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/2019/jan/15/brexit-vote-parliament-latest-news-may-corbyn-gove-tells-tories-they-can-improve-outcome-if-mays-deal-passed-politics-live

The article has changed 30 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 13 Version 14
Brexit vote: Juncker clears diary for possible emergency talks with May in Brussels – Politics live Brexit vote: May faces historic defeat as deal's fate looms – Politics live
(35 minutes later)
Tim Farron, the former Lib Dem leader, says the only democratic, peaceful and consensual way through this “appalling mess” is to hold another referendum.
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown tells MPs that, as a Brexiter, he will be voting for the deal. He is worried about Brexit being halted if Theresa May’s deal is defeated, he says. But in return for voting for the deal, he wants the government to come back with a better deal.
This is from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.
Incidentally, one very well plugged in source said this afternoon what no one has been really considering publicly in the (very foolish) numbers game, is number of abstentions which could be very large, and could make all the difference when it comes to the finally tally
In the Commons debate, Crispin Blunt, a Tory Brexiter, is speaking now. He quotes from a Telegraph article (paywall) written by an anonymous civil servant saying the government is much better prepared for a no-deal Brexit than it admits. The civil servant said:
An enormous effort by thousands of hardworking civil servants has been made to ensure that if we leave the EU without a deal, “crashing out” over a “cliff-edge” is simply not going to be an option, and it is purely a political decision not to make this clear to the public and nervous backbench MPs.
This is from the Times’ Sam Coates.
Key cabinet figures reach out after vote pic.twitter.com/fUMMdjdRCg
Here are two of the clearer and more comprehensible “what happens next” graphics available.
This one’s from the BBC.
Here’s our guide to what happens if Theresa May's Brexit deal is rejected tonight. The government will have just three parliamentary working days to come back with its next steps. https://t.co/E2AVPNU0FZ pic.twitter.com/MkZInEUSDn
And this one’s from Bloomberg.
If the #BrexitVote doesn't pass, here are the likely options: - May could try to renegotiate- She could put the deal back to Parliament and hope for a different answer- Parliament could force a compromise Brexit - Second referendum - General election- Crash out of the EU pic.twitter.com/76fV8AuYoY
This is from my colleague Lisa O’Carroll.
NEW: While Westminster debate continues Irish cabinet has today agreed to put forward one omnibus bill to speed no deal contingencies laws through. The 17 part bill will address everything from health to tax and justice. See screen grab pic.twitter.com/z5EUj6CFel
The Conservative MP John Baron is speaking now, moving his amendment. (See 2.47pm.) He says that he accepts the need for compromise, but that he finds the backstop unacceptable.
He says if the EU knows it cannot keep the UK in the backstop, it is more likely to offer the UK a good trade deal. If his amendment is not passed, he will vote against the government, he says.
The SNP’s Hannah Bardell says she studied alongside Erasmus students at university. She says what is happening to EU students under Brexit is a disgrace.The SNP’s Hannah Bardell says she studied alongside Erasmus students at university. She says what is happening to EU students under Brexit is a disgrace.
Back in the debate, the Conservative MP Richard Bacon has just told MPs that he will vote against Theresa May’s deal because it does not deliver Brexit.Back in the debate, the Conservative MP Richard Bacon has just told MPs that he will vote against Theresa May’s deal because it does not deliver Brexit.
By 5pm, thousands had gathered in Parliament Square in front of a stage and two huge video screens for the live broadcast of the debate and vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.By 5pm, thousands had gathered in Parliament Square in front of a stage and two huge video screens for the live broadcast of the debate and vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
No-deal supporters were nowhere to be seen as Caroline Lucas made the first speech.No-deal supporters were nowhere to be seen as Caroline Lucas made the first speech.
She said:She said:
We’ve got a really clear message for the prime minister and I hope she’s listening, because our message is that we will not be blackmailed into accepting her dangerous blindfold Brexit deal.We’ve got a really clear message for the prime minister and I hope she’s listening, because our message is that we will not be blackmailed into accepting her dangerous blindfold Brexit deal.
Our message is we reject her vision of a mean-minded little Britain with our borders closed. Our message is that we are going to stand up in particular for our young people who voted overwhelmingly to remain and who believe our future is in Europe.Our message is we reject her vision of a mean-minded little Britain with our borders closed. Our message is that we are going to stand up in particular for our young people who voted overwhelmingly to remain and who believe our future is in Europe.
Across the road there are still far too many MPs who are playing political games, who are playing parlour games, and they are forgetting what’s at stake: people’s lives and people’s livelihoods.Across the road there are still far too many MPs who are playing political games, who are playing parlour games, and they are forgetting what’s at stake: people’s lives and people’s livelihoods.
One of the reasons we opposed Theresa May’s Brexit deal is because we know that every single deal will make this country poorer.One of the reasons we opposed Theresa May’s Brexit deal is because we know that every single deal will make this country poorer.
Hundreds of People’s Vote supporters are gathered outside Westminster listening to speeches from MPs. Caroline Lucas just spoke, Stephen Doughty up now. pic.twitter.com/BnArAPB6fcHundreds of People’s Vote supporters are gathered outside Westminster listening to speeches from MPs. Caroline Lucas just spoke, Stephen Doughty up now. pic.twitter.com/BnArAPB6fc
I have beefed up some of the earlier posts with direct quotes from the debate from the Press Association. But to get them to show up, you may need to refresh the page.I have beefed up some of the earlier posts with direct quotes from the debate from the Press Association. But to get them to show up, you may need to refresh the page.
