Boris brands May's Brexit deal 'an appalling sell-out leaving us facing colonial rule by foreign powers' as he unveils his six-point plan to 'get out of this hole'

  • Ex-Foreign Secretary said the PM's deal 'betrayed Leavers and Remainers alike' 
  • He called for scrapping the Irish backstop and refusing to pay £39bn divorce bill
  • But he did not add his name to the list of MPs demanding a party confidence vote
  • Theresa May will sell her deal to business leaders as leadership battle continues 

Boris Johnson has labelled Theresa May's Brexit deal an 'appalling sell-out' saying it would leave Britain facing 'colonial rule by foreign powers and courts'. 

The former Foreign Secretary ramped up the pressure on the PM after a chaotic week at Westminster by saying the deal was 'betraying Leavers and Remainers alike.' 

Unveiling a 'six-point plan' to 'get us out of this hole' Mr Johnson called for scrapping the Irish backstop, refusing to pay some of the £39billion divorce bill and seeking a 'SuperCanada' trade deal with Brussels.  

However Mr Johnson, writing in his weekly column in the Telegraph, did not add his name to the list of MPs demanding a confidence vote in Mrs May as party leader.

Boris Johnson has labelled Theresa May 's Brexit deal an 'appalling sell-out' saying it would leave Britain facing 'colonial rule by foreign powers and courts'.

Boris Johnson (pictured on Thursday) has labelled Theresa May's Brexit deal an 'appalling sell-out' saying it would leave Britain facing 'colonial rule by foreign powers and courts'

Boris Johnson dined with his father Stanley in the exclusive Boisdale of Belgravia restaurant on  Thursday night where they spoke to Nigel Farage, who was said to be dining there with someone else

Boris Johnson dined with his father Stanley in the exclusive Boisdale of Belgravia restaurant on  Thursday night where they spoke to Nigel Farage, who was said to be dining there with someone else

Boris Johnson's six point plan to earn a better Brexit

1 Jettison decision for European Court of Justice to have jurisdiction over the UK/EU withdrawal agreement.

2 Scrap the Northern Ireland backstop. Instead, both sides should simply commit to avoiding a hard border in Northern Ireland and find the solution later.

3 Appoint a 'No Deal' minister who will 'accelerate our preparations to exit on World Trade Organisation terms'

4 Pursue a free-trade deal on Super-Canada lines.

5 Withhold at least half of the £39 billion until that deal has been agreed.

6 Insist that our Government finally gets behind Brexit, with 'enthusiasm and belief - all of which have been woefully lacking'.

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The former Foreign Secretary said the agreement could not be improved in the next stage of talks with the EU but needed to be scrapped immediately. 

He said: 'We are preparing to take colonial rule by foreign powers and courts. We are handing over colossal sums of money for nothing. 

'We are giving up the hope of new free-trade deals. We are giving up the right to vary our laws. 

'We are betraying Leavers and Remainers alike: we are poised to abandon any UK influence in Brussels, yet we are signally failing to take back control.' 

In his six-point plan he called for taking the better parts of the deal including the rights of citizens; scrapping the Irish backstop; and preparing to exit on WTO terms. 

He also called for a declaration that the UK would seek a 'SuperCanada' deal with Brussels, demanded the withholding of at least half of the £39billion bill, and asked for the Government to 'show some enthusiasm' for Brexit. 

Mr Johnson joined former Brexit Secretary David Davis in resigning from the Cabinet over Mrs May's Brexit plans in July this year.  

The PM has faced a week of intense pressure from Brexiteers since the publication of her 585-page withdrawal agreement with Brussels last Wednesday. 

A stormy five-hour Cabinet meeting was followed by a series of resignations while Tory backbenchers launched the plot to oust her.

A group of five Eurosceptic Cabinet ministers – Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, environment secretary Michael Gove and three others - are to push for changes to Mrs May’s Brexit deal

Who has sent letters of no confidence in May?

