Number 10 is tying itself in knots over the collapsing Chagos surrender deal. Having maintained yesterday that the US still supported the deal – despite Trump calling it ‘stupid’ – the Number 10 spokesman today failed to repeat the same claim. Now they’re just insisting the government’s own position “hasn’t changed”…
Speaking to the post-PMQs huddle of Lobby hacks, the Number 10 spokesman said:
“I was pointing back yesterday to the clear support for the deal [from Secretary of State Marco Rubio]… and that’s a matter of public record…
I haven’t got an update for you from yesterday… You’ve got the Prime Minister’s words.”
Total chaos…
Speaking about Morgan McSweeney’s resignation, skills minister Jacqui Smith told Times Radio:
“It’s clearly not ideal but I do understand why Morgan, as he explained, decided to resign at this point. But the important thing as you say is how we both tackle what this Epstein and Mandelson scandal has identified and also how we make sure, as the prime minister is absolutely determined to, that we continue the change that the country needs and that’s what I’m focusing on this morning.”