@alexwickham's Threads
NEW: Tory MPs are telling Labour MPs that if they vote down the deal they will lose their seats in a 'People v Parliament' election
But if they vote it through, an election would happen next year and be about issues other than Brexit
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
But if they vote it through, an election would happen next year and be about issues other than Brexit
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Tories also telling Labour MPs in Leave seats that voting the deal through will kill off the threat of Farage and the far-right
If Brexit is resolved the far-right will disappear from their constituencies, if not it will grow, Labour MPs are being told
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
If Brexit is resolved the far-right will disappear from their constituencies, if not it will grow, Labour MPs are being told
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
No10 fighting to nail down votes of the 21 former Tory rebels
Had previously been thought most would come over
But now fears these rebels could remain in the high single figures
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Had previously been thought most would come over
But now fears these rebels could remain in the high single figures
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
NEW: Amber Rudd, Philip Hammond and David Gauke in talks with other Tory rebels to form a new political grouping at the election
— would have a shared Brexit position
— pool resources, donations & polling
— one source says it'd be a party in all but name
buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
— would have a shared Brexit position
— pool resources, donations & polling
— one source says it'd be a party in all but name
buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
Philip Hammond confirms to BuzzFeed News that if he doesn’t get the Tory whip back “I would look to cooperate with any other ex-Tories standing in similar circumstances” buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
Around 10 of the ex-Tory rebels are in talks about joining the new grouping
If Boris Johnson runs on a no-deal manifesto they expect more Tory MPs to join them
They are hoping to be kingmakers in a hung parliament
buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
If Boris Johnson runs on a no-deal manifesto they expect more Tory MPs to join them
They are hoping to be kingmakers in a hung parliament
buzzfeed.com/albertonardell…
NEW: A rift has opened up at the top of Boris Johnson’s govt between advisers loyal to Dom Cummings and other senior Johnson allies
— “parallel government” run by Eddie Lister
— top team split on aggressive media strategy
— election campaign power grab
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…
— “parallel government” run by Eddie Lister
— top team split on aggressive media strategy
— election campaign power grab
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…
Key dividing line between the Vote Leave faction which sees leaving the EU as the end goal and is willing to achieve it by any means necessary, and a group of advisers led by Lister who see Johnson’s administration as a long-term project beyond Brexit
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…
A Tory election campaign against the Brexit Party would have to harden its position on any future deal, offering a reduced Brexit bill and rejecting ECJ involvement on citizens’ rights, as well as no compromise on the backstop, government official said buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/do…
Baroness Hale mocking Boris Johnson over his “girly swots” gaffe this morning
People at the top of government astonished at Baroness Hale today
Govt source: "The independence of the judiciary and their slideshow choices is not something we can question."
Second govt source: "This shows a clear lack of judgment. Remind me what her job title is again?"
Govt source: "The independence of the judiciary and their slideshow choices is not something we can question."
Second govt source: "This shows a clear lack of judgment. Remind me what her job title is again?"
And another...
Third govt source gets in touch: “You wouldn't get Supreme Court Justices in the US publicly bragging about defeating the executive and mocking the President. But apparently our system is above board and theirs is somehow something to be feared.”
Third govt source gets in touch: “You wouldn't get Supreme Court Justices in the US publicly bragging about defeating the executive and mocking the President. But apparently our system is above board and theirs is somehow something to be feared.”
