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| Theresa May faces Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs - Politics live | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| This is from the Times’ Patrick Kidd. | |
| Theresa May enters for PMQs with Boris Johnson. A last-minute chat about Trump in expectation of Corbyn going on our view of US immigration? | |
| This is from the FT’s George Parker. | |
| Brexit peace deal in the Commons? ERG Moggites and Grievey rebels appear to be gathering around an Oliver Letwin brokered compromise, pulling party back from the brink. Prob 1: waiting for @theresamay and @DavidDavisMP sign-off. Prob 2: will anyone understand it? | |
| PMQs is about to start. | |
| Some of the backbenchers who will be called to ask the PM a #PMQs on Wednesday 20 June. Watch live on #bbcdp with @afneil @bbclaurak @Peter_Dowd @JackieDP @BBCTwo 1130-1300 pic.twitter.com/uPkhVtqQRj | |
| Here is an extract from today’s Times story (pawyall) about the vote. | |
| Tory whips are said to have “given up” persuading up to a dozen of their own MPs not to vote in favour of an amendment that would give parliament a decisive say on what happens in the event of a no-deal Brexit. | |
| Instead they are concentrating their efforts on encouraging Labour MPs in Leave-voting areas to defy their own whip and vote with the government. | |
| One Labour source claimed that MPs were being promised that the Tories would “go easy” in future elections on those who supported them. | |
| Bloomberg’s Rob Hutton has some good advice for those said to be on the receiving end of such entreaties. | |
| If any Labour MPs are tempted by the idea that the Tories will "go easy" on them at the next election in return for support on today's vote, there are 49 Lib Dem ex-MPs that they really ought to talk to. | |
| Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s representative on Brexit, has been undertaking the first of two sessions at the Commons today – a marathon grilling by the Brexit select committee, which is still going on, almost two-and-half hours on. | |
| Here’s a few things he has said so far. Asked by Tory MP John Whittingdale if Brexit would allow the EU to integrate more quickly without the UK as a drag, Verhofstadt said the process had been a failure for the block and could accelerate reform: | |
| I look to the Brexit decision as a failure of the European union. If an important country like the UK is breaking away from the European Union, it’s difficult to say, oh, it’s a success, fantastic… It has opened our eyes in the European Union and it has has speeded up the whole thinking about reform. | |
| He predicted it would take the entire transition period to negotiate a final political deal: | |
| I think it shall be necessary to use the whole transition period to detail this political declaration … To detail an agreement in which we will have close trade and economic relations, cooperation on internal security, cooperation on external security, and then a whole lot of diplomatic cooperation – for that we will need more time than three or four months. But that’s not a problem. That’s the reason why there’s a will from both sides to have a transition. | |
| Asked by Tory MP Stephen Crabb about whether the EU was refusing to compromise in negotiations, Verhofstadt said the UK should instead be more flexible over its red lines: | |
| You have to make a difference in politics between hope and what is possible …. What is not possible is that you say, we are out of the European Union but we stay a member of Europol, we stay a member of the European arrest warrant, or even go further than you do today. | |
| Today Britain has a number of opt-outs in these policies where you don’t participate. And now what the UK government is requesting is to participate in policies where in the past it has never opted. And then I say: Sorry, that is not possible. We need to find a practical arrangement. | |
| The Commons has held two previous votes on the “meaningful vote” issue. | |
| On Tuesday last week, as MPs were first voting on Lords amendments to the EU withdrawal bill, the government won a vote on this by voted by 324 votes to 298 - a majority of 26. But that was only because Theresa May had bought off Tory rebels at the last moment by promising them a compromise. (Dominic Grieve subsequently thought he had negotiated “Grieve 2” as the compromise - see 11.24am - but the government refused to accept it at the last minute after David Davis objected.) | |
| The full division list for that vote is here. | |
| On that vote two Conservatives voted against the government: Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry. But five Labour MPs rebelled against their whip and voted with the government: Ronnie Campbell, Frank Field, Kate Hoey, John Mann and Graham Stringer. | |
| There was also a vote in December last year, when MPs were originally discussing the bill, which saw the government defeated on “Grieve 1” - his original “meaningful vote” amendment. The government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 - a majority of 4. | |
