There was significant support from colleagues across the Party
last week for the so-called Malthouse plan.
As the PM said in the Commons —
"My Rt Hon Friend the Member for Loughborough, and my Hon Friends
the Members for Wycombe, North West Hampshire and North East
Somerset and others have worked to bring forward a serious
proposal that we are engaging with sincerely and positively.
Indeed, the principle of alternative arrangements has already
been accepted by the EU as a way out of the backstop. I commend
them for their willingness to find a solution and look forward to
working with them over the coming days."
To take forward this work, the Government is establishing an
Alternative Arrangements Working Group which will hold regular
meetings with , the Secretary of State for
Exiting the EU. Officials from HMRC, Cabinet Office Europe Unit,
Number 10 and other relevant departments will support this, and
Ministers will be able to commission advice from them.
Membership will include , , , and .
The first meeting will take place today (Monday) with further
meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday. They will be held in the
Cabinet Office.
And as the Home Secretary set out on Marr (see attachment), the
Attorney General is looking at the legal changes we are aiming to
secure to the backstop. As the PM has previously said, there are
a number of ideas on this, including a unilateral exit mechanism
or a time limit and the AG is considering their wording and legal
effect. He will be closely engaged throughout the process.
