Good morning. Here’s your daily Politics Update:
May says she will ‘see through’ Brexit despite seven resignations from her MPs
Theresa May told reporters on Thursday night that she will be sticking to her Brexit deal despite resignations from senior MPs, saying she will “see through” her current plan. Speaking at a press conference in Downing Street on Thursday evening, May said she would carry on with her plan in the “national interest”.
In the wake of resignations from her cabinet, pressure is now piling on the prime minister, and a leadership challenge is becoming more likely.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the European Research Group leader, submitted his vote of no-confidence letter on Thursday afternoon. However, it is not yet known whether the 48 letters needed to force a vote of no-confidence has been reached yet.
Asked by one reporter whether she would stand firm in the face of a no-confidence vote, the PM responded: “Leadership is about taking the right decisions not the easy ones,” adding: “As prime minister, my job is to bring back a deal that delivers on the vote of the British people … Am I going to see this through? Yes.”
Thursday saw ministers resigning from key positions in May’s government, with Brexit secretary Dominic Raab and Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey quitting within an hour of each other at the start of the day.
Friday could see further resignations from the government in defiance of May’s deal, with environment secretary Michael Gove tipped by many to be the next to go.
Update: Michael Gove has confirmed that he will not be resigning from the government – full story.
Who’s resigned?
Seven ministers resigned on what has been by far the worst day of May’s premiership. The list so far:
- Dominic Raab – Brexit Secretary
- Esther McVey – Work and Pensions Secretary
- Rehman Chishti – MP
- Shailesh Vara – MP
- Ranil Jayawardena – Parliamentary private secretary
- Nikki Da Costa – Director of legislative affairs
- Suella Braverman – MP
- Anne-Marie Trevelyn – MP
Brexit: Who has resigned from May’s government? Who could still make the leap?
How does a no-confidence vote work?
To force a vote of no-confidence in a Conservative party leader, at least 15% of MPs from the party must submit a letter of no confidence to the chairman of the ‘1922 Committee’.
As of the last general election, the Conservatives have 315 MPs, therefore 48 votes are needed to force a vote of no-confidence.
How many have been submitted?
This is where it becomes complex. The chairman of the committee, Graham Brady, keeps his cards ‘or his letters’ very close to his chest, and msot believe we will not know how many letter she has until a vote is called.
After Jacob Rees-Mogg submitted his letter of no-confidence very publicly, rumours swirled as to whether there were enough votes to force a no-confidence vote.
Currently nobody knows how many there are, but most accept there are a significant number. Many MPs submitted letter earlier this year provisionally, and are now believed to have told Graham Brady that the letters are now ‘live’.
What the papers say:
Here are what the front pages of today’s papers say about the Brexit state of play:
Friday’s Times front cover – ‘Lonely May staggers on’ #Brexit : https://t.co/A5qpUxcCTf
— No Majesty (@nomajestyuk) November 15, 2018
Friday’s The Guardian front page: https://t.co/Ib0QGmOZ8M
— No Majesty (@nomajestyuk) November 15, 2018
The Telegraph’s Friday front page ‘Amy I going to see this through? Yes, I am’ #Brexit : https://t.co/35WIK7TDcn
— No Majesty (@nomajestyuk) November 15, 2018
Friday’s FT cover – ‘Tory civil war’ : https://t.co/AzquBmsGYZ
— No Majesty (@nomajestyuk) November 15, 2018
Friday’s Daily Mail front page – ‘Have they lost the plot?’ #Brexit : https://t.co/hytj2OofO0
— No Majesty (@nomajestyuk) November 15, 2018
YouGov poll says public doesn’t back Theresa May’s deal
It’s not just the prime minister’s cabinet that opposes her plan. According to a survey published by YouGov, 42% of the public oppose May’s Brexit deal:
The British public does not back Theresa May’s Brexit deal
Support – 19%
Oppose – 42%
Don’t know – 39%42% of Leave voters oppose the deal, as do 47% of Remain votershttps://t.co/DLVwqFaB0x pic.twitter.com/Lch2F0ICgy
— YouGov (@YouGov) November 15, 2018
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