«Breaking News» PM on frantic tour of EU capitals as she battles to save Brexit plan

Theresa May is on a frantic a last-ditch mission to salvage her Brexit deal today as she faces a fresh Tory bid to oust her.

The Prime Minister is meeting Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte for breakfast in the Hague, before heading for crucial talks with Angela Merkel in Berlin.

She will then head for Brussels for discussions with Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker as they desperately try to find a way through the mounting crisis.

The diplomatic scramble comes after Mrs May was humiliatingly forced to scrap a Commons vote on the Brexit deal to avoid catastrophic defeat.

But senior Tories fear she will get 'jack sh**' out of the whirlwind tour, after the EU dismissed the idea of renegotiating the legal text of the package. 

And Mrs May has left the country at a time when the threats to her position are at the highest level yet - with more Conservative MPs sending no-confidence letters, and Remainers plotting to force a second referendum. 

Former minister Steve Baker urged his colleagues this morning to recognise that they face the 'certainty of failure' under Mrs May, urging them: 'You must be brave.'

He added: 'I really think it is her duty now to go.' 

The number of MPs who have publicly confirmed writing letters of no confidence has now risen to 26, after Crispin Blunt added himself to the list.

Meanwhile, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon demanded Labour gets behind calls for another referendum, saying it is the 'only way' to resolve the impasse in Parliament. 

The Prime Minister will have breakfast in the Netherlands this morning before going on to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. She is seeking further concessions after having to pull a planned vote on Brexit in the teeth of furious backbench opposition 

Mrs May will meet Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte at his official residence, the Catshuis, in the Dutch state of The Hague, this morning

In shambolic scenes yesterday, news of the U-turn on the Brexit vote came just 24 minutes after a Downing Street spokeswoman told journalists it was definitely going ahead. No new date has been given. 

Cabinet ministers including Michael Gove, who had been giving interviews hours earlier insisting the showdown was '100 per cent' happening, were infuriated at having been left hanging. 

In a three-hour session with MPs, the Prime Minister denied she had 'bottled it' but accepted she had been facing a big defeat.

Ominously, Mr Tusk, who is the EU council president, said he was not interested in reopening the agreement struck with Mrs May just last month.

And in the Commons, hardline Eurosceptics warned they would not support the deal unless the Irish backstop was abandoned altogether – a move specifically ruled out by Brussels and Dublin.

Mrs May told MPs she believed EU leaders were open to discussion about the idea of providing reassurances that the backstop, which critics fear could leave the UK locked in a customs union against its will, would only be temporary.

But the DUP's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson warned Mrs May's mindset will 'guarantee she comes back with nothing which is going to alleviate fears'. 

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she could only get reassurances over the Irish border backstop which 'don't mean anything when they are put against a legally-binding international agreement'. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker (pictured left), and European Council President Donald Tusk (pictured right) will potentially meet with Mrs May in coming days but Mr Tusk has already said he is not interested in reopening negotiations on the agreement

In other key developments:

• Business leaders rounded on Parliament over its failure to agree on Brexit, warning the threat of no deal would damage the economy;


• The pound fell, closing down almost two cents against the dollar;


• The PM said preparations for a no-deal Brexit would be stepped up while warning it 'would cause significant economic damage to parts of our country who can least afford to bear the burden';


• David Cameron said he was 'very concerned' by the chaos but did not regret calling the 2016 referendum;


• Hardline Eurosceptics stepped up their threats to oust Mrs May via a confidence vote, with Brexiteer shop steward Jacob Rees-Mogg warning the PM 'must either govern or quit';


• The DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds branded the Government his party is propping up a 'shambles';


• The party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson last night said he was in discussion with Labour about a possible 'vote of censure' over Mrs May's decision to defer the vote;


• Jeremy Corbyn was facing criticism from his Labour MPs and other opposition parties after signalling he would not force a vote of no confidence;


• Mrs May told MPs they had to decide if they 'want to deliver Brexit' – and said it was time for those proposing a second referendum or no deal to be honest about the downsides;


• Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested he would not budge on the backstop, saying the existing deal is 'the only agreement on the table';


• The European Court of Justice ruled Britain could cancel Brexit unilaterally.

Tory sources said Mrs May had reluctantly agreed to delay the planned Brexit vote after being warned that up to 100 Conservative MPs planned to vote against it, condemning her to a potentially career-ending defeat.

A string of ministers, led by Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, had spent days warning her not to proceed.

The delay was confirmed during an emergency conference call of Cabinet ministers at 11.30am and quickly leaked – minutes after a No10 spokeswoman insisted to journalists that the vote was going ahead. 

