This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2018/dec/11/brexit-deal-latest-theresa-may-eu-juncker-tells-may-deal-could-be-clarified-but-no-room-whatsoever-for-renegotiation-politics-live
The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 6 | Version 7 |
---|---|
Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn opens debate criticising government for postponing key vote – Politics live | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Unusually, MPs are now voting on the 10-minute rule motion from Norman Lamb. He is proposing a bill legalising cannabis. | |
This means the emergency Brexit debate will not start for another 15 minutes. | |
This is from my colleague Heather Stewart. | |
I understand Jeremy Corbyn has postponed his meeting with the SNP's @IanBlackfordMP this afternoon - at which Blackford was expected to push for Labour to table a no confidence vote. | |
Jeremy Corbyn is about to open the emergency debate on Brexit and “the government’s management of the meaningful vote”. | |
It is an emergency debate under standing order 24, and in these debates the motion cannot be amended. The motion will go through unopposed at the end. | |
SO24 motions are meant to be relatively neutral, but this one does include criticism of the government. It says: | |
That this House has considered the prime minister’s unprecedented decision not to proceed with the final two days of debate and the meaningful vote, despite the House’s Order of Tuesday 4 December 2018, and her failure to allow this House to express its view on the government’s deal or her proposed negotiating objectives, without the agreement of this House. | |
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has indicated Labour will resist pressure from other opposition parties, including the SNP, to table a no confidence motion imminently. (see 10.42am.) At a briefing for journalists, he said: | |
We’ll put one down when we can win it. We’ll make a judgment. The prime minister’s going off to see what she can get in terms of renegotiations or whatever – we’ll see what she brings back. | |
He went on to question the motives of the SNP, saying: | |
Who can delve into the mind of Nicola Sturgeon, but my view is that what they want is to lose a vote of no confidence, and then avoid a general election, because they know we’re breathing down their necks in Scotland and take seats off them. | |
McDonnell said Labour would keep the issue of when to table a motion of no confidence under review, and “it will be a fine judgment each day.” | |
Labour’s Debbie Abrahams says all trust in the government has broken down. | |
Labour’s Karen Buck asks why MPs should believe him about there being a vote before 21 January when the government did not keep its word on the vote this week. | |
Walker says the government wants to abide by the spirit and the letter of the law. | |
Labour’s Andrew Slaughter asks why the vote cannot be held before the Christmas recess. | |
Walker says he would like it to be held before 21 January. | |
Labour’s Stephen Doughty says the problem for Walker is that MPs don’t believe anything the government says anymore. He also asks if any EU leaders were told the vote was being pulled in advance, but Walker does not respond to that. | |
Doughty’s question seems to have been inspired by this BuzzFeed story, saying “top European Union officials were told by May on Sunday that she intended to postpone the parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal, some 24 hours before she informed all her cabinet ministers.” | |
Labour’s Vernon Coaker asks for an assurance that there are “absolutely no circumstances” in which MPs will be denied a vote on the deal. He says there is very little trust in the government. | Labour’s Vernon Coaker asks for an assurance that there are “absolutely no circumstances” in which MPs will be denied a vote on the deal. He says there is very little trust in the government. |
Walker says he is happy to give that assurance. There will be a vote, he says. | Walker says he is happy to give that assurance. There will be a vote, he says. |
Labour’s Lisa Nandy asks for an assurance that the government will explore every option, including extending article 50, rather than allowing a no deal Brexit. | Labour’s Lisa Nandy asks for an assurance that the government will explore every option, including extending article 50, rather than allowing a no deal Brexit. |
Walker says Theresa May is trying to get a good deal through parliament. | Walker says Theresa May is trying to get a good deal through parliament. |