17/12/2017

0:00:37 > 0:00:40Morning, everyone, and welcome to the Sunday Politics.

0:00:40 > 0:00:41I'm Sarah Smith.

0:00:41 > 0:00:45And for the last time in 2017, this is your guide to the big

0:00:45 > 0:00:49political stories making the news this Sunday morning.

0:00:49 > 0:00:51Theresa May says she's silenced the doubters by securing a deal

0:00:51 > 0:01:00for Britain in the first phase of the Brexit negotations.

0:01:00 > 0:01:02Now attention turns to the much bigger task of deciding our future

0:01:02 > 0:01:04relationship with the EU.

0:01:04 > 0:01:06She'll be discussing that with her cabinet this week,

0:01:06 > 0:01:10but with so many huge unresolved questions about life after Brexit,

0:01:10 > 0:01:13can we possibly expect seasonal goodwill to break out

0:01:13 > 0:01:18across the Tory party and the country?

0:01:18 > 0:01:23And I'm here at stunning Warwick Castle to find out whether people

0:01:25 > 0:01:27Hello and welcome to Sunday Politics in Northern Ireland.

0:01:27 > 0:01:29It's been a year dominated by negotiations -

0:01:29 > 0:01:34at Stormont and in Brussels.

0:01:34 > 0:01:36But as the Brexit negotiations move forward, I'll ask

0:01:36 > 0:01:38Sinn Feins Michelle O'Neill what hope she sees

0:01:38 > 0:01:39of a Stormont return?

0:01:39 > 0:01:40Join me in half an hour.

0:01:43 > 0:01:47All that coming up in the programme, our final show of the year.

0:01:47 > 0:01:49Think of it as our early Christmas present,

0:01:49 > 0:01:52one I'm afraid you can't take back to the shops.

0:01:52 > 0:01:54And joining me today, Fleet Street's answer

0:01:54 > 0:01:56to Santa's little helpers, Tom Newton Dunn,

0:01:56 > 0:01:58Camilla Tominey and Steve Richards.

0:01:58 > 0:02:02Well, we began the year talking about Brexit,

0:02:02 > 0:02:09and we'll finish talking about... you've guessed it, Brexit.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11And there have been big developments in just the past week,

0:02:11 > 0:02:15which saw Theresa May go from hero to zero, to somewhere in between.

0:02:17 > 0:02:23Seasonal goodwill spread through the Conservative Party

0:02:23 > 0:02:26on Monday, when Theresa May reported back to Parliament on her deal to

0:02:26 > 0:02:28move Brexit talks on to phase two.

0:02:28 > 0:02:31When people like me, Brexiteers, look at the alternative,

0:02:31 > 0:02:34namely the Labour government, a Labour government staying

0:02:34 > 0:02:37in the single market forever and having no control over

0:02:37 > 0:02:38immigration, it's amazing how our minds are concentrated

0:02:38 > 0:02:43in support of the Prime Minister.

0:02:43 > 0:02:44Across these benches, complete unanimity

0:02:44 > 0:02:50in congratulating the Prime Minister on securing this agreement.

0:02:50 > 0:02:53That Christmas cheer did not last long.

0:02:53 > 0:02:56On the eve of the European summit to ratify the deal,

0:02:56 > 0:03:00the EU Withdrawal Bill was back in the Commons.

0:03:00 > 0:03:03The Government avoided defeat on several amendments,

0:03:03 > 0:03:05but then came former Attorney General Dominic Grieve

0:03:05 > 0:03:08and his call for MPs to have a meaningful vote

0:03:08 > 0:03:10on the final Brexit deal.

0:03:10 > 0:03:13Brexit Secretary David Davis tried to head off the rebellion

0:03:13 > 0:03:15with a letter to backbenchers.

0:03:15 > 0:03:17In the final hour, there was a last-ditch offer.

0:03:17 > 0:03:20It wasn't enough.

0:03:20 > 0:03:22It's too late. I'm sorry.

0:03:22 > 0:03:26You cannot, you cannot treat the House in this fashion.

0:03:26 > 0:03:28The Prime Minister suffered her first defeat on government

0:03:28 > 0:03:31business of her premiership.

0:03:31 > 0:03:36The ayes to the right, 309. The noes to the left, 305.

0:03:36 > 0:03:41Labour were delighted.

0:03:41 > 0:03:45The Prime Minister tried a power grab, tried to push through the EU

0:03:45 > 0:03:47Withdrawal Bill without proper Parliamentary scrutiny and take

0:03:47 > 0:03:50powers away from Parliament. Parliament resisted tonight.

0:03:50 > 0:03:52Brexit supporters were enraged.

0:03:52 > 0:03:55One rebel, Stephen Hammond, was promptly sacked

0:03:55 > 0:03:57as vice-chairman of the party.

0:03:57 > 0:04:01It was an embarrassment for Theresa May, not a fatal blow.

0:04:01 > 0:04:07On Thursday, she arrived in Brussels sounding upbeat.

0:04:07 > 0:04:10I'm disappointed with the amendment, but actually the, EU Withdrawal Bill

0:04:10 > 0:04:12is making good progress through the House of Commons,

0:04:12 > 0:04:17and we're on course to deliver on Brexit.

0:04:17 > 0:04:22She was applauded by leaders of the 27 EU member states,

0:04:22 > 0:04:25rewarded on Friday with a tweet from EU Council President Donald

0:04:25 > 0:04:27Tusk confirming they had agreed to move on to phase two

0:04:27 > 0:04:30of the talks.

0:04:30 > 0:04:35"Congratulations, Theresa May," he said.

0:04:35 > 0:04:38Mrs May can't put her feet up for holidays just yet.

0:04:38 > 0:04:40The Cabinet will meet this week to discuss what the future

0:04:40 > 0:04:43relationship with the EU will look like for the first time.

0:04:43 > 0:04:46No one's expecting them all to be singing from the same carol sheet.

0:04:46 > 0:04:50But on Friday, a fresh rebellion over the EU

0:04:50 > 0:04:53Withdrawal Bill was headed off, so peace on earth, or at least

0:04:53 > 0:04:58within the Conservative Party, reigns for now.

0:05:03 > 0:05:07But how much longer can that harmony exist within the Cabinet? I will

0:05:07 > 0:05:12talk to the panel about next week's discussion on the future end state

0:05:12 > 0:05:15of our relations with the EU, because it will be discussed in

0:05:15 > 0:05:19Cabinet for the first time. Theresa May writing in the papers today, she

0:05:19 > 0:05:23proved the doubters wrong, is she right?She did in the sense that

0:05:23 > 0:05:28many people thought she wouldn't get through the first phase. They found

0:05:28 > 0:05:32words to bind all parties together. That's what she did in the first

0:05:32 > 0:05:36phase. She is right in that sense. The second phase of which this

0:05:36 > 0:05:43Cabinet meeting this week will be just an early tiptoeing on the

0:05:43 > 0:05:49Touraine, it will be much more mountainous and difficult. I suspect

0:05:49 > 0:05:54the Cabinet meeting will be merely exploring some of the themes, and

0:05:54 > 0:05:57there will be, for sure, no resolution as to what the

0:05:57 > 0:06:01government's final position will be. We have seen some themes explored

0:06:01 > 0:06:06this week, Philip Hammond yesterday in China talking about staying

0:06:06 > 0:06:10within the EU rules and regulations during the transition. We have Boris

0:06:10 > 0:06:14Johnson in the papers today setting out a vision for by virgin further

0:06:14 > 0:06:18from the EU then people like Hammond would like. Will that be aired in

0:06:18 > 0:06:23Cabinet?Are they going to be singing from the same carol sheet...

0:06:23 > 0:06:28Will they sing from the same spreadsheet in relation to Philip

0:06:28 > 0:06:33Hammond's desires? We note Boris Johnson speaking today in the Sunday

0:06:33 > 0:06:37Times, talking about the notion of eventual self-governance and a

0:06:37 > 0:06:42diverging. You have also got Michael Gove wanting, during the transition

0:06:42 > 0:06:46period, for us to be out of the common agricultural policy, Albert

0:06:46 > 0:06:50the Common fisheries policy, that will be a difficult issue for them

0:06:50 > 0:06:54to discuss. We are not even getting onto the end trade deal, and which

0:06:54 > 0:07:00direction do we want to go in? The Prime Minister has made clear she

0:07:00 > 0:07:04wants Canada plus model as opposed to a Norway style of agreement,

0:07:04 > 0:07:09which to be fair to her, she pointed out in Florence. She said an EEA

0:07:09 > 0:07:14agreement was not what was agreed, and we don't want to be rule takers.

0:07:14 > 0:07:19There is a lot to play for. Two Cabinet meetings, one of the

0:07:19 > 0:07:24subcabinet, the war committee, and the one on Tuesday following the

0:07:24 > 0:07:27parliament really address.The papers have gone on the idea that

0:07:27 > 0:07:31Boris is setting out a different vision of Britain after Brexit, but

0:07:31 > 0:07:35is it different to Theresa May in her Florence Beach?Not really. This

0:07:35 > 0:07:40is no different to what Boris has said, the Sunday before Christmas,

0:07:40 > 0:07:48there had to be a row -- Florence speech. This is well established

0:07:48 > 0:07:53positions, we know what they all think, and we have all been saying

0:07:53 > 0:07:58for a year and a half since the referendum that am at some stage, it

0:07:58 > 0:08:03would have to be crossed. There has to be a big choice between a

0:08:03 > 0:08:06diverging or harmonisation, because so far, the EU has been binary about

0:08:06 > 0:08:13it. It won't be solved in Cabinet this week or next month, my bet is,

0:08:13 > 0:08:19yet again, they will come up with a fudged to present to the EU, or

0:08:19 > 0:08:24Cabinet will fall apart and half of them will have to leave. Eventually,

0:08:24 > 0:08:32it will have to be grasped in the autumn when the EU say, "You either

0:08:32 > 0:08:35have to defecate or get off the potty, because this is what is in

0:08:35 > 0:08:41front of you." The third option was interesting, at the summit on

0:08:41 > 0:08:44Friday, something interesting happened, which was the EU blinked,

0:08:44 > 0:08:48they said, "Move on to trade and transition." But we are not quite

0:08:48 > 0:08:53ready to do trade. We are incredibly United to begin with, now we don't

0:08:53 > 0:09:01know what we want. We have three months before trade starts in March

0:09:01 > 0:09:06for everybody, for the British Governor, to influence the EU 27 in

0:09:06 > 0:09:09their thinking, and come up with a great third Way, which is cake and

0:09:09 > 0:09:13eat it.And will be considerably more corrugated than what we have

0:09:13 > 0:09:16done already. Stay there, we will come back to you during the course

0:09:16 > 0:09:19of the programme.

0:09:19 > 0:09:21Well, we can speak now to the Conservative MP

0:09:21 > 0:09:23for mid-Bedfordshire.

