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Brexit: MPs debate cross-party move to allow them to pass bill blocking no-deal – live news Brexit: MPs voting on cross-party move to allow them to pass bill blocking no-deal – live news
(32 minutes later)
From Tony Grew’s @PARLYapp
At least five Tory MPs have gone into the aye lobby despite last minute efforts by ministers to dissuade them
Nick Brown, the Labour chief whip, intervenes to propose that the vote be held now.
MPs are voting.
Here, for reference, is the text of the motion.
Business of the House Motion (United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union)
(1) That, on Tuesday 25 June –
(a) standing order no. 14(1) (which provides that government business shall have precedence at every sitting save as provided in that order) shall not apply;
(b) precedence shall be given to a motion relating to the business of the house in connection with matters relating to the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union;
(c) if more than one motion relating to the business of the house is tabled, the Speaker shall decide which motion shall have precedence;
(d) the Speaker shall interrupt proceedings on any business having precedence before the business of the house motion at 1.00 pm and call a member to move that motion;
(e) debate on that motion may continue until 2.00 pm at which time the Speaker shall put the questions necessary to dispose of proceedings on that motion including the questions on amendments selected by the Speaker which may then be moved;
(f) any proceedings interrupted or superseded by this order may be resumed or (as the case may be) entered upon and proceeded with after the moment of interruption.
Labour’s Angela Eagle is speaking now. She says MPs have to stop a new PM acting like a “latter-day Charles I” and suspending parliament to facilitate no-deal.
Dominic Grieve, the Conservative former attorney general and a leading pro-European in his party, says Stephen Barclay’s speech was full of “obfuscatory facts” obscuring the reality, which is that if this motion does not pass, a new prime minister will be able to stop MPs voting to block no-deal before 31 October.
He says, if the motion were to fail, then the only option would be to bring down the government with a vote of no confidence. But he says he would not hesitate to do so to stop a no-deal Brexit. He would have to resign the whip, he says.
He says he considers himself a loyal Conservative. But he is dismayed that some of his colleagues think no-deal Brexit would be acceptable. It would not be, he says. He says he is not willing to face the prospect of having to tell his grandchildren that, faced with the prospect of no deal, he just gave up.
Gareth Snell, one of the more pro-Brexit MPs on the Labour benches, is speaking in the debate now. He says he regrets not voting for the deal in the last Commons vote in March. If someone can bring a deal to the house, he will vote for it, he says.
He says if Labour MPs do not vote for a deal they will be responsible for a no-deal Brexit by default.
The fact is there is a deal. It is not a great deal. But it is what we are presented with ... We can only make decisions on what we are presented with.
Cash says it would be wrong for MPs to pass legislation to block a no-deal Brexit because, by doing so, they would be abrogating the decision taken when they said the public at large should determine whether or not the UK should remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum.
Sir Bill Cash, the Tory Brexiter, is speaking in the debate now. He says this is “an open door” motion. It opens the door for any bill on Tuesday 25 June.
He says this is an attempt by Labour, not just to disrupt the Tory leadership contest, but to reverse Brexit.
Nick Boles, the former Conservative who now sits as an independent, says a no-deal Brexit would lead to the decimation of lamb imports and the destruction of jobs in manufacturing. Those should be reasons enough to back the motion, he says.Nick Boles, the former Conservative who now sits as an independent, says a no-deal Brexit would lead to the decimation of lamb imports and the destruction of jobs in manufacturing. Those should be reasons enough to back the motion, he says.
In the debate, Sir Oliver Letwin, the Tory former cabinet minister who is backing the cross-party motion, says a government would not have to prorogue parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit. A new prime minister could avoid MPs amending any legislation to block a no-deal departure just by not scheduling any votes.In the debate, Sir Oliver Letwin, the Tory former cabinet minister who is backing the cross-party motion, says a government would not have to prorogue parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit. A new prime minister could avoid MPs amending any legislation to block a no-deal departure just by not scheduling any votes.
Letwin says people think 31 October is a long time away. But if MPs do not establish a process now to give themselves a mechanism to block a no-deal Brexit, there will not be time later. MPs are away in August, and then the Commons will only sit for two weeks in September, and for two weeks in October.Letwin says people think 31 October is a long time away. But if MPs do not establish a process now to give themselves a mechanism to block a no-deal Brexit, there will not be time later. MPs are away in August, and then the Commons will only sit for two weeks in September, and for two weeks in October.
If we do not take the fuse out now, we will not be able to disassemble the bomb in either September or October.If we do not take the fuse out now, we will not be able to disassemble the bomb in either September or October.
He says he has taken the “very uncomfortable” step of signing a motion tabled by Jeremy Corbyn, whose policies he profoundly disagrees with, because he does not want a no-deal Brexit on his conscience.He says he has taken the “very uncomfortable” step of signing a motion tabled by Jeremy Corbyn, whose policies he profoundly disagrees with, because he does not want a no-deal Brexit on his conscience.
Sajid Javid, the home secretary, was due to be holding his leadership launch at 3.30pm.Sajid Javid, the home secretary, was due to be holding his leadership launch at 3.30pm.
But that has been held up because the no-deal debate is still running. Javid has to be in the Commons to vote, and the division is not due until 4pm, or later.But that has been held up because the no-deal debate is still running. Javid has to be in the Commons to vote, and the division is not due until 4pm, or later.
