Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
Source phones to say told Michael Gove, Andrea Leadsom and Esther McVey currently meeting Boris Johnson in the FCO....
... waiting for response from FCO
UPDATE: No update. No denials. Radio silence from the FCO
Faisal Islam @ faisalislam
Minister phones to confirm to me that this is happening now: “Certainly an odd look before major cabinet meeting.”
Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
Gvt source suggests they can foresee DD going over this - No10 ‘mishandling’ they say
To stress this just means things are live. Not a prediction. Long way yet to go.
We’re where we probably always going to be tonight, the night before the big Brexit decision
Turbulent. Grumpy. Everyone unhappy.
But the key point: we’ll believe resignations when we see them.
Until then...
CONFIRMED: Boris Johnson IS meeting Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove and Esther McVey...
AND Liam Fox (hat-tip @Steven_Swinford )
"Ministers often meet", said a source close to Theresa May, bravely
NEW: Penny Mordaunt also at the Boris Johnson meeting
(Pretty much the whole Vote Leave crew - without Chris Grayling??)
NEW: David Davis was also at the Boris Johnson meeting
Laura Kuennsberg @ bbclaurak
Penultimate episode of series one of Brexit the box set - tmrw might be massive giant drama or actually it all ends with everyone being friends
Fox going into Number 10 now
Sam Coates Times @ samcoatestimes
For all talk of coup and plot and circling wagons etc, it's worth pointing out:
The brexiteers don't trust one another - much.
They will all be thinking: is there a Number 10 nark? Who will really follow who into battle? Which of the group will actually resign? Who to rely on?
Has Steve Baker resigned yet?
Any news on Suella?
#Freethedexeu2
Laura Kuennsberg @ bbclaurak
*@tonygallagher* in Number 10 tonight
Why are the leavers all meeting before their sleep over (with no beds) and why is the Sun's editor in chief going for a cosy chat with the PM.
Tomorrow is going to be long (I'm really glad I've ignored everything this week so far now)
Meanwhile in France
Ben Judah @ b_judah
Thread/ Sources in the Élysée and those familiar with the President’s thinking made it clear to me today some of Macron’s views on Brexit.
The President views the threat to the single market coming from any breakup of the four freedoms as existential towards the EU.
The four freedoms are of course: goods, capital, services and people. Which, for Brexit, means France wants no compromise on free movement of labour.
The President is not prepared to concede ground on the four freedoms and believes the EU has already made its position clear in the EU guidelines on Brexit.
France views the future relationship with Britain as either an FTA (“Canada”) with additions or a Single Market based relationship (“Norway”) with the four freedoms. The so-called Swiss model, or any one with single market for goods and not people, is viewed as unacceptable.
The President views his term as an existential battle against populism in Europe trying to breakup the European Union and sees Brexit as a warning shot to the current fight.
Brexit is not separate, but part of the current anti-EU populist wave, which he sees himself as having personally stopped from taking Paris in his election. Across the EU, he sees himself fighting the same battle as during his campaign.
France laments this state of affairs, as on foreign policy it says that the relationship with Britain has never been better. Especially in Africa and the Middle East.
France wants an ambitious alliance with Britain after Brexit — but this can never, never — come at the expense of the integrity of the EU, which is based on the four freedoms. France views strengthening the EU as a core national interest. Not diluting it.
The President feels that the EU is too fragile to offer Britain a special deal cutting through its core legal identity — the Single Market. And this would in no way be politically desirable or in French interests.
When it comes to battling the anti-EU populist wave the President views failure as not an option. And his views on Brexit can only be understood in this context.
A no deal Brexit? France does not want, seek, or desire such an option. And wants Britain to commit to a serious and realistic discussion now over Brexit.
France, like the commission, says the EU can improve its offer if the UK compromises on its redlines. But only in the context of the guidelines — a better FTA or a better Single Market and four freedoms relationship.
ends