0:09:23 > 0:09:25She ruffled some feathers this week when she said that pro-European

0:09:25 > 0:09:27Tories who rebelled on the EU Withdrawal Bill

0:09:27 > 0:09:28should be deselected.

0:09:28 > 0:09:34Thank you for joining us. Can we talk first about the transition, or

0:09:34 > 0:09:39implementation period, two years after we leave the EU, a number of

0:09:39 > 0:09:43your colleagues have expressed a number of serious concerns about the

0:09:43 > 0:09:46idea we will be following EU rules and regulations during that period,

0:09:46 > 0:09:51how worried are you about that?I think everybody's concerned about

0:09:51 > 0:09:56that. The important thing is, we get this period, this transition period,

0:09:56 > 0:10:00through and done as quickly as possible. Therefore, we have to

0:10:00 > 0:10:03reach agreement. The reason why it needs to be done as quickly as

0:10:03 > 0:10:07possible is because it is in Britain's interests, it is in the

0:10:07 > 0:10:12interest of business, who required stability and security, and

0:10:12 > 0:10:16confidence moving forward. We've do need to get to this position as

0:10:16 > 0:10:20quickly as possible. The rebels from last week are going to have to

0:10:20 > 0:10:24explain why, if they don't think we should leave the Commons fishery

0:10:24 > 0:10:29policy, why that would not be in Britain's interest. There is a lot

0:10:29 > 0:10:33up for debate going forward.The Chancellor made it clear that he

0:10:33 > 0:10:37would be replicating the status quo during this transition period. That

0:10:37 > 0:10:41doesn't mean leaving the common fisheries policy or die vaulting in

0:10:41 > 0:10:46any way from EU rules. -- by vaulting.During his budget speech,

0:10:46 > 0:10:55he himself talk about the uniqueness of Britain. It took about my own

0:10:55 > 0:10:59constituency and area, which will become a tech corridor. So he has

0:10:59 > 0:11:04highlighted areas where we can divert, which is in high-tech. We

0:11:04 > 0:11:09can do it in that area, we can do it in my constituency, like art we do

0:11:09 > 0:11:15it in other areas...The point he was talking about was, yesterday, he

0:11:15 > 0:11:18said, we would be subject to all old rules and regulations during that

0:11:18 > 0:11:24period.It also depends how long that period is going to be. Most

0:11:24 > 0:11:28reasonable and sensible people can accept a period of time when we need

0:11:28 > 0:11:33to have those discussions, and when we will abide by those rules. The

0:11:33 > 0:11:37problem is, what we don't want to see is Brexit constantly kicked into

0:11:37 > 0:11:40the long grass as we go further and further forward, and Brexit never

0:11:40 > 0:11:45seems to be actually happening. There has to be an endgame.

0:11:45 > 0:11:49Everybody wants to see that. If we can't see that quickly enough, then

0:11:49 > 0:11:54we do have to have these unique and these individual situations where we

0:11:54 > 0:11:59may need to pull out of certain things sooner.Talking about the

0:11:59 > 0:12:02endgame, that is what the Cabinet will discuss this week, we know

0:12:02 > 0:12:06there will be a debate inside there, and people like Philip Hammond the

0:12:06 > 0:12:09Chancellor will argue that we stay closely aligned to EU rules and

0:12:09 > 0:12:12regulations even after we have finally left, how worried are you

0:12:12 > 0:12:19about those so-called soft Brexiteers prevailing in Cabinet?

0:12:19 > 0:12:26Gosh, do you know... I'm not sure they will prevail. I trust Theresa

0:12:26 > 0:12:30May, I trust David Davies, I trust Amber Rudd. I trust all of the

0:12:30 > 0:12:34people in Cabinet to reach an agreement. And because what they

0:12:34 > 0:12:37will be doing is reaching an agreement in Britain's interest and

0:12:37 > 0:12:42the interest of Parliament, and the interest of Brexit. All of those

0:12:42 > 0:12:45people in Cabinet stood on a manifesto in 2017 to deliver Brexit,

0:12:45 > 0:12:50and they have to do that in a way which the British people, who

0:12:50 > 0:12:53democratically exercised their vote, would like to see. Otherwise they

0:12:53 > 0:12:57will lose the support of the British public.You say you trust the

0:12:57 > 0:13:00Cabinet to deliver Brexit, do you trust all of your Tory MP colleagues

0:13:00 > 0:13:06to do so?Well, I hope so. Can I just say, I know the rebels are

0:13:06 > 0:13:11being lauded as he arose from whence they not, can I tell you who the

0:13:11 > 0:13:19real heroes are in all of this, they are the Conservative MPs, not the

0:13:19 > 0:13:23Labour MPs, but the Conservative MPs who believed in Remain, who

0:13:23 > 0:13:27campaigned for Remain, during the EU referendum, but stood on a manifesto

0:13:27 > 0:13:32to deliver Brexit, and they are the people who are the unsung heroes,

0:13:32 > 0:13:35who are backing the government and backing Theresa May, and doing so

0:13:35 > 0:13:39because they know that is their duty to do so. Some of the rebels could

0:13:39 > 0:13:43perhaps learn a lesson from some of their Remain colleagues, who know

0:13:43 > 0:13:49the right thing to do is to deliver Brexit, because that was voted for a

0:13:49 > 0:13:55democratic mandate.You are being quite Conser Liege reef, --

0:13:55 > 0:13:59consulate tree, but you did at the time tweaked that they should be

0:13:59 > 0:14:02deselected and never allowed to stand as Tory MPs again, have you

0:14:02 > 0:14:08changed your mind about that? Gosh... I don't know if I have

0:14:08 > 0:14:11changed my mind, but what I meant at the time was, most of these rebels

0:14:11 > 0:14:18voted for the private members' Bill to have a referendum. They stood on

0:14:18 > 0:14:23a manifesto in 2015 to deliver that referendum. And then they stood

0:14:23 > 0:14:27again on a manifesto in 2017 to implement Brexit. I think, to go

0:14:27 > 0:14:35back on those promises, that they were elected to honour, it is

0:14:35 > 0:14:39something for their associations to discuss and consider...But... Have

0:14:39 > 0:14:45they gone back on those promises? They would say they still want to

0:14:45 > 0:14:47intimate Brexit, they just want Parliament to have control over that

0:14:47 > 0:14:54rather than the executive.No, I don't believe they do. I believe

0:14:54 > 0:14:58what they have deliberately tried to do right from the moment of the

0:14:58 > 0:15:01referendum result is to frustrate and delay Brexit, and I believe this

0:15:01 > 0:15:07is a very active tactic they are using. No, I do believe they are

0:15:07 > 0:15:13honouring the promise they stood on in the 20 Zinedine manifesto. They

0:15:13 > 0:15:17should put trust in David Davies and the Prime Minister. Rather than make

0:15:17 > 0:15:20life difficult for the Prime Minister when she is leaving to go

0:15:20 > 0:15:24to Brussels for further negotiations, trust the Prime

0:15:24 > 0:15:27Minister and assist the Prime Minister. That is what they have

0:15:27 > 0:15:30been elected to do. There is a Conservative government that has

0:15:30 > 0:15:38been elected on a manifesto to deliver Brexit.

0:15:38 > 0:15:41From the beginning, they have gone out of their way to delay and

0:15:41 > 0:15:46frustrate this, and they need to stop doing it.Anna Soubry, one of

0:15:46 > 0:15:50the rebels, writing in the Mail on Sunday, says that calls for rebels

0:15:50 > 0:15:54to be deselected mean the Tories now have their own blue momentum

0:15:54 > 0:16:04movement.

0:16:32 > 0:16:37I do, I am sure he does.You frequently voted with your

0:16:37 > 0:16:41conscience, you voted against Tory primaries does in the past and

0:16:41 > 0:16:49rebelled against the whip, why is it different?I voted many times

0:16:49 > 0:16:53against the government, I am a self-declared rebel, but I do it at

0:16:53 > 0:16:57a time, you have to choose your rebellions carefully. What I would

0:16:57 > 0:17:01say is different now is that we have a Marxist government knocking on the

0:17:01 > 0:17:05door. We have a full mandate from the British public to deliver

0:17:05 > 0:17:10Brexit, they voted for it in the referendum. These MPs stood on that

0:17:10 > 0:17:14promise in 2017, today is very different. What happened on

0:17:14 > 0:17:17Wednesday night was the rebels put a spring in the step of Labour MPs.

0:17:17 > 0:17:24The party in Jeremy Corbyn's office could be heard in the car park

0:17:24 > 0:17:29outside. It has made life difficult for us to keep that Marxist

0:17:29 > 0:17:32government out of power eventually. They have helped Labour MPs find

0:17:32 > 0:17:38their mojo one is again. We don't want that to happen. We have an

0:17:38 > 0:17:43important situation that has not been seen since wartime. The

0:17:43 > 0:17:47response ability was to support the government.Nadeem, thank you for

0:17:47 > 0:17:49talking to us this morning.

0:17:49 > 0:17:52We can speak now to one of the leading pro-EU

0:17:52 > 0:17:55Conservative MPs, Ken Clarke. He's in Nottingham.

0:17:55 > 0:18:02Thank you for joining us this warning.Glad to be here.I hope you

0:18:02 > 0:18:06could hear Nadine Dorries, she says rebels, you and others, but voted

0:18:06 > 0:18:12against the government on Wednesday, are trying to reverse Brexit.You

0:18:12 > 0:18:15have succeeded in getting into all of this personal stuff, but I do

0:18:15 > 0:18:22think she is aiming it at me. I am a member of the government that led us

0:18:22 > 0:18:26into Europe and the single market, I did not vote in the referendum, and

0:18:26 > 0:18:30my constituents have no doubts about my views. The 20 Zinedine manifesto

0:18:30 > 0:18:34was produced after I had been adopted as a candidate, no one sent

0:18:34 > 0:18:40me a copy, and I haven't ever seen a copy of it. Let's get back to the

0:18:40 > 0:18:44big issues, which are how do we preserve the future prosperity of

0:18:44 > 0:18:48this country? How do we preserve a leading position in world affairs to

0:18:48 > 0:18:54look after our interest? What is the best thing to do for the interests

0:18:54 > 0:18:59of our children and our grandchildren? All of these other

0:18:59 > 0:19:08things, the right-wing newspaper rubbish,, it is trying to get a Tory

0:19:08 > 0:19:10equivalent of momentum.Do you think that the way to preserve the things

0:19:10 > 0:19:15you talk about is to put reverse Brexit?I don't think we can do

0:19:15 > 0:19:23that. I was in the small minority when I voted against in -- invoking

0:19:23 > 0:19:28Article 50. The party is moving towards Brexit, the country will see

0:19:28 > 0:19:41Brexit. Suddenly turning Brexit into a proposal, we have big lorry parks,

0:19:41 > 0:19:46customs officers, so different market regulations, you know,

0:19:46 > 0:19:52different rules about backing cleaner noise, that was not what the

0:19:52 > 0:19:55referendum was about. More importantly, it will do great damage

0:19:55 > 0:19:58to our economy, it could cost thousands of jobs and make the

0:19:58 > 0:20:08country much mess less attractive. We have now got to try to reach an

0:20:08 > 0:20:13agreement that produces a sensible, sensible political and economic

0:20:13 > 0:20:19future for this country in the real world, not in the slightly childish

0:20:19 > 0:20:23world of knock about politics.How confident are you the Cabinet will

0:20:23 > 0:20:28come to that compromise when they start to discuss things this week?

