Theresa May fights for her political life as Conservative conference opens
The PM’s authority has been damaged by another intervention from Boris Johnson
![A model of Theresa May and Boris Johnson and other Conservative MP's is displayed as anti-Brexit rally in Manchester](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y8ythmzCHv6Z9NrwnSPQyP-415-80.jpg)
As the Tory party conference kicked off in Manchester, Theresa May was forced to deny reports of a Cabinet rift following another Brexit intervention by Boris Johnson.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Sun on Saturday, the Foreign Secretary said that any transition period must not last “a second longer” than two years.
Setting out his four Brexit “red lines”, Johnson also said Britain should not accept new EU or European Court of Justice rulings during a transition; must not make payments for single market access when the transition ends; and should not agree to shadow EU regulations to gain access.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
The timing of the interview, on the eve of conference, has “put [May’s] authority in doubt” says The Sunday Times, and “ensured it is the question of who is in charge of the exit negotiations that dominates the start of the Manchester gathering”.
Appearing on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show on Sunday, the Prime Minister was accused of refusing to answer “straightforward” questions on the Brexit negotiations or say whether the UK would accept new EU rules during a transition period. While accepting responsibility for the disastrous decision to call a snap general election, May denied claims by Marr that her habit of ducking difficult questions was partly responsible for the party losing its majority.
However, it is her failure to say whether Johnson was “unsackable”, despite his latest high-profile intervention, that has once again put her political future in question. Some commentators say her authority is now so diminished that it is only a matter of time before she is replaced.
Johnson’s manoeuvrings are “causing alarm among anti-Brexit Tories, who are now calling for him to be sacked”, says Politico. In an article for The Independent, Nicky Morgan says the Foreign Secretary “has no place in responsible government”. Die-hard Tory remainer Anna Soubry said Johnson must “grow up or go”.
Tuition fee freeze
In a bid “to shore up her flagging premiership”, The Guardian says, an “increasingly desperate Theresa May” will propose a raft of new policies aimed at young voters. These include plans to freeze university tuition fees at £9,250; increasing the earnings threshold at which graduates start to pay off their loans; and spending £10bn helping first-time buyers.
However, Brexit is expected to dominate the conference.
Senior pro-Brexit Tory MPs and business figures in the Leave Means Leave group have written a letter to the PM in which they say: “If the EU is not seriously negotiating a free trade deal by Christmas 2017, the Government should give formal notice that we will move to World Trade Organisation rules in March 2019.”
Signatories calling for the hard-line stance include former Brexit minister David Jones, “and the issue is set to feature heavily at the Tory conference”, says The Independent.
Speaking to Marr, May said she was hopeful a deal could be agreed that would be good for both the EU and UK, but dodged a question about whether she would resign if Britain crashed out of the EU without an agreement in place.
Meanwhile, in an interview with The Observer, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid declined to reply when asked if May should lead the Tories into the next election campaign. It adds to the growing sense “that Cabinet discipline is breaking down and support for the Prime Minister is draining away”, says The Guardian.
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
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
David Cameron resigns as Sunak names shadow cabinet
Speed Read New foreign secretary joins 12 shadow ministers brought in to fill vacancies after electoral decimation
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Britain's Labour Party wins in a landslide
Speed Read The Conservatives were unseated after 14 years of rule
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The five moments it went wrong for the Tories
In Depth From Partygate to the budget that broke Britain, the pivotal points in the Conservative Party's decline
By Rebecca Messina, The Week UK Published
-
General election: Britain heads to the polls
In depth Voters have remained 'curiously unengaged' throughout a campaign which seems to many like a foregone conclusion
By The Week UK Published
-
Bellwether seats and 'big beasts' at risk: how election night will unfold
In the Spotlight Excitement will 'really ramp up' as key constituencies declared through the night
By The Week UK Published
-
First-past-the-post: time for electoral reform?
Talking Point If smaller parties win votes but not seats, the 2024 election could be a turning point for proportional representation
By The Week UK Published