May must appoint ‘deputy’ for next stage of Brexit talks
A leading think tank has warned that Theresa May must appoint a powerful “deputy” to lead Britain into the trade talks phase of Brexit negotiations, or risk “stumbling” into the same blunders seen already.
The Institute for Government (IFG) warns that even if the withdrawal agreement is passed by the Commons, the government could be risking entering the next phase of negotiations “without a plan”.
Unless the prime minister’s deal passes a Commons vote by 22 May, Britain will have to take part in European parliament elections, which further complicate the process, as the Conservatives will have more to worry about than Brexit – many fear the elections would see the party lose voters to Nigel Farage’s Brexit party.
“Negotiations on our future relationship with the EU will be much more complex than the divorce,” said Tim Durrant, the lead author of the report.
“The time available for negotiations is short and the government must not waste time by failing to prepare.”
Ukip MEPs defect to Farage’s Brexit party
Several Ukip MEPs have resigned in order to join Nigel Farage’s new Brexit party: West Midlands MEP Jill Seymour and Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire MEP Jane Collins.
The Independent also reports that a third MEP, Margot Parker, is believed to have defected to Farage’s party.
Collins heavily criticised her now former party for accepting controversial figure Carl Benjamin as a candidate for the European parliament. This week Benjamin defended himself against a tweet sent to Labour MP Jess Phillips saying “I wouldn’t even rape you” as “satire”.
Ms Collins said: “To have people like Carl Benjamin on the list for the party is something I find disgusting, and to hear Gerard Batten on national TV yesterday defending this man’s use of rape as ‘satire’ made me sick to my stomach.
“I know women who have been raped and the mental and physical destruction it wreaks on these victims and their loved ones is the opposite of satire: it is a tragedy.
“I have spent much of my time as an MEP and as a Ukip candidate standing up for the rights of women, including the victims of industrial scale child sexual exploitation in Rotherham and other areas.
“It is simply impossible for me to stay in the party now and I will serve out the rest of my mandate as an MEP for the Brexit Party.”
No deal preparations will continue, says May
Theresa May has said that the government’s preparations for a no-deal Brexit will continue despite the delayed date for Britain exiting the European Union.
The prime minister sent a letter to civil servants saying that preparations for the possibility of Britain crashing out are still necessary, and will continue to be signed off by senior figures, despite the new October deadline.
In the letter sent to civil servants, May says: “On preparations specifically for leaving the EU without a deal, you will rightly be guided by the cabinet secretary and by your own permanent secretaries about continued planning. Necessary preparations for a no-deal outcome must continue, though with sensibly adjusted timescales given the extension we have agreed.”
On Friday it was revealed that the government had down 6,000 civil servants – who had been preparing for no-deal at an estimated cost of £1.5bn – in light of Britain’s delayed departure date. However, there are now conflicting reports as to what extent preparations are continuing.