| On that occasion 12 Tories rebelled and voted against the government: Heidi Allen, Ken Clarke, Jonathan Djanogly, Dominic Grieve, Stephen Hammond, Sir Oliver Heald, Nicky Morgan, Robert Neill, Antointette Sandbach, Anna Soubry, John Stevenson, and Sarah Wollaston. | |
| And two Labour MPs rebelled against their whip and voted with the government: Frank Field and Kate Hoey. | |
| If you want an explanation as to what the various “meaningful vote” proposals have involved (there have been several), there is one here. | |
| Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, has made the Evening Standard splash by condemning President Trump’s decision to separate immigrant children from their parents. | |
| Today’s @EveningStandard: pressure grows on May and Boris to condemn Trump, as junior Minister leads way & Brexit rebellion latest + @MatthewdAncona on cannabis + Serpentine Party glamour pic.twitter.com/umQO4DcLAG | |
| The story is based on this tweet. | |
| Separating children from their parents in this way is beyond dreadful. This policy is indefensible, pure and simple! https://t.co/1Uev9imHj4 | |
| Procedural technicality alert. The government tabled the amendments to the EU withdrawal bill in such a way as to avoid a straight yes/no vote on the “meaningful vote” amendment passed by the House of Lords on Monday. That amendment was what Viscount Hailsham called “Grieve 2” - the amendment that Dominic Grieve thought he had agreed with the government last week, until it got nixed by David Davis, the Brexit secretary, at the last minute. | Procedural technicality alert. The government tabled the amendments to the EU withdrawal bill in such a way as to avoid a straight yes/no vote on the “meaningful vote” amendment passed by the House of Lords on Monday. That amendment was what Viscount Hailsham called “Grieve 2” - the amendment that Dominic Grieve thought he had agreed with the government last week, until it got nixed by David Davis, the Brexit secretary, at the last minute. |
| The text of that amendment (“Grieve 2”) is here (pdf). | The text of that amendment (“Grieve 2”) is here (pdf). |
| The government is basically accepting this, with one key change. “Grieve 2” says, if MPs have not approved the Brexit withdrawal agreement by 21 January 2019, the government must schedule a vote within working days. The change, set out in the government amendment (see below), says that motion must be “in neutral terms, to the effect that the House of Commons has considered the matter of”. That means it cannot be amended, by Jeremy Corbyn or Dominic Grieve or whoever, to include a line saying what the government should do next. | The government is basically accepting this, with one key change. “Grieve 2” says, if MPs have not approved the Brexit withdrawal agreement by 21 January 2019, the government must schedule a vote within working days. The change, set out in the government amendment (see below), says that motion must be “in neutral terms, to the effect that the House of Commons has considered the matter of”. That means it cannot be amended, by Jeremy Corbyn or Dominic Grieve or whoever, to include a line saying what the government should do next. |
| The government is proposing a yes/no vote on “Grieve 2”. That means the opposition, and the Tory rebels, would have to vote not just against the key change, but against the whole thing. | The government is proposing a yes/no vote on “Grieve 2”. That means the opposition, and the Tory rebels, would have to vote not just against the key change, but against the whole thing. |
| As Labour whips point out, Grieve has tabled a manuscript amendment (a last-minute amendment) taking out the Davis key changes; in other words, this would allow MPs a yes/no vote on “Grieve 2”. | As Labour whips point out, Grieve has tabled a manuscript amendment (a last-minute amendment) taking out the Davis key changes; in other words, this would allow MPs a yes/no vote on “Grieve 2”. |
| Breaking: after last minute government procedural move to try to avoid a straight up and down vote on Grieve2 #MeaningfulVote. Dominic Grieve has tabled a manuscript Amdt which if selected will allow the Commons to have a straight vote on the #MeaningfulVote #UnderhandTactics pic.twitter.com/n16VU8ri1Z | Breaking: after last minute government procedural move to try to avoid a straight up and down vote on Grieve2 #MeaningfulVote. Dominic Grieve has tabled a manuscript Amdt which if selected will allow the Commons to have a straight vote on the #MeaningfulVote #UnderhandTactics pic.twitter.com/n16VU8ri1Z |
| Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver. I was held up this morning for domestic reasons. | Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Matthew Weaver. I was held up this morning for domestic reasons. |
| After PMQs Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, will be making a statement about the Gosport War Memorial hospital deaths. That mean that the debate on the EU withdrawal bill won’t start until about 2pm, with the vote coming at around 3.30pm. | After PMQs Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, will be making a statement about the Gosport War Memorial hospital deaths. That mean that the debate on the EU withdrawal bill won’t start until about 2pm, with the vote coming at around 3.30pm. |