Letters of no confidence in Theresa May are confidential - but some of her strongest critics have gone public.

If 48 letters are sent a vote is called.

This is who has definitely sent a letter: 

  1. Jacob Rees-Mogg, North East Somerset, Jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk 
  2. Steve Baker, Wycombe,  steve.baker.mp@parliament.uk 
  3. Sheryll Murray, South East Cornwall, sheryll.murray.mp@parliament.uk
  4. Anne-Marie Morris, Newton Abbott, annemarie.morris.mp@parliament.uk
  5. Lee Rowley, North East Derbyshire,  lee.rowley.mp@parliament.uk
  6. Henry Smith, Crawley, henry.smith.mp@parliament.uk
  7. Simon Clarke, Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland,  simon.clarke.mp@parliament.uk
  8. Peter Bone, Wellingborough,  bonep@parliament.uk
  9. James Duddridge, Rochford and Southend East,  james@jamesduddridge.com
  10. Philip Davies, Shipley,  daviesp@parliament.uk
  11. Andrea Jenkyns, Morley and Outwood,  andrea.jenkyns.mp@parliament.uk
  12. Andrew Bridgen, North West Leicestershire, andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk
  13. Nadine Dorries, Mid Bedfordshire,  dorriesn@parliament.uk 
  14. Laurence Robertson, Tewkesbury, robertsonl@parliament.uk 
  15. Martin Vickers, Cleethorpes,  martin.vickers.mp@parliament.uk
  16. Ben Bradley, Mansfield,  ben.bradley.mp@parliament.uk
  17. Adam Holloway, Gravesham,  hollowaya@parliament.uk
  18. John Whittingdale, Maldon,  john.whittingdale.mp@parliament.uk
  19. Maria Caulfield, Lewes,  maria.caulfield.mp@parliament.uk
  20. Mark Francois, Rayleigh and Wickford,  mark.francois.mp@parliament.uk
  21. David Jones, Clwyd West, david.jones@parliament.uk
  22. Marcus Fysh, Yeovil,  marcus.fysh.mp@parliament.uk
  23. Chris Green,  Bolton West,  chris.green.mp@parliament.uk
  24. Zac Goldsmith, Richmond Park, zac@zacgoldsmith.com
  25. Bill Cash, Stone, cashw@parliament.uk
  26. Philip Hollobone, Kettering,  philip.hollobone.mp@parliament.uk
  27. Andrew Lewer, Northampton South, andrew.lewer.mp@parliament.uk
  28. Crispin Blunt, Reigate,  crispinbluntmp@parliament.uk 
  29. Owen Paterson, Shropshire Patersono@parliament.uk 
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Mrs May has vowed to fight on and the rebels do not yet have the 48 letters required to force a confidence motion in the Conservative party. 

However she faces a struggle to get her deal through the House of Commons, where her DUP allies are not certain to back her Government. 

A defeat in Parliament, which is expected to vote next month, could lead to a no-deal exit or a new general election. 

Meanwhile the so-called 'Gang of Five' Brexiteers in her Cabinet, including Michael Gove and Andrea Leadsom, are demanding changes to the deal.  

She went on the attack against the gang of Five on Monday, using a speech to say that the withdrawal agreement has been 'agreed in full'. 

She insisted she has won a 'good' deal for Britain and is determined to deliver it.

The Prime Minister mounted another robust defence of the package thrashed out with Brussels despite the rising threat of a no-confidence vote by her own MPs.

In a speech to business leaders, she said the blueprint will allow the UK to regain control of immigration - while keeping ties with the EU strong and protecting jobs.

'The agreement is a good one for the UK. It fulfils the wishes of the British people as expressed in the 2016 referendum,' she said.  

'Let no one be in any doubt. I am determined to deliver it.'

Mrs May also urged the public to listen to businesses highlighting the threat to the economy from crashing out of the bloc, saying that such firms were 'providing your jobs that ensure that you have that income that puts food on the table for your family'.