0:20:28 > 0:20:32We keep having public statements, which are rather alarming, but I am

0:20:32 > 0:20:35reasonably confident that they can. What are you alarmed by in the

0:20:35 > 0:20:43public state was?You are trying to get me to go on about Boris, out of

0:20:43 > 0:20:51line with what apply Mr has done. But the Chancellor has a duty to

0:20:51 > 0:20:56actually look after the British economy, to make sure business is

0:20:56 > 0:21:02not deterred from coming to this country, to make sure we keep our

0:21:02 > 0:21:08markets in Europe, and in the rest of the world, as intact as we can. I

0:21:08 > 0:21:13think the Cabinet will rally around that.Theresa May made pretty clear

0:21:13 > 0:21:16in her Florence speech that what we will leave the supermarket, the

0:21:16 > 0:21:30customs unit, and there fetch you ruled out the post Brexit future?

0:21:30 > 0:21:35Lancaster House was the first time anyone had interpreted, anyone in

0:21:35 > 0:21:38authority, had interpreted the referendum result to mean that. It

0:21:38 > 0:21:43does give rise to problems. What they have now got to address is the

0:21:43 > 0:21:47problems that arise. It started with last week, we suddenly faced

0:21:47 > 0:21:52Ireland, which nobody had mentioned, which is an insult to the people of

0:21:52 > 0:21:56Northern Ireland and Republic of Island, really we agreed then, we

0:21:56 > 0:22:01must keep the border open with regulatory convergence on both

0:22:01 > 0:22:04sides. It applies to Dover and Folkestone, and we won't get

0:22:04 > 0:22:12planning permission for the lorry parks we would need if we rush on

0:22:12 > 0:22:16abandoning the single market in March, 2019, we have brought coming.

0:22:16 > 0:22:21Let's not into Gibraltar. It would make the Irish problems looked like

0:22:21 > 0:22:25a picnic. You will have a lot of adage businesses wondering where on

0:22:25 > 0:22:34earth Britain is going unless we now interpret policy of the Florence

0:22:34 > 0:22:37speech and move on from the Florence speech, which was a big move

0:22:37 > 0:22:43forward, move on from the fact that we finally settled these three quite

0:22:43 > 0:22:46simple issues that had to be settled about our withdrawal, which could

0:22:46 > 0:22:54have been months ago had it not been for the troubles.

0:22:54 > 0:22:58We need to get onto a sensible economic future worked out by people

0:22:58 > 0:23:03prepared to read the brief and who know something about trade,

0:23:03 > 0:23:08investment and business in the modern, globalised economy.With the

0:23:08 > 0:23:12vote last week, in which Parliament now gets a meaningful say on the

0:23:12 > 0:23:16Brexit deal, do you interpret that to mean that parliament could send

0:23:16 > 0:23:20the Prime Minister back to Brussels to renegotiate a different deal if

0:23:20 > 0:23:22Parliament doesn't like it, so your views have to be taken into account

0:23:22 > 0:23:29with the final deal?Politics in this country is based on all

0:23:29 > 0:23:32governments having to take the views of Parliament into account. It's

0:23:32 > 0:23:36difficult when Parliament is a small majority where there is confusion,

0:23:36 > 0:23:42because the issue cuts across party lines, that makes it more difficult,

0:23:42 > 0:23:45but it was a mistake to invoke the royal prerogative, a mistake to try

0:23:45 > 0:23:52and avoid Parliament revoked. In the end, this is determining our future

0:23:52 > 0:23:57for the next generation or two on difficult issues that Parliament

0:23:57 > 0:24:00will have to approve before government can get a deal. That

0:24:00 > 0:24:04should strengthen Theresa May and David Davis's hands in the

0:24:04 > 0:24:09negotiations because, just like the other 27 negotiators, they will have

0:24:09 > 0:24:13to say that they can't deliver things which they can't get past

0:24:13 > 0:24:17their own parliament.It's been reported this morning that Heidi

0:24:17 > 0:24:21Allen, a Conservative MP who rebelled against the government last

0:24:21 > 0:24:26week, is facing threats of deselection. You are perfectly safe

0:24:26 > 0:24:32in your constituency, are you? What do you think of the other rebels

0:24:32 > 0:24:35being deselected?I don't think my constituents have any doubts about

0:24:35 > 0:24:38my views, not all of my association agree with me, but I have never

0:24:38 > 0:24:44fallen out with anybody personally because of political differences. I

0:24:44 > 0:24:49think this is all nonsense. It's caused by the rubbish that keeps

0:24:49 > 0:24:51appearing in the right-wing newspapers, which have completely

0:24:51 > 0:24:55lost their heads over the whole thing. It is totally absurd to say

0:24:55 > 0:25:01this is helping Jeremy Corbyn, it is weakening Theresa May and all the

0:25:01 > 0:25:06rest of it. Here we are, three days after the vote took place, and

0:25:06 > 0:25:11Theresa May is no weaker and she was after that. Jeremy Corbyn is not

0:25:11 > 0:25:19marching towards Downing Street. What we voted for is a Parliamentary

0:25:19 > 0:25:23accountability of the government. Nothing to do with blocking Brexit,

0:25:23 > 0:25:28and it is utterly idiotic few of our association members in various parts

0:25:28 > 0:25:33of country start interpreting this as the start of some sort of purge

0:25:33 > 0:25:39of backbench members of conscience. Eurosceptics have been voting

0:25:39 > 0:25:44against the government for the last 30 years, and nobody on my side of

0:25:44 > 0:25:46the argument has ever gone round saying they should be expelled from

0:25:46 > 0:25:54the party and sent to darkness. It is a broad church, it is a

0:25:54 > 0:25:58free-market party with a strong social conscience, and it has been a

0:25:58 > 0:26:03pro-European party for the first 50 years of my membership.Thank you

0:26:03 > 0:26:07for talking to us, and I'll come back to the panel. He says the Prime

0:26:07 > 0:26:10Minister was not weakened by that vote, and neither was Jeremy Corbyn

0:26:10 > 0:26:16emboldened. Is he right?Not quite right. What the vote did was point

0:26:16 > 0:26:22out what we all secretly knew. She wasn't further weakened by it, she

0:26:22 > 0:26:30was weakened by the general election result. She was always going to be

0:26:30 > 0:26:32in this predicament without a majority. That vote reminded

0:26:32 > 0:26:40everybody of how weak she is and will continue to be as this entire

0:26:40 > 0:26:42Parliament passes.The accusation from people like Nadine Dorries is

0:26:42 > 0:26:46that this helps Labour and intentionally offers in a Corbyn

0:26:46 > 0:26:51government is any truth in that? There was a perception of truth

0:26:51 > 0:26:56because of how close he got to number ten, which took us by

0:26:56 > 0:26:59surprise on election night, apart from you, who got it right. But

0:26:59 > 0:27:03equally I think there was a sense with Theresa May's own popularity,

0:27:03 > 0:27:07and recent polling is said that the Conservatives are gaining an Jeremy

0:27:07 > 0:27:13Corbyn, which is perhaps explained by the fact that people are unclear,

0:27:13 > 0:27:16despite numerous explanations by Keir Starmer, shadow Brexit

0:27:16 > 0:27:19Secretary, on the Labour opposition. They appear to have backtracked on

0:27:19 > 0:27:22their manifesto and want close alignment, if not remaining in the

0:27:22 > 0:27:27supermarket and customs union, which is anathema to anybody who voted for

0:27:27 > 0:27:30Brexit an Jeremy Corbyn and Labour, and equally I think it's interesting

0:27:30 > 0:27:36that, once we take ourselves out of Westminster bubble, some of the talk

0:27:36 > 0:27:40on the streets about Theresa May's apparent weakness is misplaced. A

0:27:40 > 0:27:44lots of people think she has shown resilience and they appreciate she

0:27:44 > 0:27:48is in a difficult political mess, in terms of her lack of a larger

0:27:48 > 0:27:52majority and the rest of it, but I think she was pity David after

0:27:52 > 0:27:58coughing gate, and I think that has turned into grudging admiration for

0:27:58 > 0:28:02the fact that she has defied the people who said it would be

0:28:02 > 0:28:06impossible and managed to get to the second phase of negotiations.I

0:28:06 > 0:28:10think what we got with the vote was recognition that this is a hung

0:28:10 > 0:28:16parliament. In a hung Parliament, government get defeated. . This is

0:28:16 > 0:28:20new to us because we had the coalition which a majority and the

0:28:20 > 0:28:28Labour and Thatcher landslide eras, but in the 70s, the key moments that

0:28:28 > 0:28:32Labour government defeated again and again, this one will. It's not that

0:28:32 > 0:28:35she is inherently weak as a personality, she is just in a weak

0:28:35 > 0:28:39position. There was a majority forming. It probably could have been

0:28:39 > 0:28:46bigger. In favour of that amendment last week. It will happen again

0:28:46 > 0:28:50because the House of Commons is in a different place on Europe than she

0:28:50 > 0:28:57is.Briefly.What was fascinating is that Nadine Dorries and those of her

0:28:57 > 0:29:01like said, you weakened her, nobody will take seriously in Brussels, but

0:29:01 > 0:29:09she went and she got love oned. It had an inverse effect. -- love oned.

0:29:09 > 0:29:13Using weakness as a strength.

0:29:13 > 0:29:16And you can find more Brexit analysis and explanation on the BBC

0:29:16 > 0:29:17website, at bbc.co.uk/brexit.

0:29:17 > 0:29:18Let's turn now to Labour.

0:29:18 > 0:29:21As 2017 draws to a close they've got plenty to feel upbeat about,

0:29:21 > 0:29:24although they could have to wait another four and a half years

0:29:24 > 0:29:26for a chance to form a government.

0:29:26 > 0:29:28The party says it's ready, but do the public agree?

0:29:28 > 0:29:31Elizabeth Glinka took the entirely unscientific moodbox

0:29:31 > 0:29:33to the constituency of Warwick and Leamington, a former

0:29:33 > 0:29:37Conservative seat snatched by Labour in June.

0:29:38 > 0:29:41This week, Theresa May faced her first defeat

0:29:41 > 0:29:44in the House of Commons - and, if you speak to Labour

0:29:44 > 0:29:46activists, they will tell you a general election could be just

0:29:46 > 0:29:50around the corner, and they are more than ready to form a government.

