERG, says Nigel Evans who was there – @SkyNews
Updated
Corbyn keeps getting flak from all sides, here from Peter Grant from the SNP:
Peter Grant MP
(@PeterGrantMP)Corbyn was within his rights here but all he’s done is created the suspicion that he was always looking for an excuse to walk out. https://t.co/xIN4WLFMsi
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