May tells MPs to do their duty and implement result of Brexit referendum

The European Union’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier briefed top EU officials behind closed doors at a regular meeting of the College of Commissioners, which also heard European Commission secretary-general Martin Selmayr warn of the need to be prepared for “all outcomes” from Brexit.

In Westminster, the Prime Minister urged MPs to do their “duty” to implement the result of the Brexit referendum as she struggled to maintain discipline within the Tory ranks.

It was Mrs May’s first appearance in the Commons since last month’s Salzburg summit, when EU leaders told her that her Chequers blueprint for Brexit would not work.

She has come under growing pressure from Brexit-backing Tories to drop the plan agreed by the Cabinet at her country residence in July and instead seek a Canada-style free trade deal.

But veteran Europhile Tory Kenneth Clarke urged her to ignore hardline Brexiteers and bring forward a deal acceptable to pro-EU MPs on both sides of the Commons.

The former chancellor said that would reveal that the “hardline Eurosceptic views” of the “Bennites” in the Labour leadership and the “right-wing nationalists” on the Tory benches were in the minority in the Commons.

Labour has indicated it will oppose a deal based on the Prime Minister’s Chequers plan and will push for a general election or, possibly, a second referendum.

Eurosceptic Tories claim dozens of Conservatives are also prepared to vote against a Chequers-style deal.

The Prime Minister said: “I would hope that everybody across this whole House will put the national interest first.”

She added that they should also remember that Parliament gave the British people the decision over Brexit and following the 2016 referendum result “it is our duty to ensure that we leave”.

In other developments:

– Treasury minister John Glen backed a previous prediction by the Bank of England that around 5,000 financial services jobs will have been shifted out of London by “Day One” on March 29.

– National Audit Office chief Sir Amyas Morse said it was “not impossible” that flights would be grounded if there was an “unfriendly” break-up with Brussels.

– The International Monetary Fund said “growing anxiety” about a breakdown in Brexit negotiations could result in “contractual and operational uncertainties in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe”.

The negotiations are reaching a critical stage ahead of next week’s European Council summit.

The October 18 meeting was initially framed as the deadline for agreement on the terms of UK withdrawal from the EU, as well as the publication of a political declaration on future relations in areas such as trade and security.

But with both sides confirming that differences remain on issues such as the status of the Irish border, expectations are growing that the final moment of decision will be put back to a special summit in November.

Following the College of Commissioners meeting, two commissioners stressed the importance of continued UK/EU co-operation on security after Brexit.

The British security commissioner Julian King said: “There are some issues that will need to be addressed in the context of a future partnership, including on security. There is a strong shared self-interest in finding a way of maintaining co-operation on security, if that proves to be possible.”

Home affairs commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “I don’t know what will be the outcome of these negotiations. Let’s hope that we are going to have a positive end.

“But as far as security is concerned, it is very important in order to ensure the security of our citizens and safety for our countries, to keep working together in the future.”

Reports had suggested that Mr Barnier would present a paper setting out new EU proposals at Wednesday’s meeting, but it is thought that this has been delayed until closer to the summit date.

The UK Government is also due to publish its own revised proposals for the Irish border, but Downing Street has said only that these will appear “in due course”.

Speaking after Mr Barnier’s briefing, commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters: “He recalled that decisive progress must be made in time for the October European Council next week.

“Negotiations at technical level will continue this week.”

Mr Selmayr provided an update on preparations for Brexit, and reminded commissioners of “the importance for all stakeholders to prepare for all outcomes at all levels”, said Mr Schinas.

His comments came after it emerged that the UK Government is recruiting a team of civil emergency workers earning up to £50,000 to help the country cope with any disruption caused by Brexit.

Former Brexit secretary David Davis warned on Tuesday of “dire” consequences for Conservatives at the next general election if the Government sticks to its negotiating stance on EU withdrawal.

In a letter to fellow Tory MPs, he said a deal based on Mrs May’s Chequers plan would deliver “none of the benefits of Brexit” and reduce the UK to being “a rule-taker from Brussels”.