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Faisal Islam @faisalislam
, 3 tweets, 1 min read Read on Twitter
Here’s what I know about new Brexit Secretary..

Liked at Treasury, ex regulator/banker. former whip. Backed PM for leadership. Pragmatic Leaver. Believed in mainly democratic case for Leave, thought too many laws made in Europe passed in UK on the nod without proper UK scrutiny.
...in theory his job only lasts for four months because after that we will have left and Dexeu should get disbanded. And he has most incentive to avoid No Deal, as he’ll be responsible for preparedness.

In practice job of actually negotiating UK-EU rel will v much still be there
Other notable is the removal of a potential remainer rebel with the return to Government of Stephen Hammond - sacked as a Tory vice chair after voting for the meaningful vote on a deal he will now vote for as a minister
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More from @faisalislam see all

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EU sources say there will be “no summit” and there are “no actual talks”, some discussions on reassurances. Another diplomatic source tells me even those will not come before the vote next week. /1
Still not entirely sure whether the Meaningful Vote debate that resumes tomorrow will be the continuation of the one curtailed last month or a new one. Former more likely. Would have to make special provision for previous speakers to speak again /2
Tory MPs who attended the Downing St drinks were expecting a bit of a rousing unity speech from PM - surprised there wasn’t one at all even “none of you will be back here” type cajoling. On the way out none I spoke to had changed mind.
Read 4 tweets
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22 Tory MPs including PPSs, trade envoys, grandees among 209 MPs signing joint cross party letter from Caroline Spelman/Jack Dromey “must not crash out of EU without a deal. We urge the Government to agree a mechanism that would ensure a ‘No Deal’ Brexit could not take place”
... Tory 22 include Spelman, Boles, Soames, Letwin, Vaizey, Keegan, ex Trade Minister Garnier, Trade Envoy R Graham... more than enough rebels to win vote. As opposing No Deal is manifesto policy of Labour, LDs, Plaid, SNP and Greens it seems highly likely there’s a Commons maj..
At this stage the 209 MPs are
162 Labour,
22 Tory,
18 SNP,
5 Lib Dem
and 4 Plaid.

“we had to send a clear message tomorrow before a fortnight of key debates commencing on Tuesday with the Finance Bill” said one signatory.
Read 7 tweets
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Ramsgate port approach now being dredged (NB by a Dutch dredger) in preparation for the potential taxpayer-funded ferry service to Ostend as a part alternative to anticipated No Deal Brexit blockages on the main Dover-Calais / Channel Tunnel routes
Meanwhile the first stages of “Operation Fennel” which we reported last month are now taking place - @TomBoadle has obtained this DfT letter about live testing Manston Airport Monday as another lorry park, in addition to 13 miles of M20 AND the M26 for No Deal Brexit disruption
Here is Operation Fennel - storing 10,000 cross channel lorries - the 5000 headed for Dover Port at Manston and 2000 For Eurotunnel on the M20 with a further 2000 on the M26 and then potentially stage 5 is for storage outside of Kent, if all that gets full...
Read 4 tweets

Related threads

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*New #Brexit poll*

"In hindsight, do you think Britain was right or wrong to vote to leave the European Union?"

Right 38% (-2)
Wrong 49% (+2)
Don't know 13% (+1)

That is an 11 point lead for "wrong", the largest lead on record

YouGov Dec 5
"Do you think Britain will be economically better or worse off after we leave the European Union, or will it make no difference?"

Better off 24%
Worse off 42%
No difference 19%

Net lead 18 points for "worse off", second highest on record

YouGov Dec 5 #Brexit
Important to recognise underlying polarisation:

90% Remainers say "wrong", 80% Leavers say "right"
70% of Labour voters say "wrong", 68% of Tories say "right"
Upper/middle-class break 56-34 for "wrong", working class 42-40 for "right"
Read 3 tweets
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BREAKING: New #Brexit Secretary appointed.
Also, there is a new minister at health.
And there is a rumour that this MP will also be brought into government.
Read 4 tweets
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Brexit is the backstop; the backstop is #Brexit.

After 3 days in Belfast, talking to all sides, here's what I've learned - on the business and the politics of this deal. And its viability.

1/Thread
First the business/technical aspects of how a backstop would work.

I talked to business lobby groups, Stephen Kelly from @ManufacturingNI fresh back from talks with Barnier. And bosses of big companies.

The are surprisingly sanguine. /2

telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/…
@ManufacturingNI If the backstop emerges as the British want (and that is still an 'if') it would look as follows:

- all-UK in a temporary customs Union
- Northern Ireland only in Single Market for goods, via devolution
- no checks GB-NI
- 'de-dramatised checks on regs NI-GB

/3
Read 26 tweets
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1) Thread - why do #FBPE peeps attack Corbyn so much?
Many Labour supporters ask, perhaps with some justification, "why do FBPEers go after Labour? This is a Tory problem!"

Here's my personal reasons. I'm guessing however they probably resonate with others
2) firstly, practical, and this is unfair but just how it is.
There is little traction to be gained by attacking the Tory #Brexit position because a majority of Tory voters will simply not care, they support Brexit blindly and won't change their minds easily
3) Labour support however has always been & is increasingly pro remain. Therefore in terms of changing a major party's position on #Brexit (vital to softening or stopping it) it was always going to be far easier attacking Labour Leadership prevarication on #Brexit than Tories
Read 13 tweets
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New Foreign Secretary @Jeremy_Hunt is in Paris to discuss Brexit & bilateral relations. Can he expect any favours? (mini thread)
1. The good news: France values UK relationship – ally in Middle East, Africa, UN and NATO & partner on intelligence, counter-terrorism. Discussions take place at bilateral level, so largely unaffected by Brexit.
2. The flip-side: France clear that Brexit negotiations are led by the EU. Its position hasn’t changed: UK cannot expect same benefits or preferential treatment. UK-EU trade will inevitably be weaker.
Read 9 tweets
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1/ Thread on our new #Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab:
Raab was a member of a closed Facebook group that called for privatising healthcare and the return of workhouses for debtors
buzzfeed.com/alexspence/the…
#StopBrexit #FBPE
2/ Raab was one of a group of Tory MPs including Liz Truss & Priti Patel who described British workers as "among the worst idlers in the world" and called for the emulation of the work ethic (long unregulated hours) and low tax (for the rich) culture to be found in parts of Asia.
3/ Before the referendum Dominic Raab was one of the Tory MPs making it clear that there would be Tory calls for a 2nd referendum (a straight replay) in the event of a #Remain victory. He had the generosity to say that it shouldn't take place for at least 2 years.
Read 6 tweets

Trending hashtags

#StopBrexit #Luxembourg #NEW #Remain #Brexit #UKEUchallenge #FBPE #Fraud #brexitinquiry #Borders #bbcqt #trucking #leave #Fiancial #FinalSay #pm #Tories #FairVote #brexit #brexitreality #Scottish #Belgium #WTO #Labour #frauderendum

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