David Davis and Dominic Raab are due here at the British Academy shortly to explain why MPs should vote against Theresa May's Brexit deal.

David Davis plans today to help "demonstrate how our negotiating strategy could be changed to ensure we get a better deal".



David Davis!

The panel is notionally here to promote the launch of a Shanker Singham report promoting an "alternative deal" which removes the Irish backstop.



Helpfully includes some do's and don't for negotiations.

"Don't assume the EU and UK are on the same side of the table" is a highlight.



Hard to disagree with

David Davis, Dominic Raab, and Peter Lilley have arrived.



Arlene Foster is late.

Dominic Raab is up.

Raab says yesterday's exchange of letters changes between May and EU changes nothing: "They were explicit. Nothing in that exchange of letters in any way altered what was in the Withdrawal Agreement."

Raab says Brexiteers should oppose the Murrison amendment.



"I'm very sympathetic to spirit of that amendment but in direct conflict with protocol for Northern Ireland.



"I can't see that that's a legal way to proceed. I think it would amount to bad faith in the negotiations."

Raab adds on Murrison amendment: "If you're sympathetic to the spirit of the amendment, you need to vote down the deal this evening."

Raab on why MPs should oppose May's deal: "In between Eeyorish pessimism and Tiggerish optimism, there is a place for stubborn optimism here."

Peter Lilley is up.

Peter Lilley: "We have to be seen to be ready to leave the EU on WTO terms."

Peter Lilley: "I was wrong about the single market. The effect has been very disappointing. In the 25 years we have been members, we have seen exports to the EU grow by just 18%. Our trade with the rest of the world has grown by 72%."

Arlene Foster has arrived.

Peter Lilley says there won't be a hard border in Ireland under a hard Brexit because neither side wants one.

What about the downsides of leaving under WTO terms, Lilley asks.



There don't appear to be any, he says.



"If you prepare for problems, they don't happen."

Peter Lilley on Brexit: "On the spectrum between Armageddon and the millennium bug, it's more likely to be like the millennium bug than Armageddon."



Put that on the side of a bus

Arlene Foster is up. She says May's deal does "violence" to the constitutional agreement of the UK.

Foster: "The party that holds the pen and drafts the text holds the advantage."



Says UK should draft its own deal.

Foster: "There is no need for the backstop."



"To suggest we will have a return to the borders of the past [in N. Ireland] — well, they were there for a completely different reason.



"They were there to stop the flow of semtex rather than the flow of powdered milk."

David Davis is up.

David Davis: "Key to Brexit negotiations is knowing what you want."

Here is the ERG'S "better Brexit" plan



1. Reject May's deal

2. Offer the EU better deal

2. Get way better deal



Sorted

Arlene Foster says May's defeat in parliament tonight will strengthen her negotiating hand in Brussels. Says it will prove parliament will only approve a deal with backstop removed.

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