0:29:50 > 0:29:52So we've come here to Warwick Castle to ask people,

0:29:52 > 0:29:55is Labour ready or not ready?

0:29:59 > 0:30:00No, definitely not.

0:30:00 > 0:30:01Why not?

0:30:01 > 0:30:03I don't like the Labour leader.

0:30:04 > 0:30:07It's the first time I've been asked about politics here in the castle.

0:30:07 > 0:30:08I think they are ready.

0:30:08 > 0:30:11Absolutely not ready.

0:30:11 > 0:30:14They don't seem to have any strong policies and every time you hear

0:30:14 > 0:30:16them arguing against the Government they are just negative.

0:30:16 > 0:30:20There's not a positive, constructive response.

0:30:21 > 0:30:24I came from a country which was Communist for a long time.

0:30:24 > 0:30:26It terrifies me when I hear some of their ideas.

0:30:26 > 0:30:29Although I don't like the other guys, too.

0:30:29 > 0:30:32LAUGHTER.

0:30:32 > 0:30:35Would you say the Labour Party is ready for government?

0:30:35 > 0:30:37Yes.

0:30:37 > 0:30:39I'll take that as a yes.

0:30:39 > 0:30:40Sorry, Jeremy.

0:30:40 > 0:30:43I remember British Rail before it was privatised.

0:30:43 > 0:30:47It was dreadful.

0:30:47 > 0:30:49I would say ready.

0:30:49 > 0:30:53I think that the Tory party are totally focused on Brexit.

0:30:53 > 0:30:55They are not looking at any of the other problems,

0:30:55 > 0:30:57the NHS, housing, transport, everything else that's

0:30:57 > 0:31:00going on in the country, and I think the Labour Party

0:31:00 > 0:31:02would look at those other issues.

0:31:02 > 0:31:03Not ready.

0:31:03 > 0:31:04Not ready.

0:31:04 > 0:31:06They're not clear on their policies and a lot of infighting,

0:31:06 > 0:31:09so I just don't think they are ready to be in charge yet.

0:31:10 > 0:31:11Thank you for this.

0:31:11 > 0:31:12That's OK.

0:31:12 > 0:31:15There is never a knight around when you need one.

0:31:16 > 0:31:17I'd go with ready.

0:31:17 > 0:31:19I think, from what we've got at the moment, I think

0:31:19 > 0:31:21give them a chance.

0:31:21 > 0:31:23OK, let's go for it then.

0:31:23 > 0:31:25Not ready, maybe because I don't think the Shadow Chancellor

0:31:25 > 0:31:28is at all suitable.

0:31:32 > 0:31:34They can't do any worse than what we've already got

0:31:34 > 0:31:37at the moment, so I think time for a change.

0:31:37 > 0:31:42Would you say the Labour Party is ready or not ready for government?

0:31:45 > 0:31:46Interesting.

0:31:46 > 0:31:47Not ready.

0:31:47 > 0:31:48Why is that?

0:31:48 > 0:31:50Not ready, because they are still bickering amongst themselves.

0:31:50 > 0:31:53Because I am fed up with the Conservative government.

0:31:53 > 0:31:54I feel we need a change.

0:31:54 > 0:31:56OK, so why did you go for not ready?

0:31:56 > 0:31:59I just don't think they have what it takes just yet.

0:31:59 > 0:32:01Well, only eight more sleeps till Christmas,

0:32:01 > 0:32:04and I'm afraid Jeremy Corbyn may not like his present this year.

0:32:04 > 0:32:06The visitors here to Warwick Castle say that Labour is not

0:32:06 > 0:32:09ready for government.

0:32:09 > 0:32:14Right, better get the rest of these presents delivered.

0:32:14 > 0:32:16Elizabeth Glinka with the decidedly unscientific

0:32:16 > 0:32:18moodbox at Warwick Castle.

0:32:18 > 0:32:20Well, I'm joined now by the shadow justice

0:32:20 > 0:32:26secretary Richard Burgon, he's in Leeds.

0:32:26 > 0:32:32Good morning.Good morning, Sarah. We were told in the summer that

0:32:32 > 0:32:36Jeremy Corbyn reportedly said he would be Prime Minister by

0:32:36 > 0:32:40Christmas. It doesn't look as though it is likely to happen. Will he be

0:32:40 > 0:32:46in Number Ten by next Christmas, do you think?Who knows, all we can say

0:32:46 > 0:32:49is we will be ready for another general election when it take place

0:32:49 > 0:32:52and we are ready to go the full course is that needs to be the case

0:32:52 > 0:32:57as well.In order to be ready for an election, it will be important to

0:32:57 > 0:33:02have a clear position on Brexit, and in fairness the Labour opposition

0:33:02 > 0:33:05there has been some clarity in the last couple of weeks on bad, and it

0:33:05 > 0:33:12appears the wants to stay much closer to EU rules and regulations

0:33:12 > 0:33:15than the Conservative Party.What Labour wants to do is to reach a

0:33:15 > 0:33:20position where we have a good relationship with the EU has Brexit,

0:33:20 > 0:33:23because Britain is leaving the European Union and Labour accepts

0:33:23 > 0:33:26and respect the outcome of the referendum, and we want a post

0:33:26 > 0:33:31Brexit Britain where the economy and jobs is put first, not fixated on

0:33:31 > 0:33:34structures. That is the end goal we want to reach, will return as they

0:33:34 > 0:33:41good trading relationship with the EU and the rest of the world. --

0:33:41 > 0:33:44where Britain has a good trading relationship. And we want to protect

0:33:44 > 0:33:49environmental rights and workers as well.The Tories would say they are

0:33:49 > 0:33:53interested in those things as well but there has to be a structure

0:33:53 > 0:33:56around this when we have an in-state relationship with the EU. Is it fair

0:33:56 > 0:34:03to say you want a closer relationship than the government is

0:34:03 > 0:34:07arguing for?We have set out the vision of what we want in terms of

0:34:07 > 0:34:11Britain post Brexit. The problem that Theresa May as with negotiating

0:34:11 > 0:34:14is that, at the same time as negotiating with Brussels, she has

0:34:14 > 0:34:21two negotiate with her backbenchers and the extreme caucus in the

0:34:21 > 0:34:24Conservative Party who are ideological fixated on structures

0:34:24 > 0:34:31and the ECJ, and that raised -- that has really weakened her, as we saw

0:34:31 > 0:34:34in Parliament.We will have to have answers on those questions. If you

0:34:34 > 0:34:39say you are ready to form a government within the next year,

0:34:39 > 0:34:41Labour needs clear answers on these questions about whether or not you

0:34:41 > 0:34:47would ever consider a continuing role for the European Court of

0:34:47 > 0:34:52Justice, for instance.We see it as common sense that the ECJ should

0:34:52 > 0:35:00play a role in the transition period...After that?We are open

0:35:00 > 0:35:02minded, because every trade deal these institutions to protect and

0:35:02 > 0:35:07oversee that deal. Seems like common sense.Tom Watson has said that he

0:35:07 > 0:35:11wouldn't rule out a second referendum on Brexit, and Jeremy

0:35:11 > 0:35:13Corbyn a few weeks ago in Lisbon said something similar. Would you be

0:35:13 > 0:35:18in favour of a second referendum? Labour isn't calling for a second

0:35:18 > 0:35:26referendum.But Tom Watson said he wouldn't run it out.It could be the

0:35:26 > 0:35:27case that Theresa May caves

0:35:27 > 0:35:28wouldn't run it out.It could be the case that Theresa May caves in and

0:35:28 > 0:35:33starts asking for another referendum, I doubt that we are not

0:35:33 > 0:35:38in government I can say clearly we are not arguing for a second

0:35:38 > 0:35:42referendum, and I think that was made clear on Andrew Marr earlier

0:35:42 > 0:35:46today by Diane Abbott.Whatever the end relationship between the UK and

0:35:46 > 0:35:53EU, is it important you and to Labour that we see lower levels of

0:35:53 > 0:35:56immigration from the EU?We want to put the economy and jobs first and,

0:35:56 > 0:36:00if you listen to the public sector and the NHS, the care sector, they

0:36:00 > 0:36:07are clear that the role EU migrants have played and are playing is

0:36:07 > 0:36:09essential to growth, essential to the private sector, but also

0:36:09 > 0:36:16essential to our NHS as well.That sounds like you don't want lower

0:36:16 > 0:36:20levels of immigration after we leave.We want to put jobs and

0:36:20 > 0:36:25economy first, we want fair and reasonably managed migration, but

0:36:25 > 0:36:28free movement as it is will end when Britain leaves the EU and we will

0:36:28 > 0:36:34need a new arrangement that is fair and reasonably managed. We want to

0:36:34 > 0:36:37put and the public economy first. The Conservatives have a bad track

0:36:37 > 0:36:45record of making headline grabbing false promises on immigration but

0:36:45 > 0:36:50never meeting those targets.You are an enthusiastic supporter of Richard

0:36:50 > 0:36:54Leonard, the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party. You have

0:36:54 > 0:36:57called him an inspiring socialist in the past. Are you hoping the UK

0:36:57 > 0:37:01Labour manifesto will copy some of his rather more radical Labour

0:37:01 > 0:37:07ideas?It is for the Scottish Labour Party to decide Scottish policy.But

0:37:07 > 0:37:13do you want to some of his ideas replicated nationwide?We agree on

0:37:13 > 0:37:21most things, and Richard Leonard supported the UK wide manifesto in

0:37:21 > 0:37:232011, he enthusiastically supported the minimum wage rise, taking

0:37:23 > 0:37:29railways back into public ownership. What about the idea for a one-off

0:37:29 > 0:37:36wealth tax, 1% of the total wealth of the richest 10% being paid?That

0:37:36 > 0:37:43is a matter for the Scottish Labour Party.But would you like the same

0:37:43 > 0:37:46thing adopted nationwide?Our manifesto isn't decided by Shadow

0:37:46 > 0:37:51Cabinet members making declarations on the Sunday Politics.But you are

0:37:51 > 0:37:59allowed a view.Our manifesto was reached on a consensus basis, not

0:37:59 > 0:38:02only the Shadow Cabinet and Parliamentary Labour Party but with

0:38:02 > 0:38:05members all over the country. We are now the biggest political party in

0:38:05 > 0:38:09Western Europe. It will be for me to be making policy decisions live on

0:38:09 > 0:38:14air. We believe in the politics of consensus and collectivism and we

0:38:14 > 0:38:19will be taking that forward with our next manifesto.Some viewers may not

0:38:19 > 0:38:24know that, as well as being a Labour MP, you present a heavy metal show

0:38:24 > 0:38:27on your local radio station, so we have a click to listen to.

0:38:27 > 0:38:29The new album of Vallenfyre is called Fear Those Who Fear Him,

0:38:29 > 0:38:33and it's so heavy, it feels painful to listen to, in a good way.

0:38:33 > 0:38:34Let's see if you agree.

