Downing Street lobby briefing on pairing row, Salisbury, Brexit and crime
2 min read
At a briefing for journalists today a spokesperson for Theresa May was asked about pairing, the Salisbury poisoning case, Brexit and police cuts.
PAIRING ROW
Asked whether the Prime Minister had confidence in chief whip Julian Smith, who has been engulfed in a row about pairing, a Number 10 spokesperson said: "Yes."
Asked whether she had spoken to her enforcer-in-chief, the spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister is going to Northern Ireland today so I’m not aware of any other discussions she’s had."
SALISBURY ATTACK
Asked to comment on reports police have identified the perpetrators of the Salisbury nerve agent attack, the spokesperson said: "This is an ongoing complex investigation and I can’t - as you would expect - comment on the speculation around it. We need to make sure the police have the time and space to carry on with the investigation."
NO-DEAL BREXIT
Asked about the European Commission ramping up preparations for a no-deal Brexit, the spokesperson said: "That’s exactly what we are doing ourselves.
"What the Commission chooses to do is obviously for them but one of the outcomes of Chequers of course was that we would step up our no-deal planning and that is what you are going to see over the coming months."
Pressed further about the possibility of a no-deal Brexit, the spokesperson said: "On no deal we have always said that isn’t something we want or hope for and progress of talks so far suggest that is not where we will end up. But we are preparing across government and we are stepping up our preparations as we get closer to March and that is what you would expect us to do."
Asked whether leaving the EU with no deal meant no Brexit transition period, the spokesperson refused to answer, but said: "No deal obviously means we leave in March with no deal... We are continuing to talk to the EU about all aspects of the withdrawal agreement."
CRIME AND POLICING
Asked about rising crime stats released today, the spokesperson said there was a 'serious violence strategy' in place, and added: "We are giving police the resources to do their job effectively. You will know that we have provided a comprehensive funding settlement increasing investment in the policing system by over £450m in 2018/19."
Asked if the Prime Minister regretted overseeing cuts to police forces during her time as Home Secretary, the spokesperson said: "The number of people joining the police force is the highest in the past 10 years and demonstrates that it is a desirable and sought after career."