| One Government oral statement in the @HouseofCommons today: Jeremy Hunt: Gosport Independent Panel – Publication of Report | One Government oral statement in the @HouseofCommons today: Jeremy Hunt: Gosport Independent Panel – Publication of Report |
| Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, sounded confident that the government would win today. Talking to Sky’s All Out Politics Buckland he said: | Robert Buckland, the solicitor general, sounded confident that the government would win today. Talking to Sky’s All Out Politics Buckland he said: |
| I think our arguments are strong. I think we can persuade the Commons today. I must say the Lords have accepted all the arguments we’ve made. They have properly given back a matter that is for the Commons to decide. I very much hope that we can have finality on this issue today and then get on with the work that we need to do. | I think our arguments are strong. I think we can persuade the Commons today. I must say the Lords have accepted all the arguments we’ve made. They have properly given back a matter that is for the Commons to decide. I very much hope that we can have finality on this issue today and then get on with the work that we need to do. |
| I’m optimistic about many things and I’m optimistic that today that our arguments are strong. | I’m optimistic about many things and I’m optimistic that today that our arguments are strong. |
| A note from the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, to the Parliamentary Labour party, shows the lengths the leadership are going to stress it is not trying to stop Brexit. | A note from the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, to the Parliamentary Labour party, shows the lengths the leadership are going to stress it is not trying to stop Brexit. |
| The language is directed at the Brexit rebels to try to get them on side. It says the voe “isn’t about stopping Brexit... isn’t about delaying Brexit or tying the hands of negotiators... not about the future of Theresa May or of this government.” | The language is directed at the Brexit rebels to try to get them on side. It says the voe “isn’t about stopping Brexit... isn’t about delaying Brexit or tying the hands of negotiators... not about the future of Theresa May or of this government.” |
| Exc - here’s @Keir_Starmer’s note he sent round Labour MPs last night, language aimed squarely at Labour Brexit rebels - “isn’t about stopping Brexit... isn’t about delaying Brexit or tying the hands of negotiators... not about the future of Theresa May or of this government.” pic.twitter.com/JUE3px16Pt | Exc - here’s @Keir_Starmer’s note he sent round Labour MPs last night, language aimed squarely at Labour Brexit rebels - “isn’t about stopping Brexit... isn’t about delaying Brexit or tying the hands of negotiators... not about the future of Theresa May or of this government.” pic.twitter.com/JUE3px16Pt |
| Jeremy Corbyn is trying to persuade Labour Leavers to vote against the government. | Jeremy Corbyn is trying to persuade Labour Leavers to vote against the government. |
| Also worth noting that five Labour MPs - @KevinBarronMP @CarolineFlintMP @RogerGodsiff @FitzMP Denis Skinner - abstained last week. Sounds like Corbyn will have his work cut out. | Also worth noting that five Labour MPs - @KevinBarronMP @CarolineFlintMP @RogerGodsiff @FitzMP Denis Skinner - abstained last week. Sounds like Corbyn will have his work cut out. |
| ITV’s political editor Robert Peston reckons there is a real risk that May could a lose a vote that she could have avoided. | ITV’s political editor Robert Peston reckons there is a real risk that May could a lose a vote that she could have avoided. |
| Writing on Facebook he says: “May could have swallowed the substance of the amendment and emerged unscathed.” | Writing on Facebook he says: “May could have swallowed the substance of the amendment and emerged unscathed.” |
| The Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, argues the vote is a dress rehearsal for the more important vote next month on the customs union amendment to the trade bill. | The Sun’s political editor, Tom Newton Dunn, argues the vote is a dress rehearsal for the more important vote next month on the customs union amendment to the trade bill. |
| The real significance of today’s showdown is it’s a dress rehearsal for the biggie next month - the customs union amendment to the Trade Bill. Rebels are desperate to show they have the numbers to win that, PM desperate to show they don’t. (2/2) | The real significance of today’s showdown is it’s a dress rehearsal for the biggie next month - the customs union amendment to the Trade Bill. Rebels are desperate to show they have the numbers to win that, PM desperate to show they don’t. (2/2) |
| HuffPost UK’s Paul Waugh says rebel waverers are the ones to watch: | HuffPost UK’s Paul Waugh says rebel waverers are the ones to watch: |
