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Boris Johnson to back May's Brexit deal after resignation pledge - live news Brexit: May suffers fresh setback as DUP says it will vote against deal for third time - live news
(32 minutes later)
MPs have backed the statutory instrument changing Brexit date in the EU Withdrawal Act by 441 votes to 105 - a majority of 336.
Alastair Campbell, the former communications chief for Tony Blair and a People’s Vote campaigner, is wondering if Jacob Rees-Mogg will perform a fresh U-turn and revert to opposing the deal.
The @duponline do like to take things to the wire but they are looking pretty MIND MADE UP to me. Assume @Jacob_Rees_Mogg and @BorisJohnson will now have to rediscover the principles they had when they said they would only switch behind May if the DUP moved
This is what Rees-Mogg told LBC recently.
So if the DUP felt the United Kingdom were being divided up in the deal, then that would mean it were impossible to vote for the deal under any circumstances.
MPs are now voting on the statutory instrument changing the date of Brexit in the EU Withdrawal Act.
Turning back to Labour for a moment, these are from my colleague Heather Stewart.
Hearing at least two shadow cabinet rebels on tonight's indicative votes - and some junior frontbench resignations, including Grimsby MP Melanie Onn.
Hearing three shadow ministers - @IanLaveryMP, @GwynneMP and @jon_trickett - rebelled against the Labour whip and abstained on Margaret Beckett's referendum motion tonight.
Sky’s Beth Rigby had the some thought as I did when she read the DUP statement.
It’s still a No from the DUP but could they abstain? pic.twitter.com/bBlStC7Is5
It provoked this response from the DUP’s deputy leader, Nigel Dodds.
The DUP do not abstain on the Union. https://t.co/l4oSPj75V2
The DUP will definitely be voting against May’s deal, not abstaining, a source confirms.
And here is the full version of the DUP statement.
The DUP and the government have had good discussions in recent days and some progress on domestic legislation has been made. All concerned recognise the need to ensure that as we leave the European Union the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom is maintained.
However, given the fact that the necessary changes we seek to the backstop have not been secured between the government and the European Union, and the remaining and ongoing strategic risk that Northern Ireland would be trapped in backstop arrangements at the end of the implementation period, we will not be supporting the government if they table a fresh meaningful vote.
The backstop, if operational, has the potential to create an internal trade border within the United Kingdom and would cut us off from our main internal market, being Great Britain.
We want to secure the United Kingdom’s departure from, and our future relationship with, the European Union on terms that accord with our key objectives to ensure the integrity of the United Kingdom.
In our view the current withdrawal agreement does not do so and the backstop, which we warned this government against from its first inception, poses an unacceptable threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom and will inevitably limit the United Kingdom’s ability to negotiate on the type of future relationship with the EU.
The DUP statement does not say whether the party will abstain, or vote against the deal, but the reference to the backstop being “an unacceptable threat” to the union implies the latter.
Here is the DUP statement.
LATEST⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Y91C4aA09Q
Arlene Foster, the DUP leader, has said her party cannot support Theresa May’s deal.
BREAK: DUP leader Arlene Foster tells @SkyNews her party “regrets” that it is unable to support the Withdrawal Agreement while it “poses a threat to the integrity of the UK.” #Brexit pic.twitter.com/Cb2zMP2iQ7
Our coverage of the indicative votes debate was not as thorough as it would have been had it not been overshadowed by Theresa May’s announcement about resigning before the next phase of the Brexit talks get underway.Our coverage of the indicative votes debate was not as thorough as it would have been had it not been overshadowed by Theresa May’s announcement about resigning before the next phase of the Brexit talks get underway.
But if you’re interested, the full transcript is now on the Hansard website.But if you’re interested, the full transcript is now on the Hansard website.
In the Commons the debate on the EU Withdrawal Act statutory instrument is still going on. The Brexiter Sir Bernard Jenkin says tonight will be remembered as the moment when the House of Commons turned against Brexit, and began to ignore the mandate given to MPs to implement the referendum result.In the Commons the debate on the EU Withdrawal Act statutory instrument is still going on. The Brexiter Sir Bernard Jenkin says tonight will be remembered as the moment when the House of Commons turned against Brexit, and began to ignore the mandate given to MPs to implement the referendum result.
The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg has more on Tory Brexiters who are switching towards backing the PM’s deal.The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg has more on Tory Brexiters who are switching towards backing the PM’s deal.
