Brexit: Theresa May ‘to announce deal on 19 November’
Leaked document says PM will claim Government has ‘delivered on referendum’
Prime Minister Theresa May is to give a speech confirming a final Brexit deal on 19 November, according to a leaked Brexit timetable.
The document, obtained by the BBC, appears to be “a suggested detailed timetable of how the Government might try to sell a Brexit deal to the public and Parliament”, and was allegedly leaked by an official.
The notes say that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab is to announce “a moment of decisive progress” this Thursday. The tone of his speech is to be one of “measured success, that this is good for everyone, but won’t be all champagne corks popping”, the document adds.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It claims that May will then confirm a final deal ten days later. “We have delivered on the referendum,” the PM will allegedly tell the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in a speech that clarifies the UK’s Brexit plans.
May will say that the agreement “brings the country back together” and that “now is the time for us all to unite behind it for the good of all our futures etc”, according to the notes.
The document also suggests that the Government is “lining up 25 top business voices including [CBI director general] Carolyn Fairbairn” and “lots of world leaders eg Japanese PM” to “tweet support for the deal”. However, The Guardian notes that it “does not say whether the Japanese prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has been approached about the proposed arrangement”.
The notes end with the emphatic statement: “Evening is the vote. HISTORIC MOMENT, PUT YOUR OWN INTERESTS ASIDE, PUT THE COUNTRY’S INTERESTS FIRST AND BACK THIS DEAL.”
However, the Government has dismissed the leaked “communications grid” as fake. A spokesperson for the PM said: “The misspelling and childish language in this document should be enough to make clear it doesn’t represent the Government’s thinking.
“You would expect the government to have plans for all situations – to be clear, this isn’t one of them.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
'Europe is now beginning to tackle its military to-do list'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Farewell to Theresa May: a PM consumed by Brexit
Talking Point Maidenhead MP standing down at next general election
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How Finland's tightening presidential race could affect future of Europe
Under the radar Country has key geostrategic position along Nato's longest border with an increasingly belligerent Russia
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published