 EU foreign ministers underlined the choice facing Parliament as they arrived at a meeting in Brussels today, warning the package on the table is the 'best there is'.

Chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the arrangements that had been painstakingly put together over nearly two years are 'fair and balanced' and the UK will be left in 'full control'.

Meanwhile, senior Tory figures have tried to head off a mutiny by MPs, with former chief whip Andrew Mitchell warning that the party would sustain massive damage if they were seen to 'hunt her down' as happened to Margaret Thatcher.

Tory ex-leader Lord Howard also urged rebels to hold off, saying that while he personally opposes the Brexit deal it should be put to Parliament.

Addressing the CBI annual conference in London, the Prime Minister said the priority in this 'intense week of negotiations' is to 'hammer out' the framework of the future trade deal.

She told delegates that her agreement will create a level playing field on immigration that means EU nationals will no longer be able to 'jump the queue'.

'Getting back full control of our borders is an issue of great importance to the British people... once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here,' she said.

Pros and cons of Theresa May's divisive Brexit pact 

The positives...

Strong trade ties

Downing Street pointed to zero tariffs and quotas on trade. One senior official said the UK would be 'the only major advanced economy' which has that relationship with the European Union.

Staying in close alignment to EU rules was the price for reducing any damage to trade from 'friction' at the border and protecting industries which rely on swift movement of parts, such as car manufacturers.

End to free movement

A key demand for many who voted Leave, and something Mrs May would not compromise on.

Future immigration rules – to come in when transition ends in 2020 – were not included in these negotiations, so the UK has flexibility to set its own after that point.

The EU will push for preferential treatment in return for a better trade deal. Both sides have agreed to visa-free travel for business and tourism.

Strong security

Mrs May hailed a deal on security co-operation 'beyond anything the EU has agreed with any other country'.

Agreement has been reached on exchanging passenger names, DNA, fingerprints, and car registration data, as well as 'swift and effective' arrangements for extraditing criminals to justice on both sides.

Control of fishing

The PM held firm on fishing rights, which are seen as totemic for many Brexiteers, in the face of furious demands from EU member states such as France and Netherlands for access to UK waters.

The UK will regain control over its own waters, and can allocate a higher share of rights to domestic fishermen. In the next phase of the talks, the EU will call for continued access in return for access to its markets, where the British industry exports about 75 per cent of its haul.

 

... and the negatives 

Northern Ireland backstop

To avoid a 'hard border' between Northern Ireland and the Republic if there's no deal after the transition period, a so-called backstop will come into force.

In the backstop, the whole of the UK would stay in the EU customs union, which would prevent damage to trade.

But the province alone will have to align with single market rules on goods, and there will be new checks on trade across the Irish Sea, prompting the DUP to claim that Northern Ireland had been 'sold out'. Dominic Raab – who quit as Brexit Secretary yesterday – said this was a 'very real threat to the integrity of the UK'.

Exit clause

A panel – made up of two representatives from each side and an independent arbiter – will rule on whether the UK can end the backstop. However, this is far from enough to satisfy Brexiteers, who fear the UK could be 'trapped' in the EU. It means the UK can't just walk away from the EU whenever it wants.

European Court of Justice

If the backstop is activated, European judges will have a say over how its customs code, technical regulations, VAT and excise, agriculture and the environment, single electricity market and state aid apply in the province. But Downing Street insists direct jurisdiction of the ECJ over Britain will end.

Longer exit

The deal paves the way for a smooth transition out of the EU, and avoids a no deal cliff edge. But a period that was expected to last until the end of 2020 could now be extended, meaning more money for EU coffers.

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A draft Brexit deal is agreed but what happens next? How WILL Theresa May persuade Parliament to back it (and save her job)?

Emergency EU Summit, Brussels, Sunday November 25

What will happen? If the divorce package is agreed between the two sides, it will need to be signed off by EU leaders.