Whittingdale now on board for the deal as well -but Number 10 has a long way to go to be sure they'll get enough switchers to be able to be sure of getting deal over the lineWhittingdale now on board for the deal as well -but Number 10 has a long way to go to be sure they'll get enough switchers to be able to be sure of getting deal over the line
25 Tory resisters have now definitely changed their minds and will back the deal25 Tory resisters have now definitely changed their minds and will back the deal
In the Commons MPs are now debating the statutory instrument changing the date of Brexit as set out in the EU Withdrawal Act. Opening the debate, Robin Walker, a Brexit minister, said the agreement with the EU at the summit last week meant the date of Brexit in international law had already been moved – to 22 May if the withdrawal agreement passes this week, or to 12 April otherwise. But the date also needs to be changed in the EU Withdrawal Act, which repeals the European Communities Act 1972. Walker said if the EU Withdrawal Act were not amended, there would be legal confusion.In the Commons MPs are now debating the statutory instrument changing the date of Brexit as set out in the EU Withdrawal Act. Opening the debate, Robin Walker, a Brexit minister, said the agreement with the EU at the summit last week meant the date of Brexit in international law had already been moved – to 22 May if the withdrawal agreement passes this week, or to 12 April otherwise. But the date also needs to be changed in the EU Withdrawal Act, which repeals the European Communities Act 1972. Walker said if the EU Withdrawal Act were not amended, there would be legal confusion.
The statutory instrument needs to be passed by both the Commons and the Lords. In the Lords peers passed it earlier today, without a division, but some Brexiter peers did complain about the need for a delay.The statutory instrument needs to be passed by both the Commons and the Lords. In the Lords peers passed it earlier today, without a division, but some Brexiter peers did complain about the need for a delay.
The former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Forsyth said:The former Conservative cabinet minister Lord Forsyth said:
This is not a very pleasant place we find ourselves in and it has come about because there has been a conspiracy by remainers. There has been a conspiracy by members of both houses who have sought from the beginning to frustrate what 17.4 million people voted for.This is not a very pleasant place we find ourselves in and it has come about because there has been a conspiracy by remainers. There has been a conspiracy by members of both houses who have sought from the beginning to frustrate what 17.4 million people voted for.
The Conservative MP Tom Pursglove is another Brexiter who has been persuaded to back Theresa May’s deal after previously voting against it, the Sun’s Matt Dathan reports.The Conservative MP Tom Pursglove is another Brexiter who has been persuaded to back Theresa May’s deal after previously voting against it, the Sun’s Matt Dathan reports.
Tory MP Tom Pursglove is another switcher tonight. He told the ERG tonight he's now backing the dealTory MP Tom Pursglove is another switcher tonight. He told the ERG tonight he's now backing the deal
An ERG source has sent out some lines from the speech that Steve Baker, the ERG deputy chairman, gave at the ERG meeting this evening. It turns out he really did talk about bulldozing parliament. (See 7.43pm.) Baker said:An ERG source has sent out some lines from the speech that Steve Baker, the ERG deputy chairman, gave at the ERG meeting this evening. It turns out he really did talk about bulldozing parliament. (See 7.43pm.) Baker said:
I’m consumed with a ferocious rage after that pantomime [May in the ‘22] ...I’m consumed with a ferocious rage after that pantomime [May in the ‘22] ...
What is our liberty for if not to govern ourselves?What is our liberty for if not to govern ourselves?
Like all of you I have wrestled with my conscience about what to do.Like all of you I have wrestled with my conscience about what to do.
I could tear this place down and bulldoze it into the river.I could tear this place down and bulldoze it into the river.
These fools and knaves and cowards are voting on things they don’t even understand.These fools and knaves and cowards are voting on things they don’t even understand.
We’ve been put in this place by people whose addiction to power without responsibility has led them to put the choice of no Brexit or this deal.We’ve been put in this place by people whose addiction to power without responsibility has led them to put the choice of no Brexit or this deal.
I may yet resign the whip rather than be part of this.I may yet resign the whip rather than be part of this.
The source said that Baker received an enormous standing ovation at the end of the speech and that he was hugged by Jacob Rees-Mogg and others afterwards. “We are not a hugging group,” the source said.The source said that Baker received an enormous standing ovation at the end of the speech and that he was hugged by Jacob Rees-Mogg and others afterwards. “We are not a hugging group,” the source said.
He also said he thought there was “no way” that enough ERG members were going to switch for Theresa May’s deal to pass.He also said he thought there was “no way” that enough ERG members were going to switch for Theresa May’s deal to pass.
There was a time when the Brexiters wanted to restore the constitutional supremacy of parliament. Now, according to Bloomberg’s Robert Hutton, some of them have other plans for the place.There was a time when the Brexiters wanted to restore the constitutional supremacy of parliament. Now, according to Bloomberg’s Robert Hutton, some of them have other plans for the place.