NEW: Boris Johnson's senior aides have ordered Tory MPs to call the EU 'crazy' if it rejects their new Brexit proposals
Internal memo sent tonight reveals how the govt plans to blame Brussels for 'ending negotiations' if talks break down
Read it here: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
Internal memo sent tonight reveals how the govt plans to blame Brussels for 'ending negotiations' if talks break down
Read it here: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
Here is the blame game memo
— if Brussels refuses to negotiate on Northern Ireland customs, No10 will say the EU is "crazy" and has made a deal "impossible"
— it would be the EU that "ends negotiations" if this happens, Boris Johnson's aides claim
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
— if Brussels refuses to negotiate on Northern Ireland customs, No10 will say the EU is "crazy" and has made a deal "impossible"
— it would be the EU that "ends negotiations" if this happens, Boris Johnson's aides claim
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
The memo from Boris Johnson's senior aides tonight also differs from their public line that this is their take-it-or-leave-it final offer
"We are obviously happy to negotiate details," it says
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
"We are obviously happy to negotiate details," it says
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/eu…
NEW: No10 might say this is their "final offer" but privately they concede it won't be accepted by the EU in full
UK willing to discuss compromise
But they insist it is a serious offer kicking off 10 days of talks to decide whether a deal can be done
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
UK willing to discuss compromise
But they insist it is a serious offer kicking off 10 days of talks to decide whether a deal can be done
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
No10 wants to pose the EU with a choice
— discussing a compromise deal that is vaguer than Brussels would like and delays the crunch (with UK open to moving further)
— or risk Johnson winning an election and pursuing no deal
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
— discussing a compromise deal that is vaguer than Brussels would like and delays the crunch (with UK open to moving further)
— or risk Johnson winning an election and pursuing no deal
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
If no deal is to be done in the next 10 days it's
— go through the Benn law and seek no deal
— likely fail/lose in court
— extend after exhausting other possibilities
— November election
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
— go through the Benn law and seek no deal
— likely fail/lose in court
— extend after exhausting other possibilities
— November election
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/aw…
NEW: Boris Johnson has handed £100,000 of taxpayers' money to one of his main personal donors
The cash is supposed to help the company be "ready for Brexit". But it declared itself "Brexit ready" in January
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
The cash is supposed to help the company be "ready for Brexit". But it declared itself "Brexit ready" in January
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Four months ago the Bristol Port Company donated £25,000 to Boris Johnson ahead of his Tory leadership campaign
Johnson's government has just awarded Bristol port £100,000 of taxpayers' money, the Department for Transport has confirmed to BuzzFeed News
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Johnson's government has just awarded Bristol port £100,000 of taxpayers' money, the Department for Transport has confirmed to BuzzFeed News
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Now here's a strange thing
Transport secretary Grant Shapps says the £100,000 for Bristol port is about "ensuring they are ready for Brexit"
But in January the Bristol Port Company released a pamphlet already declaring themselves "Brexit ready"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Transport secretary Grant Shapps says the £100,000 for Bristol port is about "ensuring they are ready for Brexit"
But in January the Bristol Port Company released a pamphlet already declaring themselves "Brexit ready"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
NEW: A divide is starting to open up among cabinet ministers and advisers at the top of government over whether Boris Johnson could get away with a Brexit delay beyond October 31
Some are privately suggesting the PM could survive an extension
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
Some are privately suggesting the PM could survive an extension
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
Govt starting to fall into three groups
First: the October 31ers
— Brexiters like Raab, Vote Leave aides
— they want to "go straight through" the Benn law/fight in courts even if it means being ousted
— say Farage will smash PM at election if he delays
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
First: the October 31ers
— Brexiters like Raab, Vote Leave aides
— they want to "go straight through" the Benn law/fight in courts even if it means being ousted
— say Farage will smash PM at election if he delays
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
Second group: the delayers
— those who prefer extension to no deal and for whom abiding by the law and being seen to be a responsible govt is paramount
— eg Buckland
— but an Oct 31er says govt could weather resignations if they refused to delay
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
— those who prefer extension to no deal and for whom abiding by the law and being seen to be a responsible govt is paramount
— eg Buckland
— but an Oct 31er says govt could weather resignations if they refused to delay
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
NEW: Dominic Cummings ordered Tory aides to “ram” the phrase Surrender Act “down their throats” at a meeting last night
He said there would be an election in November and claimed Labour were trying to silence it because “they know it’s hurting them”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
He said there would be an election in November and claimed Labour were trying to silence it because “they know it’s hurting them”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
☢️A Tory MP has compared Boris Johnson's Brexit strategy to the scene in HBO's Chernobyl with the red and blue cards
In their analogy Cummings plays bad-tempered chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov
Read it in full here: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
In their analogy Cummings plays bad-tempered chief engineer Anatoly Dyatlov
Read it in full here: buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
The three key moments Tory MPs say No10 has got wrong
— failing to stop the Benn law in parliament
— failing to realise Labour might block an election
— prorogation
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
— failing to stop the Benn law in parliament
— failing to realise Labour might block an election
— prorogation
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Government in a completely uncompromising mood this morning
1st govt source: “It is no coincidence that the one phrase they want to ban is one of our main attack lines for the election they are too cowardly to call.”