EU council president Donald Tusk will convene a summit where formal approval will be given by EU leaders. This is expected sometime between November 22 and 25.

Will the whole deal be agreed? The Brexit deal is due to come in two parts - a formal divorce treaty and a political declaration on what the final trade deal might look like.

The second part may not be finished until a regular EU summit due on December 13-14 - it depends whether or not it is published today.

Assuming the negotiations have reached an agreement and Mrs May travels to Brussels with her Cabinet's support, this stage should be a formality.

What if there is no agreement? If EU leaders do not sign off on the deal at this stage, no deal becomes highly likely - there is just no time left to negotiate a wholly new deal. 

The crucial dates on Theresa May's path to securing a Brexit deal

November 25: Emergency EU summit. EU Leaders will meet to sign off on the deal

December: Vote in Parliament. Theresa May needs to win support for the deal from a majority of MPs

March 29, 2019: Exit Day. Britain leaves the EU and enters a 'transition period' either governed by a deal or under WTO rules if no deal is reached. Negotiations turn to securing  a final agreement between the EU and Britain

December 2020:  The transition period ends. A trade deal comes into effect. If there isn't one, the Irish border 'backstop' plan could be triggered.

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The so-called 'meaningful vote' in the UK Parliament, December 2018

What will happen: A debate, probably over more than one day, will be held in the House of Commons on terms of the deal.

It will end with a vote on whether or not MPs accept the deal. More than one vote might happen if MPs are allowed to table amendments.

The vote is only happening after MPs forced the Government to accept a 'meaningful vote' in Parliament on the terms of the deal.

What happens if May wins? If the meaningful vote is passed, there will be a series of further votes as the withdrawal treaty is written into British law.

It will be a huge political victory for the Prime Minister and probably secure her version of Brexit.

How can she win? The Prime Minister needs a simple majority of the House of Commons - excluding the Speakers, Sinn Fein and Tellers this means 318 votes. 

She can rely on around 150 members of the Government and maybe another 80 Tory MPs - getting her to about 230 votes - leaving her almost 90 votes short.

Mrs May is likely to get the backing of some Labour MPs - but probably no more than 45 at the most.

This mean she can only win the vote if she can squeeze the Brexiteer rebels down from up to 80 votes and get the 10 DUP MPs in line. 

What happens if she loses? This is possibly the most dangerous stage of all. 

The Prime Minister will have to stake her political credibility on winning a vote and losing it would be politically devastating. 

Brexiteers do not want to sign off the divorce bill without a satisfactory trade deal and Remainers are reluctant to vote for a blind Brexit.

She could go back to Brussels to ask for new concessions before a second vote but many think she would have to resign quickly. 

Ratification in the EU, February 2019 

What will happen? After the meaningful vote in the UK, the EU will have to ratify the agreement.

The European Parliament must also vote in favour of the deal. It has a representative in the talks, Guy Verhofstadt, who has repeatedly warned the deal must serve the EU's interests.

Will it be agreed? In practice, once the leaders of the 27 member states have agreed a deal, ratification on the EU side should be assured.

If the deal has passed the Commons and she is still in office, this should not be dangerous for the Prime Minister. 

Exit day, March 29, 2019 

What will happen? At 11pm on March 29, 2019, Britain will cease to be a member of the European Union, two years after triggering Article 50 and almost three years after the referendum. 

Exit happens at 11pm because it must happen on EU time.

If the transition deal is in place, little will change immediately - people will travel in the same way as today and goods will cross the border normally. 

But Britain's MEPs will no longer sit in the European Parliament and British ministers will no longer take part in EU meetings.

Negotiations will continue to turn the political agreement on the future partnership into legal text that will eventually become a second treaty. Both sides will build new customs and immigration controls in line with what this says.

Transition ends, December 2020

What will happen? The UK's position will undergo a more dramatic change at the end of December 2020, when the 'standstill' transition is due to finish.