0:38:34 > 0:38:38This song is by Vallenfyre and it's called An Apathetic Grave.

0:38:38 > 0:38:42METAL GUITAR RIFF.

0:38:42 > 0:38:50MUSIC: An Apathetic Grave by Vallentyre.

0:38:50 > 0:38:54Clearly, you are a big heavy metal band. Jeremy Corbyn told the NME you

0:38:54 > 0:38:58listen to everything from Mahler to piped music, but he has never

0:38:58 > 0:39:01mentioned heavy metal. Can you introduce him to some of your

0:39:01 > 0:39:09favourite tracks?I could do. Jeremy has been on the front page of

0:39:09 > 0:39:11Kerrang, and what was nice was that he didn't pretend to like heavy

0:39:11 > 0:39:16metal. It's good he set that. Far more refreshing than when David

0:39:16 > 0:39:18Cameron used to pretend to like the Smiths.

0:39:19 > 0:39:21It's coming up to 11:40, you're watching the Sunday Politics.

0:39:21 > 0:39:25And, remember this?

0:39:25 > 0:39:27We have agreed that the government should call a general election.

0:39:27 > 0:39:31You're joking... Not another one!

0:39:31 > 0:39:35When we come back, we'll be taking a look back at the year in politics,

0:39:35 > 0:39:36and what a year it's been.

0:39:45 > 0:39:47Hello and welcome to Sunday Politics in Northern Ireland.

0:39:47 > 0:39:49It's been a year dominated by negotiations -

0:39:49 > 0:39:52at Stormont and in Brussels.

0:39:52 > 0:39:55As progress is made in Belgium, we'll hear from Sinn Fein's northern

0:39:55 > 0:39:59leader about the prospect of progress here.

0:39:59 > 0:40:01The Brexit talks finally moved to the next phase this week -

0:40:01 > 0:40:04and in Brussels I asked the Irish Minister for

0:40:04 > 0:40:09European Affairs what happens next?

0:40:09 > 0:40:14This is a backstop. This is in the absence of a free trade agreement or

0:40:14 > 0:40:19a new relationship being developed pain the UK and the EU and that's

0:40:19 > 0:40:21obviously going to be the first port of call.

0:40:21 > 0:40:23obviously going to be the first port of call.

0:40:23 > 0:40:25And throughout the programme we'll have analysis

0:40:25 > 0:40:31from Professor Deirdre Heenan and columnist Newton Emerson.

0:40:31 > 0:40:33It's been nearly twelve months since Michelle O'Neill

0:40:33 > 0:40:35succeeded Martin McGuinness as Sinn Fein's northern leader.

0:40:35 > 0:40:37And while she's overseen electoral success for the party,

0:40:37 > 0:40:40the Assembly chamber has sat silent since March and months of seemingly

0:40:40 > 0:40:42endless talks between Sinn Fein and the DUP have borne no fruit.

0:40:42 > 0:40:45And as the European Union slowly works its way

0:40:45 > 0:40:47through the Brexit process, local politicians have had no formal

0:40:47 > 0:40:52voice in the process.

0:40:52 > 0:40:54So will 2018 bring better fortunes for the local political scene?

0:40:54 > 0:41:02Michelle O'Neill joins me live from her Mid-Ulster constituency.

0:41:02 > 0:41:07Thanks for joining us. If you had known a year ago how things were

0:41:07 > 0:41:10going to turn out over the past year, would you still have taken the

0:41:10 > 0:41:14job? Absolutely. Good morning. Of course

0:41:14 > 0:41:20I would have. I was very honoured to take on the role from Martin

0:41:20 > 0:41:23McGuinness which was a very good personal start for me to the year,

0:41:23 > 0:41:27but that was quickly followed by the loss of Martin McGuinness, who

0:41:27 > 0:41:30suddenly died. That still continues to hurt us all in terms of being

0:41:30 > 0:41:34able to carry on the work that he was very much committed to. I think

0:41:34 > 0:41:37that of course I would have taken on the role, knowing that politics is

0:41:37 > 0:41:40going to be in our pants down affair, that you need to be able to

0:41:40 > 0:41:47roll with other challengers put in front of you and giving people hope

0:41:47 > 0:41:49for the future. The whole thing has run into the

0:41:49 > 0:41:54sand. You said again this week it is the DUP's fought that power-sharing

0:41:54 > 0:41:59has not been restored. Is that in fact right because the DUP says it

0:41:59 > 0:42:02has no red lines. It goes back into the executive tomorrow, while your

0:42:02 > 0:42:08back doing the job you are being paid to do has run the country. You

0:42:08 > 0:42:14won't have that. Well, I think the way we need to

0:42:14 > 0:42:17look at it is the fact that the DUP are blocking peoples rights. These

0:42:17 > 0:42:21are not silly sod and side dishes that be dealt with in time. These

0:42:21 > 0:42:27are fundamental issues. At the heart of the Good Friday Agreement was

0:42:27 > 0:42:31mutual respect and that is a principle the DUP have not taken on

0:42:31 > 0:42:35board. We need to look after all the systems we are elected to look after

0:42:35 > 0:42:39and they have blocked peoples rights. Whether that be legacy

0:42:39 > 0:42:43inquest rights language rights, so the blockage firmly falls at the

0:42:43 > 0:42:47feet of the DUP. We want to be in institutions. Sinn Fein believe and

0:42:47 > 0:42:50have worked the institutions because we believe they are right for the

0:42:50 > 0:43:00people here, that

0:43:00 > 0:43:03they serve the people well. It only if they work for all of the

0:43:03 > 0:43:06people. Throughout the course of this year the electorate have come

0:43:06 > 0:43:08out in the biggest number seen since the Good Friday Agreement because

0:43:08 > 0:43:10they endorse that position. The difficulty is, you have got a set of

0:43:10 > 0:43:13issues that you think you cannot compromise on, and John O'Dowd told

0:43:13 > 0:43:15me recently that Sinn Fein would compromise on previously made

0:43:15 > 0:43:17compromises. So all the compromise has to happen from the DUP. The

0:43:17 > 0:43:20difficulty of them are other issues now that have come onto the stage

0:43:20 > 0:43:24the need to be dealt with as well which are not being dealt with. Like

0:43:24 > 0:43:27Brexit, like the health service crisis, an education service in

0:43:27 > 0:43:31crisis, legacy issue is not resolved, historical abuse not been

0:43:31 > 0:43:36dealt with. You're still holding fast to the issues that are primary

0:43:36 > 0:43:39concern to you where the other issues are not being resolved.

0:43:39 > 0:43:42Well, of course, these issues are not a primary concern. They're not

0:43:42 > 0:43:45just Sinn Fein's issues, they are society's issues. If you look at the

0:43:45 > 0:43:50year that has been and the issues at the heart of the political impasse,

0:43:50 > 0:43:56take the Good Friday Agreement, a quality of esteem, aim mutual

0:43:56 > 0:43:59respect, if that does not happen the Government does not serve people

0:43:59 > 0:44:01well. I believe the people understand exactly what this is all

0:44:01 > 0:44:07about, what the current political impasse is all about. I want to be

0:44:07 > 0:44:11backing institutions, want to go in and tackle the issues of public

0:44:11 > 0:44:14austerity which has been a direct impact of the Government's impact

0:44:14 > 0:44:21here. I want to tackle the issues of historical abuse, I want to be in

0:44:21 > 0:44:24the institutions and standing up for the majority of people here have

0:44:24 > 0:44:26voted to remain within the European Union.

0:44:26 > 0:44:31But it is your choice to play it in this particular way. Nobody is

0:44:31 > 0:44:35denying for a second that there are lots of issues that need to be

0:44:35 > 0:44:38resolved and need to be worked through and they are very difficult

0:44:38 > 0:44:42issues, clearly. But you need to stand at the side of the pitch,

0:44:42 > 0:44:46holding the ball, you are refusing to hold the ball. The DUP's position

0:44:46 > 0:44:49is bring the ball onto the pitch with you and let's play the game

0:44:49 > 0:44:52together, let's work our way through it like mature adults. Why don't you

0:44:52 > 0:45:04meet them halfway? We have met them have way many

0:45:04 > 0:45:09times. They have to serve all the people. They have an innate

0:45:09 > 0:45:11repeatedly on their agreements both privately and publicly. They failed

0:45:11 > 0:45:14to deliver rights for all citizens. That is not a good Government. That

0:45:14 > 0:45:20is not a Government people have confidence in. Will only serve the

0:45:20 > 0:45:22people of people believe in them and they think there are politicians

0:45:22 > 0:45:27elected to deliver for them. I want to give hope to people because I do

0:45:27 > 0:45:30believe that this can be done. But it can only be done there is

0:45:30 > 0:45:34political will that. If you look at the year that has from the start of

0:45:34 > 0:45:40the year were recorded an end to the arrogance and disrespect. If you

0:45:40 > 0:45:43look at the fact that people are now alive to politics because of the

0:45:43 > 0:45:46political situation here but also because of Brexit, if you look at

0:45:46 > 0:45:49the fact that there is now a Nationalist revival, I think all of

0:45:49 > 0:45:52this and contributed about the people are now participating in

0:45:52 > 0:45:55democracy. They're making sure their voices heard. That is the kind of

0:45:55 > 0:45:58society I want to be part of the society I want to be a political

0:45:58 > 0:46:05leader in. The Minister for foreign affairs

0:46:05 > 0:46:09says he has spoken at length to the Secretary of State. Progress has

0:46:09 > 0:46:12been made. There is a must take opportunity to get an executive

0:46:12 > 0:46:16back. You've said the current process is dead and water but you

0:46:16 > 0:46:20did speak to the Secretary of State on Thursday, I understand, can you

0:46:20 > 0:46:23tell people that there is the possibility of talks getting under

0:46:23 > 0:46:26way sooner rather than later? And that our politicians might actually

0:46:26 > 0:46:32get back to the job that we are currently paying them to do?

0:46:32 > 0:46:37Sinn Fein for a party of dialogue. We're always open to conversation

0:46:37 > 0:46:39and we're always open wanting to resolve the current political

0:46:39 > 0:46:47impasse. But the definition, and we keep doing the same way, and

0:46:47 > 0:46:51expecting to get a different outcome. We have had a DUP

0:46:51 > 0:46:53disinterested, disengaged, but perhaps too concerned about the

0:46:53 > 0:46:57interests of people in Bristol, London from across the water, then

0:46:57 > 0:47:00they have been about people here. So I think that if we're going to have

0:47:00 > 0:47:04any kind of meaningful process, and it has to be meaningful because we

0:47:04 > 0:47:06can't go back at hamster wheel, and keep talking the issues out. What we

0:47:06 > 0:47:10need is years resolution. The blockage is firmly at the feet of

0:47:10 > 0:47:16the DUP. Sinn Fein will not be able to re-establish those institutions.

