May moves on EU citizens fee but not much else

Following a calamitous defeat in parliament last Tuesday on her Withdrawal Agreement, Theresa May addressed the Commons today with her plan B – and it looks remarkably similar to plan A.

With time ticking down to 29th March and the looming threat of a no deal Brexit, May embarked on a second push to win over MPs to her deal. After engaging in cross party talks last week, May made further commitments to continue these talks with the aim of finding some kind of consensus. She specifically emphasised meetings with the DUP, to work out a way around the impasse on the backstop. Unfortunately, the EU have made it clear that there is no deal without a backstop – so where May goes next is unclear.

She opened her statement with the acknowledgement that following last week’s defeat “it’s clear that the government’s approach had to change. And it has.”

“Nothing has changed” is fast becoming the most worn out phrase in parliament – but there is no smoke without fire – and after her performance today, it seems that despite her claims, very little really has changed.

Here are the main takeaways from her latest statement:

A £65 fee for EU citizens is scrapped 

The Tories announced last month that the millions of EU citizens living in the UK would have to apply for “settled status” to stay in the UK following any version of Brexit. Those applying for “settled status” were also expecting to pay a fee of £65. May announced in her statement today that those fees would be waived, and those who had already paid the fee will be reimbursed. She emphasised that government’s commitment to allowing EU citizens to stay in the UK “on broadly the same terms as now in both a deal and no deal scenario.” The move was welcomed by Jeremy Corbyn, and head of the SNP in Westminster, Ian Blackford.

The Good Friday Agreement will remain unchanged

In her statement Theresa May denied reports published this morning that she was considering amending The Good Friday Agreement to try and resolve the parliamentary deadlock. The Government will not reopen any talks on the agreement: “I have never even considered doing so and neither would I.” Someone briefed that this was not the case. Another example of the confusion behind the scenes.

Second Referendum is still not an option to May 

There have been calls made from both sides of the chamber in recent weeks to hold a second referendum, including today from former May loyalist Justine Greening MP. May made her case against a second referendum very clear in the Commons this afternoon. First, she said she feared it would “set a difficult precedent” for how referendums are handled in the future, “not least, strengthening the hands of those campaigning to break up our United Kingdom” she added, in a not-so-subtle dig at the SNP. Second, a second referendum would require an extension of Article 50 and the prospect of sending a new set of MEPs to European Parliament in May. She then warned of the damage a second referendum could have on social cohesion. And lastly she said: “I do not believe there is a majority for a second referendum.” And she’s probably right.

More head-banging from Corbyn on no deal

May made herself very clear at the beginning of her statement: The right way to rule out a no deal Brexit is to approve a deal. The only other way to rule out a no deal Brexit is to revoke Article 50. So “people who say rule out no deal are just saying we should revoke Article 50,” she argued. Corbyn then opened his response by calling on May to “rule out no deal.”

May responded with the same line as above. Corbyn will undoubtedly ask May again to rule out a no deal in PMQs on Wednesday. May will respond with the same line. This no deal conversational tennis is one of the certainties amid the chaos.

Ian Blackford calls for Scottish Independence, shock 

After May’s jibe about not wanting to strengthen the hand of those campaigning to break up the Union, Ian Blackford, head of the SNP in Westminster, made an impassioned case for Scottish Independence. Scotland wants no part of Brexit, he said. Scotland would be fine without the UK, he added, speciously. May responded robustly: “For the SNP to say the best economic future for Scotland is to be outside the UK, that is to fly in the face of economic reality.”

So, not much was achieved. May is still not interested in a second referendum. Corbyn still wants May to rule out no deal. The SNP are still keen on Scottish Independence. The question on where May goes from here is a difficult one – she has not made enough concessions to win over the vast swathes of MPs required to get her deal through parliament next week, and she didn’t seem to have an alternative. Meanwhile no-deal fast approaches. Under ten weeks to go now.