Theresa May not expecting 'breakthrough' on Brexit deal at EU summit – politics live

PM won party backing in confidence vote but faces uphill battle to get her deal through CommonsWhat the papers say: ‘Her goose is cooked’What happens now for the prime minister and her Brexit plans?Theresa May: a crisis of confidence – Today in Focus podcast 1.56pm GMT Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, said that Theresa May’s victory in the confidence vote was “pleasing”, but made clear she was not ready to reopen the withdrawal agreement. Arriving at the EU summit, she said:I do not see that this withdrawal agreement can be changed.We can discuss whether there should be additional assurances, but here the 27 member states will act very much in common and make their interests very clear. 1.37pm GMT At the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee this morning, Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, admitted that some government departments had “paused” domestic policy work to focus on preparing for Brexit. He told the committee:Some departments have paused some of their other domestic policy agenda in order to focus their attention on planning for March 29. That partly reflects the nature of their Brexit portfolio compared to others … each department essentially needs to make its own judgment between the secretary of the state and the permanent secretary about what their capacity is to deliver. The central point here is this: that of course we can make contingency plans, but we don’t have complete control over the circumstances that would pertain in the event of leaving without a deal on March 29. There are things that no government can control. That is not what I said. I said it was less orderly and it was disorderly v an orderly. It might be inconvenient but I’m here to tell you what I think is really going on. Continue reading…
Via: Theresa May not expecting 'breakthrough' on Brexit deal at EU summit – politics live