Downing Street lobby briefing on election aftermath, Brexit, Trump visit and Northern Ireland
2 min read
Here is a summary of this morning's briefing for lobby journalists by the Prime Minister's official spokesman.
BREXIT
In the wake of the general election, the spokesman insisted that the Government's Brexit objectives remain "to secure the best possible deal for the whole of the United Kingdom".
He said: "The Secretary of State (for Brexit) has given a number of media interviews this morning. He said that we'd set out our plans clearly and there have been no change to those plans."
On suggestions by David Davis that the Brexit negotiations will no longer start on 19 June, as initially thought, the spokesman said: "The talks will begin next week and the precise date we'll give you when we have it."
On the Prime Minister's own position following the election, the spokesman said: "She is in the process of forming the stable government which this country needs to get on with delivering the will of the British people, which was Brexit."
DONALD TRUMP VISIT
On reports that Donald Trump no longer wants to come to Britain for a state visit, the spokesman said: "We don't comment on speculation about private conversations. The Queen issued an invite to the president and there is no change to that position."
LEADERSHIP
On whether the Prime Minister would change her leadership style after the election result, the spokesman said: "She said that she was going to be reflecting upon the result of the election and what you also saw with the appointment of Gavin Barwell on Saturday was the PM saying how Gavin was respected across the party and that he had a role to play in making sure the views of the party were fully reflected."
NORTHERN IRELAND
Asked whether the UK government can be an "honest broker" in Northern Ireland if the Conservatives do a deal with the DUP, the spokesman said: "The Secretary of State has been absolutely clear about our impartial role in the talks. He said most of the talks are not about what the UK government does, but about what the parties in Northern Ireland want to do. The election underlines the need for the parties to work together in Northern Ireland. We have a process already which involves the British government, the Irish government, the head of the Northern Ireland civil service and that remains the right way to approach this."
