Politics

Tory leadership: Hancock claims early Commons Brexit vote could lead to backstop concession – live news


Andrea Leadsom has insisted parliament would be unable to block a no-deal Brexit, and the 31 October deadline is a “hard red line” for her.

At a relaxed launch event in Westminster, Leadsom, who resigned as the Leader of the House of Commons last month, claimed her plans for a “managed Brexit,” would be likely to win over both MPs and the EU27 – but even if MPs objected, they would not be able to force the government to extend Article 50.

While MPs forced May’s hand in March to ask for an extension, Leadsom said “that would not be the case in the situation of a managed exit.” She went on:


I do not think that parliament actually has the ability to prevent us leaving at the end of October.

Leadsom has struggled to make headway in the leadership contest, with many senior Brexiters backing either Boris Johnson or Dominic Raab. She said she was offering herself as “aan optimistic, yet realistic Brexiteer.”

And she insisted she would not pull out until she has to.


Of all the candidates, I am the one that will not be withdrawing, under any circumstances. I think we’ve tested that for destruction over the last three years.

Asked to reflect on the contest in 2016, when she ran against Theresa May, but withdrew after telling a journalist she felt she would make a better prime minister because she had children, Leadsom said she had learned never to say, “as a mother”.

Leadsom’s slogan is “Decisive & Compassionate Leadership”, emblazoned on a pale blue background.

She highlighted a series of domestic priorities she would like to focus on aside from Brexit, with a particular focus on childcare and the “first 1,000 days” of a child’s life, including restoring Sure Start centres and family centres, and piloting a scheme to provide meals to the poorest children in school holidays.

May said staying in Theresa May’s cabinet had been “uncomfortable at times”, but that her record as leader of the Commons showed she could get things done, including, if necessary, by “Tackling Mr Speaker”. John Bercow has suggested he will not allow MPs to be pushed out of the Brexit process.

Asked how she would try and convince her fellow Brexiter Raab to be a feminist, Leadsom said:


Fifty per cent of the world’s population are women; and the other 50% are here because of women …What’s not to like about femiinsm? It makes its own argument.

She also repeated the argument that Johnson’s policy for a £10bn tax handout to higher earners would be impossible to get through a hung parliament.

Andrea Leadsom

Andrea Leadsom Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters



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