IDS in stitches as he reveals real reason he ‘exploded’ rushing out of Downing Street

Newspaper reports suggested the Tory MP had left a Downing Street meeting on Brexit on Tuesday night in a rage. But the former Work and Pensions Secretary was quick to dismiss the claims he was angry or upset. He explained the reason he left the talks in such a rush was so he could get “trapped on the Central Line” and return to his constituency.

Starting to laugh, Mr Duncan-Smith said: “Actually, I have already put out a statement on that.

“I rushed out of Downing Street last night because I had to get to my constituency.

“So didn’t say anything to the media. It seems to have been immediately assumed that I was angry – I wasn’t.

“I was desperately trying to get on the tube to get trapped on the Central Line so the rush was a bit of a waste of time.

“But no, I wasn’t exploding anywhere. I was always very clear. I went in with some ideas.

“That’s what I was asked for: ideas around protecting British sovereignty during the implementation period.

“This is the discussion really.”

Mr Duncan-Smith claimed he “did not find out what the Government wants to do exactly”.

He continued: “So I am not in a position to be happy, angry or in any way sad about it.

“I simply went in to try and help the Government work out how they protect Britain’s sovereign right to make decisions without being imposed upon by the European Union.”

The ERG member’s intervention comes as Brexit talks with Brussels bloc reach a crucial stage.

Brexit negotiators on all sides have now entered what is termed in EU jargon as the “tunnel”, where intense discussions take place with a view to reaching a last-minute compromise or deal.

It remains unclear if an agreement will indeed be struck by an all-important EU summit, which kicks off on Thursday and continues until Friday.

Parliament is then scheduled to sit for the first time on a Saturday since the Falklands War in what is being dubbed “super Saturday” so MPs can discuss the new proposals.

DON’T MISS
EU left fearful for future as Boris Johnson nears Brexit says expert [COMMENT]
Pound to euro exchange rate: Sterling rockets to five-month high [MARKETS]
Brexiteer peer has dreading Brexit prediction as he blasts ‘unfit’ MPs [INSIGHT]

However, it is clear if the sitting will actually take place if a deal is not struck as the MPs would have nothing to debate.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight on Monday Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said the sitting “may well depend on the progress of the negotiations”.

Regarding the status of a Brexit deal one senior official said: “There are still hurdles to overcome — at home and in Brussels.

“There’s a pathway to a deal but the negotiators are still in the tunnel.

“It’s staying in the tunnel and anything that you’re seeing out there is speculation.”

Source: Read Full Article