Responding to the story in the Daily Telegraph that Theresa May wants a live televised debate with Jeremy Corbyn, Andrew Allison, Head of Campaigns, said: "This is something we should resist. We are not in the middle of a general election campaign. The broadcasters will love the idea as it is good for them. Instead of debating the issues, they will be billing this as the heavyweight championship of the world with a build up going on for days. It will also be a biased Remain v Remain fight without a Brexiteer in sight. It would be a distraction - one we can do without as the future of our country as a sovereign nation hangs in the balance." ENDS Continue reading

Whilst paragraph 73 of the draft political agreement states that "the United Kingdom will be an independent coastal state", read paragraphs 75 & 76: 75. Within the context of the overall economic partnership the Parties should establish a new fisheries agreement on, inter alia, access to waters and quota shares. 76. The Parties will use their best endeavours to conclude and ratify their new fisheries agreement by 1 July 2020 in order for it to be in place in time to be used for determining fishing opportunities for the first year after the transition period. Continue reading

We know that there isn't going to be an emergency Cabinet meeting today. The withdrawal plan could be discussed at the scheduled Cabinet meeting tomorrow, but I'm not holding my breath. Nor am I holding my breath that an emergency meeting will be called for Wednesday. The chances of a special meeting of the EU27 to ratify a deal later this month are evaporating.  How much of this is the EU demanding more, and how much of it is the Government playing for time, is a question I cannot answer. It is clear that Theresa May's woes got worse on Friday with the departure of Jo Johnson as a Transport Minister. He hinted that there could be more ministerial resignations on the way. We have heard that before, but Johnson's resignation has highlighted how unhappy many Remainer MPs are. As I have said repeatedly, Theresa May has backed herself into a corner, and at some point she is going to realise that she has no room for manoeuvre.  Continue reading

A new poll from Global Britain shows that a clear majority favour a clean break from the EU. Brian Monteith, a Freedom Association Council member and the Director of Communications at Global Britain, told me that "while there is no absolute majority (50%+1) for any position it is clear that Canada+/No Deal/WTO (or a combination of them) would command a majority of support were they to be the outcome".  He also said: Continue reading

The following is an adapted version of my 'Brexit at Noon' bulletin sent to Freedom Association members today. These bulletins are sent out to members every day apart from Sundays. One of many benefits of being a member of The Freedom Association. Click here to find out more.    Anyone who has been following Brexit closely will not have been surprised that the EU rejected Theresa May's Chequers plan. The EU had already told her it was unacceptable. But perhaps what was surprising was the brutality of it all, with Pres. Macron sticking the boot in at the end. Theresa May is a stubborn woman who refuses to admit defeat. Cabinet ministers have taken to the airwaves saying that Chequers is not dead. This is the EU playing hardball. We are coming to the end of negotiations - this is to be expected. The anger Theresa May showed during her press conference in Salzburg yesterday (she was visibly shaking) highlights that the Government was not expecting the EU's reaction. It couldn't have gone any worse. Continue reading