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Brexit: Jeremy Corbyn opens debate criticising government for postponing key vote – Politics live Brexit: Corbyn says he will table no-confidence motion 'at the appropriate time' – 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. Ivan Lewis, the independent MP, says ministers do not even know themselves whether they are telling the truth, because they are not being told the truth by the prime ministers.
This means the emergency Brexit debate will not start for another 15 minutes. Labour’s Angela Eagle says May has “shredded her credibility”. MPs find it impossible to believe what she says, Eagle says.
This is from my colleague Heather Stewart. Lidington says he does not accept that.
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. Lidington says MPs expressed concerns about the backstop. The PM listened, she says. And that is why she has gone back to Europe to get fresh assurances.
Jeremy Corbyn is about to open the emergency debate on Brexit and “the government’s management of the meaningful vote”. David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, and Theresa May’s de facto deputy, is responding for the government.
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. He says over the last two months May has spent 22 hours at the despatch box at the Commons answering questions about Brexit. She has made six oral statements, as well as opening the debate, he says.
SO24 motions are meant to be relatively neutral, but this one does include criticism of the government. It says: Corbyn says May must put her deal to a vote when she returns from Brussels.
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. There must be no more delays and no more tricks. Parliament must take control, he says.
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: Corbyn says last night he wrote to Theresa May, with four other opposition leaders (from the SNP, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and the Greens0, setting out key questions on Brexit.
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. Here is an extract from the letter.
He went on to question the motives of the SNP, saying: Our constitution works on the basis that the government control the business of the House of Commons because they have a majority in the House. The Government appear to be avoiding a vote on a change to the Business because they fear they cannot command a majority.
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. Therefore, can you confirm:
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.” That you will put to the House the proposal to defer the debate on your deal and the meaningful vote?
Labour’s Debbie Abrahams says all trust in the government has broken down. That you confirm the deal before the House of Commons is dead and that the revised proposal will be substantially different from today?
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. That this House will be given the opportunity to debate the government’s negotiating objectives?
Walker says the government wants to abide by the spirit and the letter of the law. That the requirement for the government to make a statement under Section 13 of the EU Withdrawal Act, to this House by 21 January on ‘no deal’ still applies following your decision to defer the vote?
Labour’s Andrew Slaughter asks why the vote cannot be held before the Christmas recess. Can the secretary of state confirm this is not the case?
Walker says he would like it to be held before 21 January. The length of time parliament will have to scrutinise any revised deal and the planned schedule in parliament including the date for any meaningful vote?
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. Corbyn says May is only seeking reassurances on her trip to Europe. She is only seeking warm words, and that’s when she can get out of the car. (See 12.21pm.)
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.” Corbyn says at least a dozen ministers were sent out yesterday morning saying that there would be a vote, before they were told there would not be a vote.
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. The SNP’s Pete Wishart asks Corbyn to table a motion of no confidence in the government.
Walker says he is happy to give that assurance. There will be a vote, he says. Corbyn says he will do the appropriate thing “at the appropriate time”.
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 Tanmanjeet Dhesi asks Corbyn about the BuzzFeed report saying EU officials were told the vote would be pulled 24 hours before cabinet minsters were told.
Walker says Theresa May is trying to get a good deal through parliament. Corbyn says that is very disturbing. MPs should be told first, he says.
Labour’s Stephen Doughty says he has also been told EU officials were told first. And he says he has been told that the addendum that May is seeking was actually drafted weeks ago.
Jeremy Corbyn is opening the emergency debate now.
He says he has never witnessed such an “abject mess” in all his time as an MP.
He says Theresa May “demeaned her office” yesterday by running away from the vote.
There is nothing wrong with standing by your principles. But May did not even do that, he says.
He says the majority of MPs know “this deal is dead”. They want to work on a realistic solution to Brexit.
Catriona Matheson, the SNP’s head of press at Westminster, says John McDonnell is talking nonsense about why the SNP want a no confidence vote now. (See 1.42pm.)
This is desperate nonsense from John McDonnell. @theSNP are currently polling 21 points ahead of Labour, who are currently THIRD in Scotland in latest polling (YouGov poll https://t.co/cTljv91VHz). https://t.co/E9MsoSaO2p