0:47:16 > 0:47:20We wholeheartedly believe in them and I need a Unionist partner in

0:47:20 > 0:47:22Government. I want to lead, the principle of the Good Friday

0:47:22 > 0:47:27Agreement is how we come together. I need a union is partying in

0:47:27 > 0:47:29Government who will deliver rights for all citizens, who is prepared to

0:47:29 > 0:47:35deal with issues of sectarianism in our society and heal the wounds of

0:47:35 > 0:47:37the past. We have heard you say that before

0:47:37 > 0:47:40and the DUP interprets things in a different way. I just wonder, on a

0:47:40 > 0:47:43wider issue, if you don't feel completely sidelined by the current

0:47:43 > 0:47:46state of affairs, Sinn Fein has been totally marginalised by not been

0:47:46 > 0:47:51able to use as big as platform which is the Stormont Assembly and a key

0:47:51 > 0:47:55position of Deputy First Minister. While big decisions are being taken

0:47:55 > 0:48:02in Belfast, London and stand with that ball on the side of the pitch

0:48:02 > 0:48:04in perpetuity. You need to get back onto that pitch

0:48:04 > 0:48:08as soon as possible. I don't agree with you. We are

0:48:08 > 0:48:11firmly on the pitch. If you look at how influential we have been able to

0:48:11 > 0:48:16be in terms of holding the Dublin Government to account and making

0:48:16 > 0:48:18sure they stand up to the national interest and protect the Good Friday

0:48:18 > 0:48:21Agreement. He is getting on and doing it. He is

0:48:21 > 0:48:28paying no attention to you. If you let me finish. We have been

0:48:28 > 0:48:33able to hold the Irish Government's speech to the fire. Our MEPs have

0:48:33 > 0:48:37been extremely effective making sure the other EU 27 member states

0:48:37 > 0:48:39actually understand origin acceptance answers here. I feel very

0:48:39 > 0:48:43confident about the position and the role that we play. I myself have

0:48:43 > 0:48:46been out in Europe and have engaged with EU leaders. I will continue to

0:48:46 > 0:48:49do that because I will put the interests of the people first. I

0:48:49 > 0:48:53stand up for cross community majority that voted to remain within

0:48:53 > 0:48:55the European Union. There is another way of looking at

0:48:55 > 0:49:01it, with respect. Let us look at the numbers. Let's

0:49:01 > 0:49:06not overplay Sinn Fein's hand here. You've got seven Westminster seats

0:49:06 > 0:49:18out of them. 23 out of 158. 14%. For seats out of 751 in Europe. That is

0:49:18 > 0:49:21half of 1%. You've got very big ideas of how influential you are.

0:49:21 > 0:49:26When you look at the numbers, not so very influential.

0:49:26 > 0:49:29I think we have been very influential. I don't agree with you.

0:49:29 > 0:49:33We take our seats and we go out use the position of people give us, the

0:49:33 > 0:49:37mandate that people give us to stand up for the people here. In terms of

0:49:37 > 0:49:40the Brexit debate I think we have very effective and we will continue

0:49:40 > 0:49:44to be very effective. We've seen in the last couple of weeks and move to

0:49:44 > 0:49:47the next age, but that is by no means a final day. We need to be

0:49:47 > 0:49:54very, very birds vigilant. If there was an incision up and running

0:49:54 > 0:50:00tomorrow, ourselves and the DP would not be on the same page. -- DUP.

0:50:00 > 0:50:04There won't be one single collective voice. But I want that. Despite all

0:50:04 > 0:50:08the challenges, because I believe that is how we best serve the

0:50:08 > 0:50:13people. And sorry for cutting a pushy.

0:50:13 > 0:50:19Explain to me why, if Sinn Fein is so influential and so much at the

0:50:19 > 0:50:21centre of this ongoing process, 200 representatives from civic

0:50:21 > 0:50:26nationalism he had felt it necessary to write asking for someone to speak

0:50:26 > 0:50:31up. They went over your head to appeal to him to represent because

0:50:31 > 0:50:33Northern politicians are not able to do it.

0:50:33 > 0:50:38You must be embarrassed by that. Not at all. I think is great. I think we

0:50:38 > 0:50:45should see a lot more of it. I think that's participating the democracy.

0:50:45 > 0:50:53What is great about that? Look exactly at what they signed up

0:50:53 > 0:50:56to. They want equality and respect in Government in the north. They

0:50:56 > 0:50:59want to act in the national interest and that is what I've been saying.

0:50:59 > 0:51:03So I think it is a great thing. I want to see more people standing up

0:51:03 > 0:51:08and articulating their voice. It is an awakened Nationalist voice to me

0:51:08 > 0:51:18is one of the most significant things we've seen the share.

0:51:18 > 0:51:21Rather than people elected in Northern Ireland to speak up to

0:51:21 > 0:51:24them? Because they are not doing their job.

0:51:24 > 0:51:27That is what that letter actually says when you look at it. I don't

0:51:27 > 0:51:32agree with you. If you look at any of the people who went on any of

0:51:32 > 0:51:36your programmes this week, that's not what they meant. It is not an

0:51:36 > 0:51:39either or scenario. It is not one thing or the other. But they were

0:51:39 > 0:51:42saying is we are assertive, we're standing up for our rights, we will

0:51:42 > 0:51:48not tolerate being treated as second-class citizens and. We want

0:51:48 > 0:51:50to act for Irish Nationalists because they have been disrespected

0:51:50 > 0:51:52in the current process. I think it is a very positive thing

0:51:52 > 0:51:55I want to see a lot more of it.We will leave it there.

0:51:55 > 0:51:56We will leave it there.

0:51:56 > 0:51:58Michelle O'Neill, thank you.

0:51:58 > 0:52:04Let's hear the thoughts of Newton Emerson and Deirdre Heenan.

0:52:04 > 0:52:08Well, there is no sign of any compromise coming from Sinn Fein.

0:52:08 > 0:52:11That analysis from Michelle is the same analysis we heard two months

0:52:11 > 0:52:16ago, six months ago, ten months ago. You are going to get a statement now

0:52:16 > 0:52:22because the holidays are coming up and because a British Irish summit

0:52:22 > 0:52:25has been announced in the New Year. It makes no sense for Sinn Fein to

0:52:25 > 0:52:28do anything ahead of that to see what they can get out of it, or to

0:52:28 > 0:52:31see if they can pin the blame on him for getting nothing out of it. There

0:52:31 > 0:52:39was not sense in the DUP giving hostages to fortune. She repeatedly

0:52:39 > 0:52:41referred to Nationalist rising in confidence and a new Nationalist

0:52:41 > 0:52:44mood of assertiveness and confidence. And I wonder if perhaps

0:52:44 > 0:52:47this is how Sinn Fein will approach this whole idea of returning to

0:52:47 > 0:52:54Stormont with a mutual respect because that is a very difficult

0:52:54 > 0:52:57thing to prove, on concrete thing that you can't put that in law. Apps

0:52:57 > 0:53:00would be easier for them to go back to Stormont and say we have more

0:53:00 > 0:53:06self-respect now. She was very positive about that

0:53:06 > 0:53:09letter from northern nationalism, civic nationalism, 200 people saying

0:53:09 > 0:53:13this is how we see it, this is what we want and we want him to speak up

0:53:13 > 0:53:15in the national interest. Do you see it that way? It is

0:53:15 > 0:53:21complete nonsense. It is designed to deflect from the fact that they have

0:53:21 > 0:53:23delivered nothing. In the last six months they have lost momentum. You

0:53:23 > 0:53:26may say they were about to bring down institutions at the time but in

0:53:26 > 0:53:29the last number weeks it is quite clear that they had been sidelined.

0:53:29 > 0:53:33They have been evident in the con crustaceans letter man: around

0:53:33 > 0:53:39Europe. They fell in comparison to him. He stood up for Ireland made it

0:53:39 > 0:53:43clear what he wants and has not resigned from that position. They

0:53:43 > 0:53:49have no power in Belfast, an apparent Dublin, no power in London

0:53:49 > 0:53:53and nonexistent in Brussels. The only way they will achieve power is

0:53:53 > 0:53:56by getting those institutions back up and running. A letter? Is that

0:53:56 > 0:54:00the best they can do. They need to understand that with power comes

0:54:00 > 0:54:02responsibility. And they have a responsibility to the people who

0:54:02 > 0:54:06voted for them to ensure that their voices heard.

0:54:06 > 0:54:10How much influence to the two main parties here having all that? I put

0:54:10 > 0:54:16those statistics in terms of influence to Michelle O'Neill. She

0:54:16 > 0:54:18makes the case we are very influential people, listen to us.

0:54:18 > 0:54:22The numbers don't necessarily suggest that. The DUP was not seven

0:54:22 > 0:54:28French Open Thursday night. They were playing a good media game

0:54:28 > 0:54:35in Brussels but the fact is, they keep overreaching. Sinn Fein

0:54:35 > 0:54:37proposed its own complete draft on board a resolution which the

0:54:37 > 0:54:39European Parliament completely ignored because wanted to do up its

0:54:39 > 0:54:46own. They are engaging in stunts in Brussels. But of course Michelle

0:54:46 > 0:54:51O'Neill is correct that historical back together tomorrow there would

0:54:51 > 0:54:54not be a consistent view and regulatory convergence for example.

0:54:54 > 0:54:58That is one reason why perform at the Assembly should look at

0:54:58 > 0:55:00reforming the petition of concern so that the Assembly could reach a

0:55:00 > 0:55:03consensus view. It would not be a see border versus the land border

0:55:03 > 0:55:07tussle. We'll pause there for just a second.

0:55:07 > 0:55:09We'll pause there for just a second.

0:55:09 > 0:55:11Not surprisingly, given the absence of any politics locally,

0:55:11 > 0:55:13it's been a week dominated by Brexit and the border -

0:55:13 > 0:55:23here it is in sixty seconds.

0:55:25 > 0:55:27Again, Mr Speaker, there are conflicting statements. This time

0:55:27 > 0:55:37between the Brexit secretary and, of course, the Brexit secretary. So who

0:55:37 > 0:55:41is running the UK? Is it Arlene Foster or the Right

0:55:41 > 0:55:44Honourable member for Maidenhead? Can I thank the Prime Minister for

0:55:44 > 0:55:46her personal devotion? I am grateful for the contributions

0:55:46 > 0:55:57that were made us as they do it right.

0:55:57 > 0:56:00That is the main message. We Europeans have secured the Irish

0:56:00 > 0:56:03interest. I hope that some of the people who perhaps supported Brexit

0:56:03 > 0:56:06and campaign for that would realise or at least acknowledge that they

0:56:06 > 0:56:10are the ones who created this problem and I am one of the people

0:56:10 > 0:56:14trying to resolve it. The border is back in Irish politics

0:56:14 > 0:56:17that opens up its own problems, its own toxicity.

0:56:17 > 0:56:20Nothing of the last 24 hours has gone anyway to solving that. But

0:56:20 > 0:56:24what Theresa May been able to do is push that fight into next year.