Steve Baker is NOT, repeat NOT, voting for May's deal. But he DOES want to bulldoze Parliament into the Thames. https://t.co/B2i2hS65Xb via @businessSteve Baker is NOT, repeat NOT, voting for May's deal. But he DOES want to bulldoze Parliament into the Thames. https://t.co/B2i2hS65Xb via @business
The Tory Brexiter Sheryll Murray voted against Theresa May’s deal earlier this month. According to the BBC’s Martyn Oates, she has now been persuaded to back it.
BREAKING: ERG rebel @sheryllmurray says @theresa_may has now "done enough" to win her support if the PM's Brexit deal is brought back to the Commons for Meaningful Vote 3 on Friday.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the chair of the European Research Group, has just told Sky News that he thinks the chances of Theresa May’s deal being passed are now “much higher than they were”.
Here is a column from my colleague Polly Toynbee on Theresa May’s decision to announce that she will resign before the next phase of the Brexit talks.
Farewell to the worst prime minister bar none – until the next one | Polly Toynbee
And this is how it starts.
Theresa May will leave office in an “orderly handover” whenever an EU withdrawal deal is done. No one is weeping. The oddity is: we may yet come to miss her, though she has been the worst prime minister of our political lifetimes – bar none. Yet there was one great good purpose in her premiership: by occupying the space, however vacuously, she kept out the barbarian hordes of Brexiteers barging one another out of the way to seize her throne.
Now she has surrendered that one useful role, leaving the country to the untender mercies of those competing in Europhobia for the votes of some 120,000 dwindling Tory party members. To use her deathless phrase, nothing will be changed by her departure. Parliament will be as gridlocked as ever, the combat deadlier with an avowed Brextremist at the helm.
According to my colleague Dan Sabbagh, talks of Steve Baker being open to backing Theresa May’s deal (see 7.10pm) sound premature.
Boris switched to back the deal at ERG but a source adds "No way that deal is getting out the room". Baker spoke against the deal, received a standing ovation, and was hugged by colleagues. Early estimates 30 still against the deal
More from the European Research Group, the Tory MPs pushing for a harder Brexit who have been meeting following the PM’s statement.
From the FT’s Laura Hughes
NEW: Tory MP says IDS just told ERG he is backing the deal.
From the Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole
Rumour from ERGer: “Baker is in play”
Steve Baker, the deputy chairman of the ERG, has been one of its fiercest critics of May’s deal. This is what he said in a Telegraph article (paywall) last week.
I understand my Conservative colleagues want to say they have delivered Brexit for fear of voter backlash and I understand the nation is crying out for progress, but this deal would backfire terribly by the next election.
Voting for this deal is not pragmatism. It is the reverse. It would be an understandable but counterproductive surrender for immediate respite ...
If we vote for this deal, we will have locked ourselves in a prison with no voice and no exit. We will escape only with the permission of those whose authority we rejected. The PM won’t resign if the agreement goes through. She will stay and drag us miserably into deeper political disaster.
In the Commons the Brexit indicative votes debate is over. MPs are now voting.
Unusually, they are voting on paper. They have got half an hour to fill in a ballot paper looking like this.
Breaking: first images of tonight's #indicativevotes papers ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XVTB0jJQKm
But MPs are still using the division lobbies. They are expected to go there to hand over their ballot papers. To even things out, John Bercow, the Speaker, said MPs with surnames beginning with the letters A to K should use the aye lobby, and everyone else the no lobby.
Boris Johnson, the Brexiter former foreign secretary, has told the Tory European Research Group, that he will now vote for Theresa May’s deal, HuffPost’s Arj Singh reports.
Boris Johnson backs May's Brexit deal despite once calling it a suicide vest https://t.co/3mMixfUgET
Johnson has been signalling that he is ready to drop his opposition to the deal for some days now, but only last night he said in a speech: “If we vote for the PM’s lamentable withdrawal agreement we are skewered.” (See 9.33am.)
And here is Nicola Sturgeon, the Scotland first minister, on Theresa May’s announcement.
If Brexit ends up being forced through on the basis of a deal no one supports - indeed a deal so bad that the PM has to promise to resign to get it through - it will make an already bad project even worse.
And this is from my colleague Dan Sabbagh.
Shailesh Vara emerges from ERG meeting to say that most people present, including him, were coming round to supporting May's "bad deal" as the alternatives were worse. Meeting still going on.
This is from my colleague Patrick Wintour.
As usual, he is right ...
A consequence of May's likely resignation is that the unresolved question of Britain's future relations with Europe, to be negotiated in phase 2 of talks, will largely be decided on hustings in a Tory Party leadership contest. Fewer than 120,000 deciding on behalf of 46m.