Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to make another major statement inside Downing Street following a marathon 8-hour meeting of her Cabinet this afternoon, it has emerged.
During today’s Cabinet meeting, numerous options to break the Brexit deadlock are rumoured to have been discussed – including calling a General Election and holding a second referendum.
Following the end of the meeting, numerous journalists were briefed that Theresa May is currently drafting a major statement – set to be delivered inside Downing Street later this evening.
Told there’s a lectern about to come out of Number 10…and it will have a crest on it.
— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) April 2, 2019
Well Theresa May is giving another statement then, which is great news as these things never go badly.
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) April 2, 2019
So far, just one Minister – the Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt – has emerged from the Downing Street Cabinet meeting, with some describing her as appearing “miserable” and “dejected”.
Mordaunt is an ardent supporter of a hard Brexit, and some have suggested that her dejected appearance and the absence of any Ministerial car to accompany her departure could indicate a resignation – however, these rumours are, as yet, far from confirmed:
Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt no longer in the Cabinet meeting any more – left via Cabinet Office did get in ministerial car though after 7 hour meeting… didn’t look wildly happy, if that means anything.
— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) April 2, 2019
Am told that Penny Mordaunt definitely HAS NOT resigned. She left Cabinet to go to a meeting with the PM's blessing.
So have Brexiteers won out?— Gordon Rayner (@gordonrayner) April 2, 2019
Steven Swinford from The Telegraph has been briefed that Theresa May is currently drafting her statement with input from the remaning Cabinet Ministers.
Hearing PM is writing her statement as I type.
Ministers have been gathered in the Cabinet room discussing the proposed content of the statement
Suggestion that Penny Mordaunt left early for privy council
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) April 2, 2019
There is a podium set up in Downing Street. Crest stuck firmly on the front.
— Carl Dinnen (@carldinnen) April 2, 2019
It is understood that numerous options were discussed during the Cabinet meeting, and it is as yet extremely unclear as to what Theresa May might be about to announce.
Cabinet Ministers within Downing Street have reportedly had their phones removed from them, in a currently successful attempt to avoid any leaks.
It is a no-phone Brexit. PM is not letting ministers have their phones back, even though seven-hour Cabinet meeting is now over. Her colleagues have been locked in a Downing Street cupboard, until the PM has decided what they decided.
— Robert Peston (@Peston) April 2, 2019
However, rumours are also emerging that Theresa May could be about to soften her Brexit red lines:
Hearing rather cryptically that the PM's statement will represent a softening of her red lines – but not on free movement
Make of that what you will, we'll know soon enough
— Steven Swinford (@Steven_Swinford) April 2, 2019
Statement from PM imminent. Expecting her to announce Brexit next steps, possibly putting her deal into run-off vote with alternatives. We await her words, as cabinet held inside unable to brief before her!
— Paul Brand (@PaulBrandITV) April 2, 2019
Last time PM had Cabinet kettled inside No 10 while she prepared a statement was when she came out and announced an election – it sounds to me it's more likely tonight she'll say something about putting her Brexit plan into some kind of run-off with other proposals…BUT
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) April 2, 2019
More to follow…
