A government minister has just appeared at the despatch box to discuss the state of the EU negotiations. Unfortunately for Theresa May, it wasn’t the victorious address No 10 had in mind when they earmarked time in the Chamber for today. Instead, David Davis was summoned to Parliament to answer an urgent question from Labour’s Keir Starmer on the state of the EU negotiations ahead of this month’s EU council meeting.
After May’s efforts to agree ‘sufficient progress’ in Brussels yesterday were torpedoed by concerns from the DUP over concessions on the Irish border, the shadow Brexit secretary accused the government of giving new meaning to the phrase ‘coalition of chaos’. He said that the government yesterday expected a deal – and had briefed out to that effect – but it had embarrassingly ended with a 49-second press conference. Starmer said it was time for May to have a reality check – urging her to rethink her government’s Brexit strategy and her opposition to remaining in the customs union.
A seemingly relaxed – if croaky – Davis insisted all parties are confident of getting a deal by the end of the week.
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