Juncker’s concerns over Davis’s ‘stability’ cast doubt on trade talks
Davis warns Opposition over voting down Bill
EU LEADERS have cast further doubt on Britain’s prospects for starting trade negotiations in October, as it emerged that Commission president Jean Claude Juncker expressed concern about David Davis’ “stability”.
It was revealed yesterday that the European Council leader Antonio Tajani is prepared to ask his fellow council members to postpone a decision on whether to proceed to the next stage of talks until December.
The Italian politician blamed a lack of clarity in the UK position for the delay, claiming that the country has only provided “very foggy proposals”. If the council agrees, this would potentially leave just 10 months to finalise future arrangements before they are put to a vote in the European Parliament.
His comments coincided with the publication of official minutes from a meeting between EU negotiator Michel Barnier and Commission president Mr Juncker, in which the latter voiced concern about Brexit Secretary David Davis. The minutes of the July 12 meeting recorded that Mr Juncker “expressed his concern about the question of the stability and accountability of the UK negotiator and his apparent lack of involvement, which risked jeopardising the success of the negotiations”. Mr Barnier is recorded as saying the UK “had not yet really engaged in the negotiations”.
DAVID DAVIS has warned Labour MPs that they risk paying a price at the next election if they follow through on a threat to vote down the Government’s Brexit Bill next week.
Addressing Parliament during a heated debate on the EU Withdrawal Bill, the Brexit Secretary suggested voters will “draw their own judgment” about whether Labour’s actions are “simply... a cynical political exercise”.
The criticism came as the Government faced a backlash from its own MPs over the use of “Henry VIII” clauses, which critics yesterday warned could grant Ministers powers to make significant legislative reforms without consulting Parliament.
It also came amid revelations that senior Tories have been rallying support for their vision of a hard Brexit in a bid to force Theresa May’s hand.
Yesterday’s lengthy debate on the Withdrawal Bill laid bare party divisions on both sides of the House. A host of MPs lined up to condemn the proposals, citing clauses that would enable the Government to make legislative changes without full Parliamentary scrutiny.
Among them were a handful of influential Conservative backbenchers, including the former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke and former Attorney General Dominic Grieve. Both warned that they would struggle to support the Bill in its current form, with Mr Grieve referring to it as “an astonishing monstrosity”.
“I shall support the Government at second reading... We cannot leave the European Union sensibly without such a Bill being on the statute book,” Mr Grieve told the Commons.
“But equally, I have to say that unless this Bill is substantially improved in the course of the committee stage, I regret... I will be in no position to support it at third reading in its current form.”
The former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan also expressed concerns about the Bill, while hitting back at accusations she was trying to disrupt the Brexit process. She argued that the “true saboteurs of Brexit” are “those who would sanction the exclusion of Parliament”.
The former Business Minister Anna Soubry stated that her “biggest concern” is a “power-grab” by Ministers. “I look forward in due course to some very serious Government amendments coming forward,” she said.
Theresa May’s reduced majority in the Commons means it would take only a small number of rebellious MPs to defeat the Government.
Labour has already announced that it is willing to vote against the Bill at second reading on Monday, and the SNP has confirmed that it will support Labour’s amendment.
However, Labour is facing a revolt from within its own ranks over its position, with Brexiteer Kate Hoey yesterday warning that the party risks losing the support of former Ukip voters who “came back” to them in June. “This will be seen out there in the public... as [suggesting] we are not really serious about leaving the European Union,” she said.
Mr Davis also launched an attack on Labour’s decision, suggesting that the British public “will not forgive them” if they attempt to “delay or destroy” the process of leaving the EU. “The electorate will draw their own judgment as to whether people are addressing this in a sensible way... or whether they are simply using it as a cynical political exercise,” he said. “It’s not a decision for me to make, its a decision for the electorate to make, and make it they will.”
The debate coincided with the leaking of a letter drawn up by a group of Eurosceptic MPs urging their colleagues to join them in putting pressure on the Government to pursue a hard Brexit. Known as the European Research Group, the MPs call for a guarantee that any transitional deal with the EU is not used as a means of keeping the UK in the union “by stealth”. They also joined pro-Remain MPs in expressing concern about the Government’s use of Henry VIII clauses.
I look forward to some very serious Government amendments. Former Business Minister Anna Soubry.