“The British people don’t want to spend any more time arguing about Brexit.” May’s statment at the EU summit. Full text.
“So I will take this deal back to the House of Commons confident we have achieved the best deal available.”
The UK “will leave the European Union. We will then begin a new chapter in our national life.” May’s letter – full text
“I will be campaigning with my heart and soul to win that vote and to deliver this Brexit deal, for the good of our United Kingdom and all of our people.”
Arise, Sir John!
A Brexiteer backbencher and former minister, who has not yet signalled how he intends to vote on the deal, has been knighted.
Yesterday in the Commons. More opponents than supporters of the Prime Minister’s deal on the Conservative backbenchers.
That said, there was more backing for her from her party than some of today’s headlines suggest.
The leaked draft of the Political Declaration on the Future Relationship: link to full text
Beefed up to 26 pages (from seven), the Prime Minister hopes it will be enough to reassure rebellious MPs.
“It brings back control of our borders, our money and our laws.” The Prime Minister’s Downing Street statement – full text
“And it does so while protecting jobs, protecting our security and protecting the integrity of the United Kingdom.”
Mordaunt: Let’s champion “the invisible women who keep…our nation going.” Her women’s suffrage centenary speech: full text
“There’s a lot of focus on women in boardrooms…But this is not the place where business is being re-imagined.”
Candidate applications open for Carshalton & Wallington, Newport West and North Norfolk
Two seats held by the Liberal Democrats and one held by Labour form the latest tranche of Tory targets.
May rebuffs the Gang of Five. “The Withdrawal Agreement has been agreed in full.” Her CBI speech: full text.
“That agreement is a good one for the UK. It fulfils the wishes of the British people as expressed in the 2016 referendum.”
From an analysis of the Withdrawal Agreement’s text: How the Irish protocol would separate Great Britain from Northern Ireland.
It can’t have been Parliament’s intention to allow Northern Ireland to form part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain for any purpose.
From an analysis of the Withdrawal Agreement text: May’s broken promises on the ECJ, the backstop, customs – and dividing the UK
Article 20 says that the backstop will only ‘cease to apply’ if ‘the Union and United Kingdom decide jointly’ that it should end – no sovereign right for the UK to leave.
Polite discomfort (or “a load of arse-kissing”) on the Prime Minister’s conference call with senior Tory activists
“No-one had a pop at her”, I’m told – but equally her answers don’t seem to have won round the assembled Association officers.
Hammond, Penrose, and Kwarteng join the Government as May circles the wagons
The Prime Minister has eschewed the chance to bind waverers with patronage in favour of promoting able loyalists who won’t make trouble.
Rolling list of Government resignations today
They are now coming so fast as to necessitate this list, which will be updated as the day continues.
WATCH: “It delivers in ways that many said could simply not be done.” May’s Commons statement. Full text.
“If we get behind a deal, we can bring our country back together and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”