UK Prime Minister Theresa May will face the Commons for the first time since the EU rejected her Brexit plan, amid mounting pressure from some Tory MPs to change course. A week before a crucial meeting of EU leaders, the prime minister shows no sign of abandoning her proposals.
Downing Street has played down expectations of agreement on Britain’s withdrawal from the EU at a crunch summit next week, warning that “big issues” remain to be resolved. Theresa May’s official spokesman said further concessions were needed from the EU side, and warned that no withdrawal agreement could be sealed without a “precise” declaration about the post-Brexit relationship.
Scottish National Party members of parliament would back a new Brexit referendum if it were put to them, party leader Nicola Sturgeon has said. Campaigners have been pressing for a fresh vote on whatever exit plans result from talks with EU leaders. Ms Sturgeon said SNP MPs would oppose anything short of staying in the single market and customs union.
Theresa May is “incapable” of delivering Brexit and should be replaced as Prime Minister, a Tory MP said as he called for a no-confidence vote. James Duddridge, a former minister, submitted a letter to the backbench Tory 1922 Committee, saying: “I have not met a single MP who thinks she will lead us into another election.”
Dominic Raab, the British minister responsible for Brexit has told the EU to “get real” and reach a deal with the UK, and said EU chiefs had disrespected Theresa May with “jibes” at a recent summit. Raab underlined that the UK would leave without a deal rather than be “bullied” into signing a “one-sided” arrangement.
Conservatives cannot afford to look like the party of “no change”, British Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned colleagues. Mr Hammond said the Tories could not “outspend” Jeremy Corbyn's Labour with “short-term gimmicks”. Instead he said they urgently needed to make the case for capitalism and “take our people with us”.
Tough week ahead for British Prime Minister Theresa May who is attending the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham and needs to send a reassurance message to the nation and reunite a deeply divided party.
Prime Minister Theresa May took a personal interest in Gibraltar on Sunday evening, attending the Gibraltar Government’s reception at the Conservative party conference in Birmingham and delivering a clear, unequivocal message: “We back Gibraltar.”
The British government says it would back a joint bid to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup in the UK and Ireland. The football associations of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland are considering putting forward a proposal to stage the tournament.
Taunts being made against Theresa May and “routine attacks” on her leadership by some Tory MPs are “completely unacceptable”, Sir John Major has said. The ex-PM called those challenging Mrs May “inexperienced”, adding that he felt “even more closely drawn” to her when he looked at the alternatives.