What is the Brexit 'war cabinet', who is in it and why is it so important?
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Loading... - Tristan Lahm
- 08 Feb 2021
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All eyes are on Downing Street today as Theresa May summons her Brexit 'war cabinet'.
It's a dreamy nickname for a group that evokes images of dark smoky rooms and Winston Churchill.
Well, the room may be dark and secretive, but fighting on the beaches it is most certainly not.
Instead the elite band of 10 Tory ministers join the Prime Minister to muddle over the minutiae of customs and trade.
The group is vitally important for our country's future, yet little is revealed about what actually gets discussed in its meetings.
So what is the 'war cabinet', who is in it, and why is it so important? Here's everything you need to know.
What is the Brexit War Cabinet?
You'll be utterly shocked to learn that's not actually its name.
Its far more catchy official name is the European Union Exit and Trade (Strategy and Negotiations) sub-Committee.
It is one of a string of smaller groups of Cabinet ministers that meet to examine specific issues in Downing Street.
It's separate from the main Cabinet meeting, which happens every Tuesday morning, and goes into more detail.
What does it actually do?
The group of 10 ministers, plus the Prime Minister, is trying to decide the government's overall direction for Brexit. This is called the 'end state'.
Brussels, Whitehall, businesses and politicians have been waiting for this to be decided for a long time.
While Theresa May has laid down key planks of her strategy, like leaving the Customs Union and single market, guaranteeing EU citizens already here can stay, and preventing a hard border in Northern Ireland, a lot of details are unanswered.
And it's still unclear how close to the EU she's prepared to take Britain, considering she'd have to make compromises in return.
Talks on February 7 were expected to focus on immigration and Northern Ireland, with the future partnership being considered on February 8.
Who sits on it?
It is chaired by the Prime Minister Theresa May.
The other members are:
-David Lidington, effectively her deputy
-Philip Hammond, Chancellor
-Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary
-Amber Rudd, Home Secretary
-David Davis, Brexit Secretary
-Liam Fox, International Trade Secretary
-Greg Clark, Business Secretary
-Michael Gove, Environment Secretary
-Gavin Williamson, Defence Secretary
-Karen Bradley, Northern Ireland Secretary
Why is it so important?
The talks could well be the most important that happen at any point in the Brexit process, for three reasons.
-The 'end state' will define the entire direction Britain chooses - Hard or Soft Brexit. If ministers decide market access is the most important thing, they could have to compromise on cracking down on immigration. Or it could all be the other way round. Who knows?
-It's where all the Tory splits over Hard and Soft Brexit will finally come to a head. You've got hard remainers like Philip Hammond on one side, and Leavers like Boris Johnson on the other. Neither wants to give ground.
-The disastrous consequences if the talks stall. Businesses have warned they need a signal of where we're headed in the next few months or they'll start moving people out of Britain, just in case. The EU wants clarity ahead of crucial summits in March and October. And civil servants need to know if they need Plan B.
Do we get to know about it?
Err, no.
Downing Street has a policy of not commenting on Cabinet sub-committees, which it oddly keeps in place for the 'war Cabinet'.
That is why you have been learning so much about Brexit through leaks and unauthorised briefings to newspapers by angry MPs.
Will it have a breakthrough soon?
Err, no.
Business Secretary Greg Clark, a member of the group, refused three times to say it would give businesses clarity about the ‘end state’ of Brexit within a fortnight of February 7.
He told the BBC: "What business knows is this is a negotiation that is about to happen.
"We can’t guarantee an end state until it has been agreed by both sides"
