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Alex Wickham
@alexwickham
, 6 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
NEW: Chief whip Julian Smith has privately told MPs the withdrawal agreement could be reopened

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
At one meeting this week Smith asked MPs if they would support Graham Brady's amendment to send a message to Brussels on the backstop: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
In other talks Smith discussed coordinating a letter with the ERG in which they would commit to backing May's deal if the backstop was changed. The plan for a letter was later dropped buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
Change in mood in No10

“Something has changed"

“It is clear there has been some sort of movement behind the scenes"

"We came away with the impression that Number 10 thinks the EU is willing to change fundamentals" buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
But Smith's efforts to build support have been hampered by distrust among MPs and divisions in No10.

Some think he has been given a “licence to bullshit” and the Brady amendment is a "bait and switch" buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
Some in govt believe Corbyn will pivot to EEA plus customs union, and that could win a majority in parliament and split the Tory party buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
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More from @alexwickham see all

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Alex Wickham
@alexwickham
EXC: A senior minister told colleagues in a leaked WhatsApp rant today that the Tories will lose the next election because the party has been taken over by "zealots" who talk "bollocks"

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/a-…
Senior minister Claire Perry, who attends cabinet, told the women Tory MPs' WhatsApp group today that "antediluvian old sods" have taken over the Tories and will lose them the next election, turning them into an opposition party "of the white shires" buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/a-…
Claire Perry on male Tory backbenchers to the women Tory MPs' WhatsApp group today... "a bunch of old white men no doubt are enjoying their morning coffee served to them by their long suffering wives" 🔥 buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/a-…
Read 5 tweets
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Alex Wickham
@alexwickham
NEW: Tory MP Christopher Chope (who previously objected to the upskirting bill) is branded an “embarrassment to your party and humanity” after indicating he will block new laws on female genital mutilation this afternoon

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Anti-FGM campaigners spent the week begging Christopher Chope via text message not to block the bill. He wouldn't speak to them on the phone. Chope complained they were subjecting him to “verbal abuse”. buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Chope also under pressure from whips who have asked him not to block the bill today. Govt source: "Christopher Chope is wrong." buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Read 4 tweets
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Alex Wickham
@alexwickham
AAWG ERG ARGH: Alternative Arrangements Working Group descends into acrimony over cancelled Northern Ireland trip as ERG splits on the Malthouse Compromise

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aa…
AAWG was meant to visit Northern Ireland today to meet businesses, security officials and visit the border.

But three sources say the trip was called off after ERG feared a “Project O’Fear” No10 stitch up

Big new fallout between Brexiteers and ministers: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aa…
🚨Now a serious ERG split on Malthouse

One faction has hardened its position. It used to support a time-limit, now says that's not enough. Was thought to number about two dozen MPs. Now double that

Another faction thinks ERG has to compromise to avoid CU buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aa…
Read 6 tweets

Related threads

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Alberto Nardelli
@AlbertoNardelli
NEW: Donald Tusk told Theresa May today that Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit plan could be a promising way out of the current impasse buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
During today's meeting, Tusk also recalled the EU27 position, and reiterated that the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation.

May, I am told, "did not offer any new concrete proposals"
Tusk also asked May for an indication of a timeline but got no clear answer.
Read 4 tweets
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Peter Foster
@pmdfoster
NEW: Northern Ireland manufacturing/business groups @ManufacturingNI invite Malthouse Compromise group (AAWG) to NI to "stress test" their ideas first hand. (Letter below)

RSVP? @OwenPaterson @NickyMorgan01 @IDuncanSmithMP @kitmalthouse @SteveBakerHW @MarcusFysh @DamianGreen
@ManufacturingNI @OwenPaterson @NickyMorgan01 @IDuncanSmithMP @kitmalthouse @SteveBakerHW @MarcusFysh @DamianGreen This business groups in full. Lot's of experience actually crossing and managing @BorderIrish - the kind of nuts and bolts stuff might be useful to learn about as you design a border solution...
@ManufacturingNI @OwenPaterson @NickyMorgan01 @IDuncanSmithMP @kitmalthouse @SteveBakerHW @MarcusFysh @DamianGreen @BorderIrish Forget Number 10 stitch ups etc...per @alexwickham story here.

Perfect chance to explain to fretting NI biz how the Fujitsu borders (or is it Utterberry?) are going to function... from Derry & Crossmaglen to the Sunny Uplands /3

buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aa…
Read 3 tweets
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Henry Newman
@HenryNewman
One of the things about working around politics now (especially on Brexit) is that I have friends on all sides of debate

@NickBoles has put forward a Norway Plus plan to try to deliver referendum result in a divided commons

A thread on why I respect it but think it's flawed 👇
1/ Although I think it's flawed I recognise Nick & Oliver put it forward in a genuine spirit of compromise and not to obfuscate the referendum

(It's depressing how other MPs less committed to Referendum are happy to trash this soft Brexit plan because they want to stop Brexit)
2/ In #January 2017, when I was first appointed at @OpenEurope, I was fan of leaving via Norway/EEA

I recall discussing it with @CER_Grant but also with many key Leavers

It would have been a sensible staging post & provided a better transition to work out our long term position
Read 21 tweets
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Alberto Nardelli
@AlbertoNardelli
EU27 line on possibility of a special leaders' summit or EUCO is quite clear: "There is nothing more that the EU can do. The problem is in London, not in Brussels or the capitals of the 27. Hence, a meeting of the 27 right now serves no purpose" buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
On the possibility of reopening the deal, EU27 reaffirms for the umpteenth time what they said at Dec. EUCO: "the Withdrawal Agreement, which was agreed by the UK government with the EU's negotiator and endorsed by the EU27 Leaders, is not open for renegotiation."
On the possibility of extending article 50, EU says there has been no UK request, but should there be one – "setting out the reasons for such an extension, it will be a matter for the EU27 to decide by unanimity."
Read 3 tweets
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Stuart Millar
@stuartmillar159
NEW: The Times Has Sacked An Award Winning Reporter For Running A Fake Review Scam buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/… via @MarkDiStef
@MarkDiStef Five sources told @BuzzFeedNews that Peter Yeung was sacked last month after a Times editor on the travel desk discovered that he'd been posting reviews behind the backs of editors and sending them to companies to get free tickets and travel.
buzzfeed.com/markdistefano/…
@MarkDiStef @BuzzFeedNews Times staff said to be "slack-jawed" and "flabbergasted" at the scam. Here's how one senior reporter put it
Read 5 tweets
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Sam Coates Times
@SamCoatesTimes
Chief whip Julian Smith told by ERG that any “soft Brexit” agreement would damage party and damage TM personally.

MPs told him they won’t vote for any legislation that gives away £40bn Brexit bill without comprehensive trade deal agreed
Andrew Bridgen was said to be the most trenchant of the contributions

The implication was that soft Brexit would mean some of the no confidence letters would be submitted to Graham Brady but unclear how explicit this was
Bridgen led quite a personal attack on Olly Robbins. Suggested he only backed May because of her clear Brexit stance but when he heard reports of Robbins intentions, it suggested the party was not on the “right side, or the right pitch”
Read 5 tweets

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