Katy Balls Katy Balls

No.10 schedule emergency cabinet conference call

Cabinet ministers have been invited to an 11.30am emergency conference call, Coffee House understands. Not in the diary until the last hour, this has led to speculation that Theresa May could be about to delay the vote. As one Cabinet minister told me this morning: ‘I don’t expect the vote to go ahead this week.’

But is this just wishful thinking? It’s been clear for several days now that there has been an effort by ministers to get No.10 to delay the vote. Gavin Williamson has been seen as a key actor in all this – making the point that a large defeat could spell the end of the government. Other ministers agree and have also put pressure on May – in this vein, several Sunday newspapers reported that the vote could be called off imminently.

Yet, despite this, No.10 has so far been insistent that the vote will go ahead. Speaking on the radio this morning, Michael Gove reiterated this view – as did Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay on Sunday.

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in