Today’s political headlines include the May’s fortnight to pass deal, warnings from Irish Foreign Minister, Philip May’s pivotal role and the extremely valuable amendment.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Pro-European ministers give May a fortnight to pass deal Irish minister warns that the backstop \u2018isn\u2019t going to change\u2019 May\u2019s husband plays \u2018pivotal role\u2019 in Brexit strategy Hancock describes Irish backstop amendment as \u2018extremely valuable\u2019 May secretly rules-out a no-deal Brexit Hancock pressures social media firms to tackle harmful content Senior Tories back attempt to end indefinite detention of immigrants Government to offer teachers cash in effort to solve shortage
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that a dozen pro-European Government ministers held a phone call last night in which they decided that Theresa May had a fortnight to secure her deal with the EU and hold a second meaningful vote, abandoning a possible rebellion to support Yvette Cooper\u2019s amendment ruling out a no-deal Brexit.\u00a0The Times<\/em>\u00a0adds<\/a>\u00a0that Conservative MPs who voted for May\u2019s deal are preparing to push for a softer Brexit if Cooper\u2019s amendment passes tomorrow, and that Downing Street is \u2018desperate\u2019 to stop it from doing so.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May has suffered a \u2018blow\u2019 after the Irish Foreign Minister, Simon Coveney, warned that the backstop \u2018isn\u2019t going to change\u2019, was only in the Brexit agreement because of red lines set by the UK, and was expanded to cover the whole of the UK at the request of the British government.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0reveals<\/a>\u00a0that Philip May, the Prime Minister\u2019s husband, has assumed a \u2018pivotal role\u2019 in a disagreement between those, such as Gavin Barwell and David Lidington, who want to build a consensus with Labour, and others include Julian Smith, Brandon Lewis and Robbie Gibb who have warned that if May does not gain the support of Brexiteers and the DUP she may destroy her party, with her husband backing the latter faction.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to\u00a0The Times<\/em>, Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has described the work done by those backing an amendment tabled by Sir Graham Brady calling for the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced by \u2018alternative arrangements\u2019 as \u2018extremely valuable. The paper says this is \u2018the clearest indication yet\u2019 that Downing Street is backing the amendment, but Government sources fear the Speaker won\u2019t select it to be voted on.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>In an\u00a0exclusive<\/a>,\u00a0The Sun<\/em>\u00a0claims that Theresa May has told Cabinet ministers that she won\u2019t pursue a no-deal Brexit, but cannot yet say so publicly because it would weaken her hand in negotiations with the EU. A senior Tory told the paper that the Prime Minister is \u2018terrified\u2019 of job losses resulting from such a scenario.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock has \u2018stepped up the pressure\u2019 on social media firms to tackle content which may encourage self-harm and suicide, saying that the Government could \u2018legislate if we need to\u2019, although \u2018it would be far better to do it in concert\u2019 with the companies.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Harriet Harman has secured the backing of senior Conservatives such as David Davis for an amendment to the Immigration Bill which would stop people from being indefinitely held in immigration detention centres. Harman said that the support meant that she was \u2018very confident\u2019 that the Home Office would accept her amendment.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The BBC\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Government is publishing new plans today in an attempt to increase teacher retention and solve the teacher shortage in England. The plans will offer some young teachers payments of \u00a35000 in their third and fifth years teaching, more support for training and a reduced teaching timetable.<\/p>\n