If the negotiations on a future trade deal are complete, that could come into force.

But if they are still not complete the Irish border 'backstop' plan could be triggered.

Under current thinking, that means the UK staying in the EU customs union and more regulatory checks between mainland Britain and Northern Ireland.

Eurosceptics fear this arrangement will prevent the country striking trade deals elsewhere, and could effectively last for ever, as Brussels will have no incentive to negotiate a replacement deal. 

Who could replace Theresa May? As the PM admits she will have to quit soon, these are some of the leading contenders to take over

Theresa May won her Tory confidence vote after promising not to lead the party into the 2022 general election.

These are some of the leading contenders to replace her:

Boris Johnson - 7/2

How did they vote on Brexit?

Led the Vote Leave campaign alongside Michael Gove.

What is their view now?

Hard line Brexiteer demanding a clean break from Brussels. The former foreign secretary is violently opposed to Theresa May's Chequers plan and a leading voice demanding a Canada-style trade deal.

What are their chances?

Mr Johnson's biggest challenge could be navigating the Tory leadership rules. 

He may be confident of winning a run-off among Tory members but must first be selected as one of the top two candidates by Conservative MPs. 

Now rated as favourite by the bookies, Boris Johnson's (pictured leaving parliament last night) biggest challenge will be navigating the Tory leadership rules

Now rated as favourite by the bookies, Boris Johnson's (pictured leaving parliament last night) biggest challenge will be navigating the Tory leadership rules

Dominic Raab - 9/2

How did they vote on Brexit?

Leave, with a second tier role campaigning for Vote Leave.

What is their view now?

Mr Raab was installed as Brexit Secretary to deliver the Chequers plan but sensationally resigned last month saying the deal was not good enough.

What are their chances?

His resignation from the Cabinet put rocket boosters under Mr Raab's chances, fuelling his popularity among the hardline Brexiteers. May struggle to overcome bigger beasts and better known figures. 

Newly installed as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab (pictured on Tuesday) is trying to negotiate Theresa May's Brexit deal

Newly installed as Brexit Secretary, Dominic Raab (pictured on Tuesday) is trying to negotiate Theresa May's Brexit deal

Sajid Javid - 5/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Remain but kept a low profile in the referendum.

What is their view now?

Pro delivering Brexit and sceptical of the soft Brexit options.

What are their chances?

Probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary. Mr Javid has set himself apart from Mrs May on a series of policies, notably immigration.

Sajid Javid (pictured leaving the Houses of Parliament this evening) is probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary

Sajid Javid (pictured leaving the Houses of Parliament this evening) is probably the leading candidate from inside the Cabinet after his dramatic promotion to Home Secretary

Michael Gove - 7/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Leave 

What is their view now? 

He has said Theresa May's Chequers blueprint for Brexit is the 'right one for now'. But he recently suggested a future prime minister could alter the UK-EU relationship if they desired.

What are their chances? 

He came third in the first round of voting in 2016, trailing behind ultimate winner Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom. Mr Gove has said it is 'extremely unlikely' that he would stand again. But he popular in the party and is seen as an ideas man and a reformer by many, and he could change his mind if Theresa May is shown the door.

Michael Gove appeared to rule himself out of the race in recent days, but he ran last time and is popular among many in the party. He is pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today

Michael Gove appeared to rule himself out of the race in recent days, but he ran last time and is popular among many in the party. He is pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today

Jeremy Hunt - 7/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Remain.

What is their view now?

The Foreign Secretary claims the EU Commission's 'arrogance' has made him a Brexiteer.

What are their chances?

Another top contender inside Cabinet, Mr Hunt's stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson's resignation. Widely seen as a safe pair of hands which could be an advantage if the contest comes suddenly. 

Jeremy Hunt's stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson's resignation

Jeremy Hunt's stock rose during his record-breaking stint at the Department of Health and won a major promotion to the Foreign Office after Mr Johnson's resignation

David Davis - 10/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Leave.

