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As it happenedended

Brexit - as it happened: David Davis accuses EU of 'shooting itself in the foot' over security cooperation

All the latest updates from Westminster as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Wednesday 06 June 2018 10:00 EDT
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David Davis wants post-Brexit relationship with Europe that 'recognises the history' and 'stands the test of time'

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David Davis has accused the EU of "shooting itself in the foot to see if the gun works" by weakening security ties with the UK after Brexit.

In a speech in London, the Brexit secretary criticised the European Commission for putting legal precedents ahead of practical considerations, after it emerged that Brussels has threatened to kick Britain out of its Galileo satellite navigation programme, which it helped to fund.

He also revealed the cabinet was still split over the "backstop" proposals, which would keep the whole of the UK in the customs union until a permanent solution is found to the Irish border issue.

It comes as Jeremy Corbyn criticised Theresa May over the government's delay in laying out its Brexit plans in more detail, demanding when the government will publish its white paper on the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Labour is facing its own Brexit troubles as splits emerged over plans to shift its approach to leaving the EU.

Ahead of a Commons showdown on the government's flagship legislation, the Labour leadership has sought to quell pro-EU rebels in the ranks, by tabling a bid for a Norway-style deal where Britain retains full access to the single market.

However critics said the efforts were "nowhere near enough", and called for support for a cross-party amendment from the Lords, which could effectively keep Britain in the single market.

See below for live updates

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 12:48

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 12:57

MPs are going to hold a debate tomorrow on summoning former Vote Leave campaign boss Dominic Cummings to parliament.

Mr Cummings has refused so far to appear before the Digital Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which is holding an inquiry into fake news.

They want to grill him on digital advertising during the EU referendum after the Cambridge Analytica row, where concerns were raised over potential use of people's private data to try to influence elections.

However Mr Cummings said he couldn't answer the questions as he is under investigation by the Electoral Commission and the Information Commissioners Office.

Speaker John Bercow says he has received a letter from Damien Collins, the chair of the DCMS committee about it, and he may table a debate on the issue tomorrow.

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 13:11

Interesting column here from Andrew Grice, who argues that Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit stance is a move that comes 'straight out of Tony Blair's playbook'.

Read his take here:

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 13:20

David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, is due to make a speech this afternoon.

However he's been in the headlines this morningafter joking that he was not appointed to his job for “my intellect”, risking fresh accusations that he is not up to delivering Brexit.

A TV documentary on life in the European Parliament caught the Brexit Secretary’s response when he was asked if he was finding the negotiations gruelling.

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 13:40

PA political editor Andy Woodcock has written a helpful explainer on the different options for Britain's future relationship with the EU.

The Government's position

Britain should withdraw from the European single market and customs union, to enable it to strike new trade deals around the world. It should forge a new "deep and special partnership" with the EU27, with free trade and close security links.

Who supports it? Theresa May and a large majority of Conservative MPs, along with some Labour rebels.

The Labour position

Labour wants Britain to remain in "a customs union" with the EU after Brexit, to ensure tariff-free access and frictionless trade with the remaining 27 members. Jeremy Corbyn's new policy would also make "full access" to the EU internal market an objective in Brexit negotiations.

Who supports it? Labour's leadership, including Mr Corbyn and shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer, who are expected to be backed by most of the party's MPs.

The 'soft Brexit' option

Keeping Britain inside the customs union and the single market, to maintain the closest possible ties with the EU. Amendments passed by the House of Lords, and due for an MPs' vote next Tuesday, would require the Government to try to negotiate a customs union and continued membership - alongside non-EU countries like Norway - of the European Economic Area (EEA).

Who supports it? A majority of peers, along with europhile MPs from all parties linked to the Open Britain campaign, such as Tory former minister Anna Soubry. A substantial number of Labour MPs, including Chuka Umunna, believe the party should back the cross-party Lords amendments, despite orders from the leadership to abstain in the EEA vote.

The 'Exit from Brexit' option

Offering voters the opportunity to reverse their decision to leave the European Union.

Who supports it? This is the official policy of the Liberal Democrats and the favoured outcome of the Best for Britain pressure group and the People's Vote campaign for a second referendum on the final Brexit deal.

The 'No Deal' option

Britain leaves the EU without any agreement on future relations, and trades on World Trade Organisation terms.

Who supports it? Only a relatively small number of committed eurosceptics in Parliament regard this as their preferred result, but many MPs - particularly on the Tory benches - believe the Government should be preparing for the possibility of a "no deal" exit in order to strengthen the UK's hand in negotiations with Brussels.

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 13:54

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 14:10

Downing Street said that the Government's proposals for a "backstop" solution for the Irish border would be published "shortly".

Theresa May's official spokesman confirmed that the proposal would include a time limit on any interim arrangement to keep the border open in the absence of a more permanent solution, but declined to give further details.

He stressed that the Government does not believe that the backstop option will have to be put into effect, as ministers think that a better customs arrangement can be agreed before the UK's withdrawal from the EU.

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 14:23

Oxford and Cambridge's failure to take in more students who are black or from less privileged backgrounds is "staggering", the universities minister has said. 

Sam Gyimah criticised the elite institutions for not doing enough and warned that they could be fined by the new higher education regulator if they do not meet admissions targets.

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 14:38

The Prime Minister cannot be trusted to protect workers' rights after Brexit, a senior union boss has said.

Frances O'Grady, general secretary of the TUC, said workers should not "pay the price" of leaving the EU, whichever way they voted in the referendum.

She told the annual conference of the Fire Brigades Union in Brighton: "The TUC is demanding a cast-iron guarantee that rights at work will be safe.

"British, Irish, French and German unions campaigned hard to win that level playing field of rights, like holiday pay and parental leave, right across Europe, and we're not going to stand by and let this Tory Government trash them.

"Theresa May promises those rights will be protected and enhanced after Brexit. We don't trust her."

Ms O'Grady said Brexit-supporting ministers Boris Johnson and Michael Gove were not bothering to disguise their real agenda.

"They've already briefed their media friends that Brexit is a great opportunity to get rid of the EU Working Time Directive.

"That means limits on long working hours, the right to paid holidays and protection for night workers, and we're kidding ourselves if we think they'll stop there.

"We respect the referendum result, but we want a deal with the EU that protects jobs, livelihoods and rights at work that keep pace with our friends elsewhere in Europe."

Lizzy Buchan6 June 2018 14:50

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