Downing Street lobby briefing on Bercow bullying claims, US steel tariffs and Boris’s Irish border intervention
3 min read
Here is a summary of this morning's briefing for lobby journalists by the Prime Minister's official spokesman.
Theresa May is “concerned” over allegations of bullying made against Commons Speaker John Bercow, Number Ten has said.
Mr Bercow and two other MPs – Tory Mark Pritchard and Labour’s Paul Farrelly – were accused of intimidating Parliamentary staff in a Newsnight expose.
All three strongly deny the allegations.
Today a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “The report from Newsnight is concerning. The Prime Minister is clear there can be no place for bullying or harassment of any kind in Westminster.
“And everybody should be free to work in an environment that is safe and respectful. If any complaints are made they should be fully investigated.”
Addressing concerns that some staff are not being properly protected by current Parliamentary processes, the spokesman added: “The aim is for further work to be undertaken so that employees of the two houses can be included in these new arrangements.”
Asked if Mrs May had confidence in Mr Bercow, he said: “Yes.”
US STEEL TARIFFS
Responding to US President Donald Trumps steel tariff plans, the spokesman said: “We don’t think tariffs are the right way to address the problem of overcapacity.
“That requires a multi-lateral solution. We will work with EU partners to consider the scope for exemptions and continue to work with all sectors involved in this to defend the interests of our industries.”
Asked if Britain would seek its own exemption from the tariffs, he replied: “We remain a full member of the EU and that’s why we are going to work with our EU partners.”
International Development Liam Fox would be making “the case for British industry” in a visit to the US, he added.
RUSSIA
Responding to claims in the The Sun that the Prime Minister is planning a “full-spectrum retaliation” against Russia if it is implicated in the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the spokesman said: “Of course if action needs to be taken the Government will do that but we need to give the police space.”
BORIS ON THE IRISH BORDER
The spokesman insisted that the Government’s position on post-Brexit customs arrangements on the island of Ireland were still clear after Boris Johnson admitted there would have to be “minimal controls” on the Northern Irish border.
“The Foreign Secretary made clear himself there is no need for a hard border,” he said.
He also addressed Mr Johnson’s suggestion that the UK could still “do very well” if it left the EU with no deal on WTO rules.
“As any responsible government would we are continuing to prepare for all scenarios,” he said.
“We are firmly committed to working towards the deep and ambitious partnership with the EU, that remains our position.”