1st govt source: “It is no coincidence that the one phrase they want to ban is one of our main attack lines for the election they are too cowardly to call.”
2nd govt source: “It’s like with 350m. If it hadn’t cut through before, Surrender Act definitely has now”
3rd govt source: “I’ve renamed my imaginary dog ‘Labour support the surrender act’. Unfortunately he’s gone missing so I’ve spent the morning running around east London having to shout ‘Labour support the surrender act’. I do hope they don’t find this offensive”
NEW: Cabinet ministers are warning the Supreme Court ruling has put the judiciary on a path to radical reform
Ministers talking about:
— US-style system of appointed judges
— return to Law Lords
— written constitution
— scrapping the Human Rights Act
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
Ministers talking about:
— US-style system of appointed judges
— return to Law Lords
— written constitution
— scrapping the Human Rights Act
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
A Tory source said: “What the Supreme Court ruling has done is force a choice between moving towards a full-blown US system and return to the traditional pre-ECHR English system. Lady Hale has cut away the middle ground.”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
One cab minister has said we're headed to US-style system
Govt source: “The next person with a decent majority will move towards politically appointed judges. Whether it's us or Corbyn, you cannot have judges intervening in political decisions like this”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
Govt source: “The next person with a decent majority will move towards politically appointed judges. Whether it's us or Corbyn, you cannot have judges intervening in political decisions like this”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/ca…
💥 NEW: Labour will use a humble address motion to force Boris Johnson to publish the legal advice he received on proroguing Parliament, if Geoffrey Cox doesn't release it
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
Keir Starmer tells BuzzFeed news:
“The Attorney General should publish the legal advice he gave the Prime Minister on prorogation. If he fails to do so, Parliament should force its release."
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
“The Attorney General should publish the legal advice he gave the Prime Minister on prorogation. If he fails to do so, Parliament should force its release."
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
Bercow has signalled he will allow time for this — huge pressure on Cox position obviously and whether PM was warned it could be unlawful — but also wonder if Labour are going down this route rather than VONC...
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
— Johnson has no intention of resigning
— Does he fly home from New York? No10 insisted he wouldn’t, but with a potential confidence vote looming and parliament sitting he may have no choice
— huge call to ditch UNGA but risks Commons vacuum if not
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
— Does he fly home from New York? No10 insisted he wouldn’t, but with a potential confidence vote looming and parliament sitting he may have no choice
— huge call to ditch UNGA but risks Commons vacuum if not
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
— Does Corbyn call a VONC immediately? There are a lot of MPs, ministers away and Corbyn will come under pressure to make this the moment he tests PM’s confidence
— would Bercow give MPs reasonable chance of getting back? No rule on it...
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
— would Bercow give MPs reasonable chance of getting back? No rule on it...
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
— Remainer Tory backlash against PM: positions of Buckland and Cox under pressure, questions about legal advice PM received re prorogation and why it wasn’t shared with cabinet
— also pressure on Cummings and Da Costa and questions to answer for Sedwill
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
— also pressure on Cummings and Da Costa and questions to answer for Sedwill
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/pa…
NEW: National Crime Agency finds no evidence Arron Banks or LeaveEU committed a criminal offence
— no evidence he received funding from third parties to fund loans
— no evidence he acted as agent of a third party
— no further action taken "in respect of this specific matter"
— no evidence he received funding from third parties to fund loans
— no evidence he acted as agent of a third party
— no further action taken "in respect of this specific matter"
Arron Banks statement
— says Electoral Commission made “false, outrageous allegations” against him
— says he will take action against media organisations who he claims damaged his reputation
— says Electoral Commission made “false, outrageous allegations” against him
— says he will take action against media organisations who he claims damaged his reputation
Electoral Commission statement rather oddly doesn't address any of the NCA findings specifically but says:
"We are concerned about the apparent weakness in the law, highlighted by this investigation outcome, which allows overseas funds into UK politics"
"We are concerned about the apparent weakness in the law, highlighted by this investigation outcome, which allows overseas funds into UK politics"
