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As it happenedended

UK politics - as it happened: House of Commons suspended as Theresa May's new Brexit plan published in chaotic scenes

Read all the latest updates from Westminster, as they happened

Lizzy Buchan
Political Correspondent
Thursday 12 July 2018 11:00 EDT
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House of Commons suspended while government hands out copies of Brexit white paper

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The publication of Theresa May's new Brexit plan descended into chaos when speaker John Bercow had to suspend the Commons to allow MPs to see copies of the white paper.

Labour described it as an "utter shambles" that MPs were unable to read the 98-page document until Brexit secretary Dominic Raab appeared to give a statement on the plans, which could allow some EU migrants preferable treatment as part of future trade deals.

It comes as Tory rebels ramped up pressure on Ms May to scrap her new Brexit plan, which has already caused the resignations of Boris Johnson and David Davis, as well as several other Tory Eurosceptics.

In a show of strength, Eurosceptic backbencher Jacob Rees-Mogg and allies have tabled a string of amendments to the government’s trade and customs bill, raising the threat of Commons defeats on Monday.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump was due to face major protests after he arrived in the UK for his much-anticipated working visit.

See below for live updates

Welcome to The Independent's politics liveblog, where we will be bringing you the latest updates from Westminster throughout the day.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 08:47

Theresa May will today publish the “most significant” document yet on the road to Brexit, as anti-EU Tories plot to defeat it as early as next week.

The white paper will set out the full details of the Chequers plan, which triggered howls of “betrayal” and the resignations of both Boris Johnson and David Davis.

More here:

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:00

Dominic Raab, the new Brexit secretary, is due to meet the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier in Brussels next week, as he takes up the mantle after David Davis' resignation.

In his first Today appearance since joining the cabinet, he said the Chequers plan was a "credible" proposal.

"It's bold, it's ambitious but it's also pragmatic," he said.

He was pressed on whether he would be in charge of talks, after Mr Davis reportedly grew frustrated about being sidelined by Oliver Robbins, May's top Brexit adviser.

Mr Raab said: "The prime minister is in charge of the negotiations. I will be deputising for her and I plan to speak to Michel Barnier later today."

The white paper will "reassure all of those with concern", he said.

"For those that are either criticising or carping or whatever else, they need to come back with credible alternatives," he said.

Mr Raab said it was "true" that the UK would no longer be part of setting the directives in the common rulebook it would agree to under the proposals.

But he said Britain would "have a chance to influence it" and there would be a parliamentary lock on new measures.

"It's not right to say we will be a rule-taker in the sense that's normally used," he added.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:12

A bit more from Dominic Raab's Today interview here:

Mr Raab said the UK would be ending free movement but visas would be a part of future trade deals.

He said concerns raised by Brussels had been listened to and the government was approaching the talks in a "spirit of friendship".

But he refused to say if the white paper was an opening offer to the EU or the UK's red lines.

"I don't really want to get into all of that but we need to crack on," he said.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:19

MPs are expecting a Commons statement from Dominic Raab on the contents of the Brexit white paper later this morning.

First up, Michael Gove will be answering environment questions, then there will be two urgent questions on hostile environment and policing of Donald Trump's visit.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:27

Labour is unlikely to support Theresa May's Chequers plan for Brexit, according to a former frontbencher.

Yvette Cooper told Today: "My view is that as it stands, no. We will wait to see what the white paper comes out with today.

"That's partly because it doesn't actually have a customs union in it. It has a fudge on customs partnership which, as I see it, would still be really bad for manufacturing."

She added: "No deal only becomes more likely if the government insists on putting a gun to parliament's head and making it a no deal.

"The fact that parliament may not agree with the Chequers proposal doesn't mean it wants no deal."

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:33

The new Brexit Secretary has admitted the UK will be shut out of future decision-making on trade regulations with the EU, under plans to be unveiled today.

Asked if Britain would not be “part of setting those rules anymore” for goods, Dominic Raab replied: “That’s true.”

More here:

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:46

EU commission secretary general Martin Selmayr has drawn the ire of football fans by posting a gloating tweet when England was defeated in the World Cup last night.

Even very pro-EU politicians were unimpressed.

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 09:56

Sajid Javid is coming before MPs today to answer an urgent question on the decision to suspend its hostile environment policy.

The government quietly announced that it would halt the controversial policy for anyone over the age of 30 to prevent more people being “wrongly and erroneously impacted” by the measures following the Windrush scandal.

More here: 

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 10:11

New foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt, attending the Nato summit in Brussels, said the white paper would be the subject of "fierce discussion".

"You are going to have very, very lively debates in a situation like this. This is one of the biggest decisions that we have taken as a country in our political lifetimes, so there is going to be a pretty fierce discussion but the prime minister has found a way forward," he told reporters.

Mr Hunt said Brussels needed to recognise the importance of reaching an agreement that worked for both sides.

"What we say to the European Union is we're not the only ones who can't do the cherry-picking. If they want a deep and special partnership with Britain going forward, then we have to look at our relationship as a whole.

"We are saying that we will defend Europe unconditionally - that is the big commitment that Theresa May has made. We need to find a way forward that works for both sides."

Lizzy Buchan12 July 2018 10:28

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