What is their view now?

Leave and a supporter of scrapping Mrs May's plan and pursuing a Canada-style trade deal with the EU.

What are their chances?

The favoured choice of many hard Brexiteers. Seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary. He could be promoted a caretaker to see through Brexit before standing down.

Unlikely to be the choice of Remain supporters inside the Tory Party - and has been rejected by the Tory membership before, in the 2005 race against David Cameron. 

David Davis (pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today) is seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary

David Davis (pictured outside the Houses of Parliament today) is seen as a safer pair of hands than Mr Johnson and across the detail of the current negotiation after two years as Brexit Secretary

Amber Rudd - 14/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Remain. Represented Britain Stronger in Europe in the TV debates.

What is their view now?

Strongly remain and supportive of a second referendum - particularly given a choice between that and no deal.

What are their chances?

Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Ms Rudd is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal - and she was boosted further by her return to Cabinet as Work and Pensions Secretary on Friday night. She is badly hampered by having a tiny majority in her Hastings constituency and would not be able to unite the Tory party in a sudden contest over the Brexit negotiation. 

Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Amber Rudd (pictured leaving parliament this evening) is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal

Popular among Conservative MPs as the voice of Cameron-style Toryism, Amber Rudd (pictured leaving parliament this evening) is still seen as a contender despite resigning amid the Windrush scandal

Jacob Rees-Mogg - 14/1

How did they vote on Brexit? 

Leave.

What is their view now? 

Leave and recently branded Theresa May's Brexit U-turn a 'humiliation' which has left her deal 'defeated'. 

What are their chances? 

As chair of the European Research Group (ERG) bloc of Tory Eurosceptics he has been urging MPs to replace Mrs May for weeks. 

Pro-Brexit supporter, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, walks through members of the media and anit-brexit demonstrators as he walks near to the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday

Pro-Brexit supporter, Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, walks through members of the media and anit-brexit demonstrators as he walks near to the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday

Penny Mordaunt - 14/1

How did they vote on Brexit?

Leave.

What is their view now?

Leave and subject of persistent rumour she could be the next to quit Cabinet over Mrs May's Brexit deal.

What are their chances?

Possible dark horse in the contest, Ms Mordaunt is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster. Known to harbour deep concerns about Mrs May's Brexit deal, but has stopped short of resigning from Cabinet. 

Possible dark horse in the contest, Penny Mordaunt (pictured in Downing Street) is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster

Possible dark horse in the contest, Penny Mordaunt (pictured in Downing Street) is not well known to the public but is seen as a contender in Westminster

Andrea Leadsom - 16/1 

How did they vote on Brexit?

Leave.

What is their view now?

Ms Leadsom said in late November that she was backing the withdrawal agreement struck with Brussels because it 'delivered' on the referendum result. 

What are their chances? 

Leader of the Commons since June, Andrea Leadsom found herself at the centre of controversy in the 2016 leadership campaign when comments she made were interpreted as a claim that she would be a better PM than Mrs May because she was a mother. Asked recently whether Mrs May was the right person to be leading the country, she said she is 'at the moment'. 

Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, arrives at Downing Street on Thursday last week

Andrea Leadsom, Leader of the House of Commons, arrives at Downing Street on Thursday last week

Gavin Williamson - 33/1 

How did they vote on Brexit?

Remain. 

What is their view now?

Mr Williamson tweeted today: 'The Prime Minister has my full support. She works relentlessly hard for our country and is the best person to make sure we leave the EU on 29 March and continue to deliver our domestic agenda.' 

What are their chances?

He backed Remain in the referendum and pledged his support for Mrs May in the 2016 leadership contest but has since been mentioned as a potential future Tory leader. 

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is a 33/1 outsider according to the best odds by bookies this evening

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is a 33/1 outsider according to the best odds by bookies this evening

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