NEW: Labour would put a huge fleet of publicly-owned electric hire cars — "People's Zipcars" — on the streets of Britain in a radical plan for "collective car transport"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
Here's how it works
— Labour government would buy 30,000 British-made electric cars
— they'd be leased to "community car clubs" run by cooperatives and local authorities
— you can rent them through an app
— targeted at marginalised and held back areas
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
— Labour government would buy 30,000 British-made electric cars
— they'd be leased to "community car clubs" run by cooperatives and local authorities
— you can rent them through an app
— targeted at marginalised and held back areas
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
The policy is a direct challenge to privately-owned car-sharing companies like Zipcar
Zipcar has 2,600 cars in the UK mainly in cities like London and Bristol
Labour's publicly-owned rival would make 30,000 electric cars available in towns and villages
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
Zipcar has 2,600 cars in the UK mainly in cities like London and Bristol
Labour's publicly-owned rival would make 30,000 electric cars available in towns and villages
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/la…
NEW
— if No10 can find space to shift for a deal, it plans inducements to win over rebels and "desperate" DUP, then ask EU to rule out extension
— if not, they will "go straight through" the Benn law and prepare for Oct Supreme Court battle and a budget
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
— if No10 can find space to shift for a deal, it plans inducements to win over rebels and "desperate" DUP, then ask EU to rule out extension
— if not, they will "go straight through" the Benn law and prepare for Oct Supreme Court battle and a budget
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
No10 thinks the EU will not offer an extension if the UK govt does not want one
Pro-Brexit lawyer who worked on Vote Leave says an October court case be based on: “Is there a line that the legislature cannot cross that is the preserve of the executive?”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Pro-Brexit lawyer who worked on Vote Leave says an October court case be based on: “Is there a line that the legislature cannot cross that is the preserve of the executive?”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
Preparations also being made for an emergency end of October budget (as @SamCoatesSky
reported this week)...
One potential benefit for the govt would be that it eats up Commons time with days of debates as clock ticks down
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
reported this week)...
One potential benefit for the govt would be that it eats up Commons time with days of debates as clock ticks down
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/bo…
NEW: Runners and riders to replace John Bercow as Commons speaker, and why they think they should get the job
Read all their email pitches to MPs here >> buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
Read all their email pitches to MPs here >> buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
Lindsay Hoyle: Early favourite and stability candidate
— basically his pitch is he won’t cause drama
— like Bercow he will be big on LGBT/BAME rights/representation
— unlike Bercow he will be unscrupulously impartial
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
— basically his pitch is he won’t cause drama
— like Bercow he will be big on LGBT/BAME rights/representation
— unlike Bercow he will be unscrupulously impartial
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
Harriet Harman: Hold Boris Johnson and the Brexiteers to account
— eye-catching pitch on having the ‘confidence of the House’ and allowing ‘robust accountability’ of the govt
— better representation for women MPs
— combat harassment and threats
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
— eye-catching pitch on having the ‘confidence of the House’ and allowing ‘robust accountability’ of the govt
— better representation for women MPs
— combat harassment and threats
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/wh…
💥 NEW: Cabinet row over a proposal by Liz Truss to give businesses a £1,500 'Brexit voucher' to prepare for no-deal
The idea was rejected by Michael Gove's XO committee. But Truss is determined to push ahead
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
The idea was rejected by Michael Gove's XO committee. But Truss is determined to push ahead
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
— Liz Truss' idea is to give SMEs that export to the EU a £1,500 voucher to pay for advice from accountants / lawyers ahead of Oct 31
— There were 5.7 million SMEs in the UK in 2018. 8% export to the EU
— But Truss said it'd only cost £30 million...
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
— There were 5.7 million SMEs in the UK in 2018. 8% export to the EU
— But Truss said it'd only cost £30 million...
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
— XO rejected the proposal after ministers raised concerns
— Govt source: “There was no targeting or checks and no way of knowing where the money would be going. You could have applied for a voucher and split the cash with an accountant friend.”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
— Govt source: “There was no targeting or checks and no way of knowing where the money would be going. You could have applied for a voucher and split the cash with an accountant friend.”