The time limit on speeches is now down to three minutes. But the Tory Brexiter Julian Lewis needed only about 20 seconds. Asked to deliver his speech, he said because Brexit should mean Brexit, and because no deal was better than a bad deal, he would vote “no, no, no”.The time limit on speeches is now down to three minutes. But the Tory Brexiter Julian Lewis needed only about 20 seconds. Asked to deliver his speech, he said because Brexit should mean Brexit, and because no deal was better than a bad deal, he would vote “no, no, no”.
He was probably channelling Margaret Thatcher.He was probably channelling Margaret Thatcher.
UPDATE: Here is the Julian Lewis version.UPDATE: Here is the Julian Lewis version.
The shortest speech in the Commons today (and the whole debate?) from Tory MP Julian Lewis, lasting a whole 18 seconds.Spoiler alert: he won't be supporting the PM's deal... pic.twitter.com/5zdDEBwoqSThe shortest speech in the Commons today (and the whole debate?) from Tory MP Julian Lewis, lasting a whole 18 seconds.Spoiler alert: he won't be supporting the PM's deal... pic.twitter.com/5zdDEBwoqS
Nick Boles, the Conservative who has said he will do what it takes to stop a no-deal Brexit, has recorded another threat he has received.Nick Boles, the Conservative who has said he will do what it takes to stop a no-deal Brexit, has recorded another threat he has received.
Today someone called and promised to burn my house down. What ever next? The ducking stool?Today someone called and promised to burn my house down. What ever next? The ducking stool?
You can read the debate online here on the Hansard website. Transcripts go up about three hours after they have been delivered in the chamber. The whole of the Geoffrey Cox speech is now up, but nothing after that yet.
Sir Edward Leigh, a Tory Brexiter, is speaking in the debate. He explains what his amendment would do. (See 2.47pm.) He says he does not accept that it would be counter to international law. The government could agree the withdrawal agreement, subject to a letter of reservation, he says. He says he has tried to cooperate with the government, and says he was disappointed by the way Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, slapped him down. (See 1.46pm.)
Leigh says, if his amendment fails, he reserves the right to vote against the government. But he stresses that he does not want to be voting with people opposed to Brexit. He urges the government instead to back his plan. If it does, the Conservative party can unite behind that position, he says.
Frank Field, the former Labour MP who sits as an independent, tells MPs that he has changed his mind, and that he will be supporting the deal. Field, who voted leave, says he is worried that if this deal gets voted down, Brexit could be lost. But he says he still believes there is a need for a Dardanelles-type inquiry into how the Brexit process has been handled so badly.
Anna Soubry, the Conservative pro-European, says the Brexit deal is a terrible deal. And MPs should not be blackmailed into voting for it because of the threat of no deal as an alternative, she says.
I would not for one moment say to... any of the other people with whom I have such huge disagreements on this side, that anybody is being in any way undemocratic tonight in voting against this deal.
I know, although I don’t agree with many of their reasons, that they are voting because they feel it’s the right thing to do, they believe it’s in the national interest and that must be right, Mr Speaker.
It must also be wrong for anyone to vote in favour of this vote because they have in effect been blackmailed into thinking that the alternative is no deal - that is simply not the case.
Labour’s Lisa Nandy says it beggars belief that the government does not know what it wants. She proposes using a citizens’ assembly to establish a plan acceptable to the public.
Tom Brake, the Lib Dem Brexit spokesman, says a no-deal Brexit is unacceptable. The EU will not re-open negotiations, he says. So the only option is a people’s vote.
Owen Paterson, the Tory Brexiter, goes next. He starts by pointing out that it was the Lib Dems as a party who first demanded an in/out referendum on Europe, at the time of the Lisbon treaty.
(Paterson is right. The Lib Dems, like the Conservatives, has been in favour of a referendum on the Lisbon treaty. But when it looked as if the Labour government might actually lose a vote on a call for a referendum on the treaty, the then Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg changed policy and said there should be an in/out referendum on the EU instead. Clegg, a pro-European, managed through this ruse to sabotage the proposed Lisbon treaty referendum, but the Lib Dem support for an in/out referendum became a policy liability for the party.)
This is from Alex Wickham, who has been counting potential Tory rebels for BuzzFeed.
Down to 113 rebelsNeil Parish switches to support the dealhttps://t.co/vrKozHYrY6
Justine Greening, the Conservative former education secretary, says it has been obvious since last summer that Theresa May would lose this vote. She says she thinks Brexit will have to be delayed, and calls for the people to get a vote.
Turning away from the debate for a moment, the Vote Leave campaign group has lost its bid to bring a high court challenge against the Electoral Commission. As the Press Association reports, the group wanted to challenge the commission’s decision to publish a report in July last year, following an investigation into spending by leave-supporting groups during the EU referendum campaign. The report said Vote Leave broke electoral law. Lawyers for Vote Leave argued there had been “reputational damage” suffered by the group’s officials as a result of the report being issued. But, following a hearing today, Mr Justice Swift refused permission for a judicial review, saying the publication of the report was within the commission’s powers.