| It’s the rebel waverers that matter most this afternoon, not your Anna Soubrys or Ken Clarkes. And although both May and Corbyn say this is about the national interest, not party interest, it’s how their MPs interpret their conflicting loyalties that will swing the decision today. | It’s the rebel waverers that matter most this afternoon, not your Anna Soubrys or Ken Clarkes. And although both May and Corbyn say this is about the national interest, not party interest, it’s how their MPs interpret their conflicting loyalties that will swing the decision today. |
| Welcome to Politics live as Theresa May faces a knife-edge Commons vote on Brexit as MPs decide on parliament’s role in Britain’s exit from the European Union. | Welcome to Politics live as Theresa May faces a knife-edge Commons vote on Brexit as MPs decide on parliament’s role in Britain’s exit from the European Union. |
| Tory rebels reckon they could inflict a defeat on the government as the EU withdrawal bill returns to the Commons after the Lords again backed giving MPs a “meaningful” say on the final deal. | Tory rebels reckon they could inflict a defeat on the government as the EU withdrawal bill returns to the Commons after the Lords again backed giving MPs a “meaningful” say on the final deal. |
| The debate is expected to start at 1pm according to Labour. | The debate is expected to start at 1pm according to Labour. |
| Public Service announcement: Debate on the #MeaningfulVote is scheduled to last for 90 mins. Provided there are no Statements or UQs, the debate should start around 1pm with the key vote on whether to keep the #Grieve2 #MeaningfulVote Amdt as the first vote at around 2:30pm. | Public Service announcement: Debate on the #MeaningfulVote is scheduled to last for 90 mins. Provided there are no Statements or UQs, the debate should start around 1pm with the key vote on whether to keep the #Grieve2 #MeaningfulVote Amdt as the first vote at around 2:30pm. |
| May staved off a Tory rebellion on the move last week but faces a crucial battle in the latest round of voting amid claims she failed to implement a compromise that opponents believed they were promised. | May staved off a Tory rebellion on the move last week but faces a crucial battle in the latest round of voting amid claims she failed to implement a compromise that opponents believed they were promised. |
| Brexiters are said to be increasingly confident of victory, but rebels are also bullish. | Brexiters are said to be increasingly confident of victory, but rebels are also bullish. |
| Phillip Lee, who resigned as a government minister in order to back a strengthened role for parliament, acknowledged there had been a concerted effort to win over would-be rebels, including the “dark arts” of persuasion in the corridors of power. | Phillip Lee, who resigned as a government minister in order to back a strengthened role for parliament, acknowledged there had been a concerted effort to win over would-be rebels, including the “dark arts” of persuasion in the corridors of power. |
| But he claimed the rebels may have the strength to defeat the prime minister - who he said he still counts as a friend - unless an eleventh-hour concession is agreed. Lee told BBC Radio 4’s Today: | But he claimed the rebels may have the strength to defeat the prime minister - who he said he still counts as a friend - unless an eleventh-hour concession is agreed. Lee told BBC Radio 4’s Today: |
| We were always going to get the normal dark arts of Westminster taking place, fully expected, but my understanding is that the position taken by a number of colleagues is solid, which is why the government is still in negotiations. | We were always going to get the normal dark arts of Westminster taking place, fully expected, but my understanding is that the position taken by a number of colleagues is solid, which is why the government is still in negotiations. |
| Asked if there were enough rebels to defeat the government, he said: | Asked if there were enough rebels to defeat the government, he said: |
| Potentially, yes. But ... this for me personally is a position of integrity, that I think Parliament deserves to have a proper role in this process, a truly meaningful vote. | Potentially, yes. But ... this for me personally is a position of integrity, that I think Parliament deserves to have a proper role in this process, a truly meaningful vote. |
| Dominic Grieve, one of the leading figures in the stand-off, said he expected negotiations to “go right to the wire”. | Dominic Grieve, one of the leading figures in the stand-off, said he expected negotiations to “go right to the wire”. |
| Tory Remainer Anna Soubry posted a lengthy statement about why she will rebel and denied being a “traitor”. | Tory Remainer Anna Soubry posted a lengthy statement about why she will rebel and denied being a “traitor”. |
| Bloomin' Brexit - why it's so important to get it right: https://t.co/fifbAdbX5f #MeaningfulVote | Bloomin' Brexit - why it's so important to get it right: https://t.co/fifbAdbX5f #MeaningfulVote |
| The prime minister’s spokesman said the government did not intend to concede ground. | The prime minister’s spokesman said the government did not intend to concede ground. |
| Andrew Sparrow has been delayed coming to work today but should be here within an hour. | Andrew Sparrow has been delayed coming to work today but should be here within an hour. |