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/mi…
Yellowhammer docs
— 2.5 day queues for HGVs at Kent
— significant electricity price increases for consumers
— winter weather and flu could exacerbate impacts and stretch resources
— public and biz readiness for no-deal will remain at a low level
— small and medium businesses less well prepared
— significant electricity price increases for consumers
— winter weather and flu could exacerbate impacts and stretch resources
— public and biz readiness for no-deal will remain at a low level
— small and medium businesses less well prepared
— possible severe extended delays for medicines if situation unmitigated
— certain types of fresh food supply will decrease
— law enforcement data sharing disrupted
— financial services disrupted
— low income groups disproportionately affected
— protests across UK
— certain types of fresh food supply will decrease
— law enforcement data sharing disrupted
— financial services disrupted
— low income groups disproportionately affected
— protests across UK
Lord Brodie: "This was an egregious case of a clear failure to comply with generally accepted standards of behaviour of public authorities"
Lord Brodie cont: "the principal reasons for the prorogation were to prevent or impede parliament holding the executive to account and legislating with regard to Brexit, and to allow the executive to pursue a policy of a no deal Brexit without further parliamentary interference"
Lord Drummond Young: "The circumstances, particularly the length of the prorogation, showed that the purpose was to prevent such scrutiny... The only inference that could be drawn was that the UK government and the Prime Minister wished to restrict Parliament."
NEW: Theresa May awards knighthoods, peerages and other gongs to
— 26 of her ex-advisers
— 3 Tory donors
— her chef
— her housekeeper
Transparency campaigners accuse her of “foul play” over “the corrupting influence of big money” in British politics
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
— 26 of her ex-advisers
— 3 Tory donors
— her chef
— her housekeeper
Transparency campaigners accuse her of “foul play” over “the corrupting influence of big money” in British politics
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
As BuzzFeed News revealed last month — peerages for her former chief of staff Gavin Barwell, her deputy chief of staff JoJo Penn, her political secretary Stephen Parkinson and her press aide Liz Sanderson buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
Arise Sir Olly Robbins and Sir Robbie Gibb
Remember when Cameron have his director of comms @CraigOliver100
a knighthood in 2016 May said it made her "retch"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
Remember when Cameron have his director of comms @CraigOliver100
a knighthood in 2016 May said it made her "retch"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/th…
NEW: Leaked WhatsApps reveal Tory MPs are urging Boris Johnson to break the law to deliver Brexit
Read the messages here >> buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Read the messages here >> buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
The extraordinary conversation took place in the Conservative MPs WhatsApp group this weekend
It started with Iain Duncan Smith who wrote: "The government has the right to demand that we do not hand over power to Parliament to tie the PM's hands"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
It started with Iain Duncan Smith who wrote: "The government has the right to demand that we do not hand over power to Parliament to tie the PM's hands"
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Kevin Hollinrake replied: "Government has the right to ignore legislation?"
Brexiteer Sheryll Murray: "I hope so 👍🏻"
She was backed up by fellow Brexiteer and home affairs select committee member Chris Green
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Brexiteer Sheryll Murray: "I hope so 👍🏻"
She was backed up by fellow Brexiteer and home affairs select committee member Chris Green
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/to…
Understand Amber Rudd did not tell Boris Johnson she was resigning before she gave an interview to the Sunday Times
She came under huge pressure from Rebel Alliance and her brother Roland Rudd, who were furious she had stayed in the cabinet
She came under huge pressure from Rebel Alliance and her brother Roland Rudd, who were furious she had stayed in the cabinet
Source close to Amber Rudd says she genuinely tried to make it work in cabinet - she signed up to the Oct 31 pledge, proroguing Parliament and opposed the Benn legislation
But she could not live with the decision to expel 21 Tory rebels
But she could not live with the decision to expel 21 Tory rebels
Amber Rudd told Boris Johnson her decision late this evening after she had told the Sunday Times
He asked her to reconsider but she had made her mind up
He asked her to reconsider but she had made her mind up
Election vote – PM struggling to get either 2/3 maj under FTPA, or simple maj
Labour could amend PM motion to say election only when Bill is passed
But some rebels worried the Bill doesn't do enough and want to force PM to seek extension before election
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/br…
Labour could amend PM motion to say election only when Bill is passed
But some rebels worried the Bill doesn't do enough and want to force PM to seek extension before election
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/br…
Lords
Rebels v worried that Brexiteer peers will stop their Bill getting through the Lords before prorogation. Rebels want it through on Friday but it's looking tricky
If it does go thru, Johnson could block royal assent before Monday as nuclear option
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/br…
Rebels v worried that Brexiteer peers will stop their Bill getting through the Lords before prorogation. Rebels want it through on Friday but it's looking tricky
If it does go thru, Johnson could block royal assent before Monday as nuclear option
buzzfeed.com/alexwickham/br…