0:56:25 > 0:56:27push that fight into next year.

0:56:27 > 0:56:29Finally, on Friday, after weeks of political turmoil,

0:56:29 > 0:56:31that long-awaited agreement on the first phase of Brexit

0:56:31 > 0:56:37negotiations was ratified at the EU Council summit in Brussels.

0:56:37 > 0:56:40The Prime Minister hailed it as an 'important step on the road

0:56:40 > 0:56:43to delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit'.

0:56:43 > 0:56:46But there were warnings that if phase one was tough -

0:56:46 > 0:56:47phase two will be tougher.

0:56:47 > 0:56:50I was in Brussels for the summit where I caught up with

0:56:50 > 0:56:53the Irish Minister for EU affairs, Helen McEntee, and I began

0:56:53 > 0:57:00by asking her what happens next?

0:57:00 > 0:57:03What we need to do now, looking forward, is essentially take that

0:57:03 > 0:57:08agreement, put it into a legally binding document or treaty, which

0:57:08 > 0:57:12would be essentially dubbed for treaty. We then need to look at the

0:57:12 > 0:57:14transition period and to make it concrete so that we know exactly

0:57:14 > 0:57:19what it will look like and what kind of timeline will be on it as well.

0:57:19 > 0:57:23It also, in that time, we need to start looking at the kind of

0:57:23 > 0:57:26framework, as to how phase two will actually take place and what that

0:57:26 > 0:57:30will look like, so obviously phase one was very distinct with three

0:57:30 > 0:57:33clear strands and three clear focuses. What would face to look

0:57:33 > 0:57:36like? Between now and March that is the work that will happen and then

0:57:36 > 0:57:39from March onwards that is when we're going to start looking at what

0:57:39 > 0:57:43kind of a future there will be between the UK and the rest of the

0:57:43 > 0:57:46EU and obviously island wants to have wanted that phase as soon as

0:57:46 > 0:57:48possible. But those will not be formal trade

0:57:48 > 0:57:56talks. That will be discussion about the framework for those trade talks?

0:57:56 > 0:57:58Well, I suppose, essentially, they will be getting into various

0:57:58 > 0:58:02different sectors, various different areas and starting to look at what

0:58:02 > 0:58:04that relationship will be because we're talking about, I suppose, at

0:58:04 > 0:58:08the moment a transition period of two years. To say you couldn't have

0:58:08 > 0:58:12a discussion about the future relationship between now and then,

0:58:12 > 0:58:16you know, I don't think that's possible. Start to look at various

0:58:16 > 0:58:20different sectors, various different industries and how, I suppose, we

0:58:20 > 0:58:22can form this relationship and this agreement that the UK and the rest

0:58:22 > 0:58:26of the EU wants to form so that we have the closest possible

0:58:26 > 0:58:28relationship that we can and obviously, I think, in the absence

0:58:28 > 0:58:35of that happening this is why we have been so, I suppose, consistent

0:58:35 > 0:58:38and wanting our very clear particularly around the Irish uses,

0:58:38 > 0:58:47around the border, since insisting there is no hard border.

0:58:47 > 0:58:50In the joint report, which was the deal on phase one, the UK is

0:58:50 > 0:58:54required as a backstop position to maintain full alignment with the

0:58:54 > 0:58:59single market of the customs union. He was very clear about that over

0:58:59 > 0:59:03the conference that that was very straightforward. It was very simple,

0:59:03 > 0:59:07it is not in anyway complicated. He said he did not need to spin it in

0:59:07 > 0:59:10anyway. The reality is, though, Unionists don't see of the way she

0:59:10 > 0:59:14sees it and a lot of conservatives don't see it way she sees it.

0:59:14 > 0:59:17It is open to interpretation.I think the wedding is very clear. And

0:59:17 > 0:59:23we've been very consistent throughout, with our request that

0:59:23 > 0:59:26irrespective of what happens there cannot be a hard border on the

0:59:26 > 0:59:30island of Ireland. The wedding is very specific in the absence of the

0:59:30 > 0:59:32trade deal and negotiations happening between the UK and the

0:59:32 > 0:59:36rest of the European Union, there would be full alignment in relation

0:59:36 > 0:59:40to the single market and the customs union. Areas that pertained to the

0:59:40 > 0:59:44Good Friday Agreement. Areas of cooperation, North and south. So

0:59:44 > 0:59:50that is very clear and it means that the status quo will remain. What we

0:59:50 > 0:59:53have now is additional wording from the first draft of the document that

0:59:53 > 0:59:57was previously, in the week, where there was additional wording to say

0:59:57 > 1:00:02that there would be no barriers of trade between east and west. There

1:00:02 > 1:00:05is alignment north and south than that alignment will then follow

1:00:05 > 1:00:07through east and west. So that is busy something getting into phase

1:00:07 > 1:00:11two that have to see how that transpires.

1:00:11 > 1:00:15One of the policy areas that might be affected by the maintenance of

1:00:15 > 1:00:18full alignment, if that position is what ultimately happens, do you see

1:00:18 > 1:00:21it as a very small number of policy areas identified in the Good Friday

1:00:21 > 1:00:23Agreement? Could it a lot more than that some

1:00:23 > 1:00:28people are suggesting?I think, when you look at it in the context of the

1:00:28 > 1:00:31wedding, it is very clear we're talking about the Good Friday

1:00:31 > 1:00:35Agreement, we're talking about areas of cooperation, north and south, we

1:00:35 > 1:00:39should be the 142 and possibly more that haven't been identified yet,

1:00:39 > 1:00:42but also the economy. So it is big. There is a lot of work

1:00:42 > 1:00:46I think and what it is very clear about is it is not just the present,

1:00:46 > 1:00:50any changes that might happen into the future, linked to the economy

1:00:50 > 1:00:53and the Good Friday Agreement. So you have to take that into account.

1:00:53 > 1:00:56There is a huge amount of work on it but obviously again we're saying

1:00:56 > 1:01:00that this is a backstop. This is in the absence of a free-trade

1:01:00 > 1:01:03agreement all a new relationship being developed between the UK and

1:01:03 > 1:01:10the EU, and I think that is busy going to be the first port of call.

1:01:10 > 1:01:12Helen McAntee speaking to me in Brussels.

1:01:12 > 1:01:17Phase one is at an end and phase two is going to be even more difficult.

1:01:17 > 1:01:21A lot more needs to be discussed. What about this issue of maintaining

1:01:21 > 1:01:22full alignment? It means to different things to the

1:01:22 > 1:01:26British and Irish governments? It can mean two different things to the

1:01:26 > 1:01:32governments and they cancelled it out. If we simply allow them to move

1:01:32 > 1:01:34to the second stage. Think it's constructive ambiguity. They will

1:01:34 > 1:01:39have to work out what it means. What Theresa May, she's going back now

1:01:39 > 1:01:44having really extracted no concessions from the EU. She will

1:01:44 > 1:01:47conflict in the Cabinet and conflict within her own party. Already people

1:01:47 > 1:01:50in her own party are saying we want a transition period and if there is

1:01:50 > 1:01:55a transition period we don't want to be partners within the EU making

1:01:55 > 1:01:58brooms. So she's got conflict over the place and she's got to go with a

1:01:58 > 1:02:02united front to try to negotiate with the EU and that'll be

1:02:02 > 1:02:08difficulty, putting on that front and deciding exactly what the UK

1:02:08 > 1:02:11want the relationship to look like. Constructive ambiguity is fine for a

1:02:11 > 1:02:16while and then it as an awful habit of unravelling.

1:02:16 > 1:02:19And the agreement became more ambiguous as last week went on. This

1:02:19 > 1:02:25all Ireland economy reference that she mentioned there, that wasn't

1:02:25 > 1:02:32there on Monday. Suddenly it has appeared. The only effect the DUP

1:02:32 > 1:02:38had on the deal was to make it worse from their perspective.

1:02:38 > 1:02:40Thank you very much for today and for your contribution over the last

1:02:40 > 1:02:41few months.

1:02:41 > 1:02:41few months.

1:02:42 > 1:02:43That's it for now, and indeed for 2017.

1:02:47 > 1:02:49Welcome back.

1:02:49 > 1:02:52You'll often hear people on TV shows like this one in December

1:02:52 > 1:02:54reflecting on what a momentous year it's been in politics.

1:02:54 > 1:02:56Well, this time we really mean it...

1:02:56 > 1:02:57Again.

1:02:57 > 1:03:00We sent Ellie Price off for a gentle stroll through the events

1:03:00 > 1:03:02that have shaped 2017.

1:03:04 > 1:03:072017 was shaped by what happened when Theresa May went for a hike

1:03:07 > 1:03:11with her husband in April and came back with a jolly good idea.

1:03:11 > 1:03:15I have just chaired a meeting of the Cabinet where we agreed

1:03:15 > 1:03:18that the Government should call a general election to be

1:03:18 > 1:03:22held on the 8th of June.

1:03:22 > 1:03:23General election.

1:03:23 > 1:03:24You're joking.

1:03:24 > 1:03:27Not another one!

1:03:27 > 1:03:29The path to victory seemed so clear.

1:03:29 > 1:03:32Article 50 had been triggered, the Tories had won a by-election,

1:03:32 > 1:03:35and they made big gains across the country at

1:03:35 > 1:03:37the local elections, at the expense of Ukip,

1:03:37 > 1:03:41whose vote collapsed, and Labour.

1:03:41 > 1:03:43Yes, we have to go out there in the next four weeks

1:03:43 > 1:03:46and get our message out.

1:03:46 > 1:03:48Labour launched a manifesto that called for the renationalisation

1:03:48 > 1:03:51of the water companies and an end to tuition fees.

1:03:51 > 1:03:54This is a programme of hope.

1:03:54 > 1:03:59The Tory campaign, by contrast, is built on one word, fear.

1:03:59 > 1:04:04The Tories, meanwhile, unveiled a document that included

1:04:04 > 1:04:06scrapping free school lunches for children in England and a

1:04:06 > 1:04:09shake-up of the social care system.

1:04:09 > 1:04:10Let us all go forward together.

1:04:10 > 1:04:13APPLAUSE.

1:04:13 > 1:04:16But then the way forward wasn't so obvious, and Theresa May

1:04:16 > 1:04:19was forced into a U-turn on social care.

1:04:19 > 1:04:21Nothing has changed.

1:04:22 > 1:04:25Nothing has changed.

1:04:25 > 1:04:29Then she refused to take part in any head-to-head televised debates.

1:04:29 > 1:04:32The Prime Minister is not here tonight.

1:04:32 > 1:04:36She can't be bothered, so why should you?

1:04:36 > 1:04:39In fact, Bake Off is on BBC Two next.

1:04:39 > 1:04:43It wasn't Bake Off, but she did go on the TV and talk about the bins,

1:04:43 > 1:04:46and it all seemed a bit cringey.