A Cabinet source said there was an 'air of resignation' among ministers about the Brexit deadlock.

'She had to delay the vote, but it leaves us in a dreadful position,' said one source. 'No one really knows what she wants or has much confidence she can salvage this thing. But it's the worst possible time for a leadership contest.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) has accused the Prime Minister of presiding over a national humiliation

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs, last night suggested the delay would head off the immediate risk of a leadership challenge.

He said Mrs May had done the right thing: 'Lots of people have predicted the Prime Minister's downfall, they have been wrong when they have done so.'

Mr Rees-Mogg, who led last month's aborted attempt to unseat the Prime Minister, yesterday accused her of presiding over a national humiliation. But it is far from clear that hardline Eurosceptics have the numbers to force a confidence vote or leadership contest.

Whitehall sources acknowledged there was little chance of a negotiating breakthrough this week, meaning any vote is likely to be delayed until at least January 7.

Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Firms are looking on with utter dismay at the ongoing saga in Westminster.

'Politicians are seemingly acting in their own interest, with little regard for the millions of people whose livelihoods depend on the success of UK business and trade.'

Brexit's key players as another week of drama looms 

Jeremy Corbyn

The Labour leader is also under pressure from elements of his own party who want him to move a confidence vote against the Government.

Some 50 Labour MPs and peers have urged him to force the issue, as have the Liberal Democrats and SNP.

However, the Labour leadership has made it clear it wants to strike when it considers Mrs May to be at her weakest, and is, for now, keeping its powder dry until it sees what, if anything, the PM brings back from the EU.

Donald Tusk

The European Council president said that Brexit had now been added to the two-day EU summit taking place this week after the events at Westminster.

However, Mr Tusk signalled the EU intends to stand firm, stating that the EU would not renegotiate the deal, or backstop measures on the Irish border issue, but would only discuss 'how to facilitate UK ratification'.

Mr Tusk has repeatedly expressed sadness at the prospect of Brexit and its impact on both sides.

Jean-Claude Juncker

The European Commission president has also made clear that negotiations will not be re-opened.

Mr Juncker has made a point of saying the EU will stand firm with the Irish government over backstop arrangements for the Irish border which would see the UK remain subject to the bloc's customs rules if no wider trade deal is agreed before the end of a transition period.

Leo Varadkar

The Taoiseach has taken a much tougher stance on Brexit issues since taking over as Irish leader from Enda Kenny in 2017.

Heading a minority government and facing possible elections within the next few months, Mr Varadkar cannot afford to be seen to give ground to the UK at home.

Citing the need to maintain peace in Northern Ireland, Mr Varadkar has insisted that backstop measures must stay in place after the transition period 'unless and until' a trade agreement is in place.

 Arlene Foster

The DUP leader has been flexing her party's political muscles over Brexit as Mrs May relies on it for a slender Commons majority.

Mrs Foster has insisted that the backstop measures are unacceptable and the DUP cannot support them.

However, the DUP has said it will back Mrs May if she faces a confidence vote in the Commons, but only if the EU Withdrawal Agreement is voted down or significantly changed.

Angela Merkel

The German Chancellor will be a major player in any moves on Brexit.

However, she is now a weakened figure after standing down as the leader of her CDU party, but remaining as Chancellor.

Mrs Merkel will be a key voice in any softening of the EU line, especially as French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to maintain a tough position. 

Sir Graham Brady

The chairman of the powerful 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers is the only person who knows how many MPs have put in letters calling for a vote of confidence in Mrs May.

If the figure reaches 48 Tory MPs then a vote would be automatically triggered.

Sir Graham said he backed the PM's decision to defer the Brexit vote, but added: 'I think it's best to recognise we are in uncertain times. A very difficult point in British politics.'

Jacob Rees-Mogg

The arch-Breexiter believes the chances of a no deal exit from the EU have increased due the Prime Minister's Commons move.

The MP wants a 'managed no deal' and has turned up the heat on Mrs May repeatedly insisting a new PM would be needed for such a course of action.

Mr Rees-Mogg was widely considered to have overplayed his hand recently when leading figures from the European Research Group of Tory MPs he heads called for backbenchers to put in letters into the 1922 Committee calling for a vote of confidence in Mrs May.

Link hienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/11/pm-on-frantic-tour-of-eu-capitals-as-she-battles-to-save-brexit-plan/
Main photo article Theresa May is on a frantic a last-ditch mission to salvage her Brexit deal today as she faces a fresh Tory bid to oust her.
The Prime Minister is meeting Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte for breakfast in the Hague, before heading for crucial talks with Angela Merkel in Berlin.
She will then head ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/12/11/02/7266452-6481763-image-a-36_1544493924385.jpg