The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Secret cross-party Brexit talks revealed as Ruth Davidson says Conservatives must ‘reach out to others’ after meeting Theresa May.
Prime Minister tells Tory MPs at backbench meeting she will resolve problems
Theresa May has told Tory MPs “I’m the person who got us into this mess and I’m the one who will get us out of it”, two sources present at the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee meeting have confirmed.
Conservative politicians banged tables for around 25 seconds and briefly cheered as the Prime Minister arrived at the crunch meeting inside the Palace of Westminster.
It came amid suggestions from some of Mrs May’s own MPs that she would have to stand down as PM after a disastrous general election in which the Tories lost their majority and are now having to turn to the Democratic Unionist Party for support to continue governing.
One Tory MP who left the meeting midway through said there was no mood among colleagues for another leadership contest and that Mrs May spoke very well, adding “none of the Maybot”.
The MP said one of the biggest cheers at the meeting came for the “greatly respected” Gavin Barwell, the PM’s new chief of staff, who will have a “great deal of influence” alongside chief whip Gavin Williamson in the new government.
Mr Barwell has replaced Mrs May’s key aides Nick Timothy and Fiona Hill, whose resignations were reportedly demanded by Tory MPs as the price of their supporting the PM.
Mrs May also assured MPs that the DUP would not have any sway over policy on LGBT rights and any “confidence and supply” deal with them would not have any effect on talks aiming to restore the power sharing Northern Ireland government.
Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson indicated the UK Government could change its strategy for leaving the European Union.
The Edinburgh MSP, who has called for an “open Brexit”, also said the party had to “reach out to other people” on this and other “big issues”.
She was in Westminster yesterday for a private meeting with Theresa May following the Tories’ general election success north of the border.
The party previously had just one MP representing a Scottish constituency – David Mundell – but they gained 12 seats from the SNP last week, bringing the tally to 13.
It puts Ms Davidson, who also attended political cabinet while she was down, in a potentially influential position and there has been speculation she could push for a so-called softer Brexit.
She said she had stressed to the Prime Minister that voters had made clear “they want the Conservatives in government, but by denying us a majority, they don’t want us to govern alone”.
She added: “And that means that we have to reach out to other people on some of the big issues, for example on Brexit.”
But she also insisted she gave Mrs May her “full support” in her efforts to get the “right deal” and described the pair’s discussion as “useful and positive”.
When asked whether the UK could stay in the single market, she told the BBC: “I think what is clear is that there is a commitment from around that cabinet table, from within the Conservative Party, to now work with others to make sure that we go after the best economic deal.
“In terms of how we reach out to others and how we take on board their ideas there is lots of work to be done.
“But I do think that there can be changes in the offer of Brexit as we go forward.”
She added: “I think my 13 MPs are all individuals and each and every one of them will play their full part in the House of Commons.
“In Scotland we do come from a liberal tradition, we were a separate party at one time, and I would expect them to carry that tradition into the House of Commons and I look forward to their progress – I am proud of them and I want to see what they are going to do next”.
Over the weekend, Ms Davidson called for a Brexit that “puts our country’s economic growth first”.
Asked about her comments yesterday in advance of their meeting, the Prime Minister’s spokesman reiterated Mrs May’s pledge to get the “best possible deal for the whole of the UK”.
SNP MSP Joan McAlpine accused Ms Davidson of being in “Brexit tailspin” and said she had been “brought back to earth with a bump”.
She said: “She claims to have the ear of the Tory leadership, but is content to just follow their lead rather than stand up for what’s best for Scotland.”
I do think that there can be changes in the offer of Brexit as we go forward. SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVE LEADER RUTH DAVIDSON