1:04:46 > 1:04:50I get to decide when I take the bins out, not if I take them out.

1:04:50 > 1:04:52LAUGHTER.

1:04:52 > 1:04:54But, I mean...

1:04:54 > 1:04:56There's boy jobs and girl jobs, you see.

1:04:56 > 1:04:57Oh, really?

1:04:57 > 1:04:58What, boy jobs...

1:04:58 > 1:05:01And then there was that weird time the Prime Minister was asked

1:05:01 > 1:05:03what was the naughtiest thing she'd ever done as a child.

1:05:03 > 1:05:07She said it was to run through a field of wheat.

1:05:07 > 1:05:08Come on, Ed.

1:05:09 > 1:05:10Come on, Ed.

1:05:10 > 1:05:17# The hills are alive with the sound of music...#

1:05:17 > 1:05:21Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn was positively frolicking out

1:05:21 > 1:05:24on the campaign trail, greeted like a rock star

1:05:24 > 1:05:27at his well-attended rallies.

1:05:27 > 1:05:29The other party leaders also had their challenges.

1:05:29 > 1:05:32You won't say whether you think having gay sex is a sin.

1:05:32 > 1:05:35Winning those 56 seats will be a huge challenge

1:05:35 > 1:05:37for Nicola Sturgeon's party.

1:05:37 > 1:05:40Ruth Davidson has predicted that we've hit a peak

1:05:40 > 1:05:42and the only way is down.

1:05:42 > 1:05:44This party...

1:05:44 > 1:05:45Hello.

1:05:45 > 1:05:49And what we are saying is that the Conservatives

1:05:49 > 1:05:51are the largest party.

1:05:51 > 1:05:54Note they don't have an overall majority at this stage.

1:05:54 > 1:05:56Deal or no deal, Mrs Foster?

1:05:56 > 1:05:59The Conservatives lost 12 seats, creating a hung parliament -

1:05:59 > 1:06:02so, 18 days after the election, Theresa May did a deal

1:06:02 > 1:06:06with the Democratic Unionist Party's ten MPs from Northern Ireland.

1:06:06 > 1:06:09Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn was hanging out with his

1:06:09 > 1:06:12new mates at Glastonbury.

1:06:12 > 1:06:15CROWD: # Oh, Jeremy Corbyn...#

1:06:15 > 1:06:17With the election over, Brexit negotiations dominated the summer,

1:06:17 > 1:06:21and keeping control of her own party was an uphill struggle for the PM.

1:06:21 > 1:06:25That's why everyone was focused on her conference speech,

1:06:25 > 1:06:27including a prankster.

1:06:27 > 1:06:30Boris, job done there.

1:06:30 > 1:06:31An errant frog...

1:06:31 > 1:06:33SHE COUGHS.

1:06:33 > 1:06:34Excuse me.

1:06:34 > 1:06:35The deficit is back to pre-crisis levels...

1:06:35 > 1:06:38And then the scenery that fell down.

1:06:38 > 1:06:41The PM put on a brave face and was supported by her husband,

1:06:41 > 1:06:43and later her Cabinet, after some whispering

1:06:43 > 1:06:46about her leadership.

1:06:46 > 1:06:48By the end of October, the sexual harassment

1:06:48 > 1:06:50scandal hit Westminster.

1:06:50 > 1:06:52Various MPs were implicated, and so was a Cabinet

1:06:52 > 1:06:54minister, who stood down.

1:06:54 > 1:06:56Below the high standards...

1:06:56 > 1:06:58A week later, another Cabinet resignation.

1:06:58 > 1:07:00This time, Priti Patel, the International Development

1:07:00 > 1:07:03Secretary, fell on her sword over unauthorised meetings

1:07:03 > 1:07:05she'd had with Israeli officials while on holiday.

1:07:05 > 1:07:07Although there are plenty of 27 moments Theresa May

1:07:07 > 1:07:11would probably rather forget, this handshake just last week

1:07:11 > 1:07:16was a crucial breakthrough in the Brexit negotiations.

1:07:16 > 1:07:20The moment the EU accepted it was time to move on and talk

1:07:20 > 1:07:22about the future relationship.

1:07:22 > 1:07:26Of course, that doesn't mean negotiations next

1:07:26 > 1:07:29year will be any easier.

1:07:29 > 1:07:32But with everything going on this year, 2018 couldn't possibly be

1:07:32 > 1:07:41so frantic, could it?

1:07:41 > 1:07:44Plenty to talk about in terms of the big moments of last year and what's

1:07:44 > 1:07:49likely to come in the year ahead with our panel. I'll ask you first,

1:07:49 > 1:07:54what was your favourite moment?I think it must be that exit poll

1:07:54 > 1:08:00macro which we just saw again. The moment that was announced, you felt

1:08:00 > 1:08:04British politics changing in dramatic ways, as it has done, in my

1:08:04 > 1:08:10view. It's been the most significant political year in terms of change

1:08:10 > 1:08:13since 1979, even though the same Prime Minister is in place. In that

1:08:13 > 1:08:18second, you realise it was a myth that a figure to the left of Tony

1:08:18 > 1:08:21Blair would doom Labour to electoral oblivion, you realised that young

1:08:21 > 1:08:26people were starting to vote with profound policy implications, which

1:08:26 > 1:08:30we are already starting to see, and that will continue, and you

1:08:30 > 1:08:34recognised in that nanosecond that she had lost the mandate for Brexit,

1:08:34 > 1:08:40and a hung parliament would transform the politics of Brexit, as

1:08:40 > 1:08:43we were discussing earlier. It meant many other things as well, that exit

1:08:43 > 1:08:51poll. It will be a Brexit poll another time! So it was a huge

1:08:51 > 1:08:56moment, and I think some of it will -- some of us will never forget it.

1:08:56 > 1:09:02I can't believe we have crammed all of that into a year! I think that

1:09:02 > 1:09:06seminal week where Boris wrote his 4000 word thesis on Brexit, which

1:09:06 > 1:09:12anyone who is a Brexiteer reading it had Land Of Hope And Glory ringing

1:09:12 > 1:09:16in their ears, and how that may or may not have changed Theresa May's

1:09:16 > 1:09:22Florence speech. Downing Street very much road against the idea that the

1:09:22 > 1:09:25substance was changed, but I think there was an acceptance that his

1:09:25 > 1:09:30Union Jack flying tone was incorporated into that speech, and

1:09:30 > 1:09:34it became how she set out in Britainposition going forward.I was

1:09:34 > 1:09:41tempted to say the incredible walk that reason may did with Donald

1:09:41 > 1:09:45Trump way back in January where they held hands. What an extra rib

1:09:45 > 1:09:49picture that was, for those of us out there to see what she had just

1:09:49 > 1:09:55done full -- an incredible picture. But I'm going to be cheeky and go

1:09:55 > 1:10:00for another one, the conference speech, Theresa May's. Yet again,

1:10:00 > 1:10:06for anybody in that room, it was the most excruciating 55 minutes of

1:10:06 > 1:10:11anyone's political career or journalistic career, but also a very

1:10:11 > 1:10:14powerful metaphor for her premiership. Things are falling

1:10:14 > 1:10:18apart at the seams. It isn't going at all how she planned. Yet she is

1:10:18 > 1:10:23still there.If we've learned anything, it's that we shouldn't

1:10:23 > 1:10:26make political predictions because we will be proved wrong, but

1:10:26 > 1:10:26make political predictions because we will be proved wrong, but I'm

1:10:26 > 1:10:30going to ask you for a couple for the year ahead. Will we have a trade

1:10:30 > 1:10:38deal by October?We won't, not least because the EU has said they aren't

1:10:38 > 1:10:42going to offer one at any stage, they are going to offer a political

1:10:42 > 1:10:44declaration, those are the words in the council document on Friday. We

1:10:44 > 1:10:51might get that.Will Theresa May still be Prime Minister?By

1:10:51 > 1:11:01Christmas? What good is this time next year. --this time next year.I

1:11:01 > 1:11:05think it depends what happens in October. She might be Prime Minister

1:11:05 > 1:11:08but will she has set out a timetable for a change in leadership?

1:11:08 > 1:11:17Possibly.And will the Cabinet look the same?Not entirely but I think

1:11:17 > 1:11:21the key players will be in place. I think it would be too disruptive to

1:11:21 > 1:11:27change them, but that is a tentative prediction. One -- what an

1:11:27 > 1:11:30extraordinarily bigger Theresa May is. She isn't an actor like most of

1:11:30 > 1:11:33our Prime ministers but it is like she is in a James Bond half of the

1:11:33 > 1:11:39time. It is a glorious contrast, a shy, dog-eared figure, and the

1:11:39 > 1:11:42theatrics will continue into next year, and I think she will be there.

1:11:42 > 1:11:51-- a shy, dogged figure.They have tried to build a campaign about a

1:11:51 > 1:11:54presidential style of leadership, and she was ill suited to that, and

1:11:54 > 1:11:58now she is using weakness as a strength when it comes to

1:11:58 > 1:12:01negotiating in Europe. She hasn't really shown her cards on Brexit,

1:12:01 > 1:12:07but it's probably to her advantage nobody really knows exactly what

1:12:07 > 1:12:10makes her tick, what is Willie going on inside her head. It could be

1:12:10 > 1:12:17nothing. Maybe it's entirely empty, so she can be beautifully pragmatic

1:12:17 > 1:12:23and plough her way through the waves. Inside the bubble, she loses

1:12:23 > 1:12:27votes, she does a terrible speech and we kick her but, in the country,

1:12:27 > 1:12:32the more and more people you speak to, and they say, good on her, she

1:12:32 > 1:12:37is getting the EU kicking her, her side kicking her, but she still

1:12:37 > 1:12:47carries on. The fact that she is indefatigable...Exhausting to say.

1:12:47 > 1:12:51It's remarkable, so she is proving Prime Minister of our times.Will

1:12:51 > 1:12:56Corbyn still be there?He will be, but does he want to be? What will

1:12:56 > 1:13:02happen in goodness only knows. Looking back at the rally, it's

1:13:02 > 1:13:05interesting how popular and idolised he was then in that campaigning

1:13:05 > 1:13:09mode, which she was far better suited to spend Theresa May, who

1:13:09 > 1:13:12wasn't surrounded by crowds and seemed to be standing on a podium

1:13:12 > 1:13:17somewhere with Tory banners behind her. I don't know. I think the shine

1:13:17 > 1:13:20is coming off Corbyn, and I think the more that Labour tie themselves

1:13:20 > 1:13:26in knots over Brexit, having Richard Burgon earlier saying, let's have

1:13:26 > 1:13:30the ECJ ruling us for ever and not cut immigration, that isn't going to

1:13:30 > 1:13:35play well with Labour Brexit photos. We will be back to discuss all this

1:13:35 > 1:13:36next year.

1:13:36 > 1:13:40That's all for today, and that's all for 2017.

1:13:40 > 1:13:43Until then, bye-bye.