Back in the Commons, Ken Clarke, the Tory pro-European, is speaking now. He says that if the Conservatives were in opposition, they would be supporting this motion. When David Cameron was in opposition, he favoured the idea of control of Commons business being handed over to a business committee, he says.Back in the Commons, Ken Clarke, the Tory pro-European, is speaking now. He says that if the Conservatives were in opposition, they would be supporting this motion. When David Cameron was in opposition, he favoured the idea of control of Commons business being handed over to a business committee, he says.
Turning back to the Tory leadership, Boris Johnson was keen to present himself earlier as the candidate best able to unite the Conservative party. (See 11.12am, 12.26pm and 3.08pm.)Turning back to the Tory leadership, Boris Johnson was keen to present himself earlier as the candidate best able to unite the Conservative party. (See 11.12am, 12.26pm and 3.08pm.)
But this claim has been undermined by new evidence published by the academic Tim Bale, a specialist in party membership, showing Conservative members who are backing Johnson for the leadership are more rightwing than those supporting Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt, and more rightwing than the average for a Tory member.But this claim has been undermined by new evidence published by the academic Tim Bale, a specialist in party membership, showing Conservative members who are backing Johnson for the leadership are more rightwing than those supporting Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt, and more rightwing than the average for a Tory member.
In an article for the Conversation, Bale says his analysis, based on survey data from YouGov, also shows Johnson supporters are significantly more in favour of a no-deal Brexit than the average for Conservative members (quite a feat – overall 66% of members are in favour of no-deal; among Johnson supporters, this rises to 85%). Johnson supporters are also more likely to want less emphasis on climate change than Tory members on average.In an article for the Conversation, Bale says his analysis, based on survey data from YouGov, also shows Johnson supporters are significantly more in favour of a no-deal Brexit than the average for Conservative members (quite a feat – overall 66% of members are in favour of no-deal; among Johnson supporters, this rises to 85%). Johnson supporters are also more likely to want less emphasis on climate change than Tory members on average.
Bale says Johnson’s backers are also more likely to have joined the party after the 2016 referendum. Bale concludes:Bale says Johnson’s backers are also more likely to have joined the party after the 2016 referendum. Bale concludes:
We can only guess as to how many of Johnson’s supporters were former Ukip sympathisers switching to the Tories, but it certainly seems possible. And, who knows, given that one doesn’t have to renounce one’s membership of the Conservative party to become a registered supporter of the Brexit party, perhaps some of them hold a candle for Nigel Farage as well as Johnson.We can only guess as to how many of Johnson’s supporters were former Ukip sympathisers switching to the Tories, but it certainly seems possible. And, who knows, given that one doesn’t have to renounce one’s membership of the Conservative party to become a registered supporter of the Brexit party, perhaps some of them hold a candle for Nigel Farage as well as Johnson.
Whether the country will be as pleased as they will be if Johnson does end up making it all the way to No 10, however, remains to be seen.Whether the country will be as pleased as they will be if Johnson does end up making it all the way to No 10, however, remains to be seen.
Leave.EU, the pro-Brexit group co-founded by Arron Banks, has been encouraging Brexiters, like former Ukip supporters, to join the Conservative party to influence its decisions. It called the campaign Blue Wave. It is hard to know what effect this has had, but the Bale research suggests Brexiter entryism is having some impact.Leave.EU, the pro-Brexit group co-founded by Arron Banks, has been encouraging Brexiters, like former Ukip supporters, to join the Conservative party to influence its decisions. It called the campaign Blue Wave. It is hard to know what effect this has had, but the Bale research suggests Brexiter entryism is having some impact.
The SNP’s Peter Grant is speaking now in the debate. He says that in other parliaments, such as Holyrood, parliament decides on its own business, not the executive. That seems to work perfectly well, he says.The SNP’s Peter Grant is speaking now in the debate. He says that in other parliaments, such as Holyrood, parliament decides on its own business, not the executive. That seems to work perfectly well, he says.
Anna Soubry raises a point of order. She says this debate was meant to be lasting an hour, but there are only 20 minutes left. Will other MPs get to speak?Anna Soubry raises a point of order. She says this debate was meant to be lasting an hour, but there are only 20 minutes left. Will other MPs get to speak?
John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, says that although the debate was listed for an hour, it could run until 8.33pm. He does not expect it to run for that long, he says. But he expects several other MPs to speak.John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, says that although the debate was listed for an hour, it could run until 8.33pm. He does not expect it to run for that long, he says. But he expects several other MPs to speak.
Back in the debate, the Change UK MP Anna Soubry asks Barclay if the government thinks it would be acceptable for a prime minister to prorogue parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit.Back in the debate, the Change UK MP Anna Soubry asks Barclay if the government thinks it would be acceptable for a prime minister to prorogue parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit.
Barclay says this prime minister has been clear about her opposition to that. Proroguing parliament would involve the Queen (she prorogues parliament, on the advice of her government), and it would be wrong to involve her in an issue such as this, Barclay says.Barclay says this prime minister has been clear about her opposition to that. Proroguing parliament would involve the Queen (she prorogues parliament, on the advice of her government), and it would be wrong to involve her in an issue such as this, Barclay says.
Turning back to the Tory leadership, this is the tweet Boris Johnson has posted about his launch today.Turning back to the Tory leadership, this is the tweet Boris Johnson has posted about his launch today.
Today I set out my vision for sensible, pragmatic, One Nation Conservatism. We must deliver Brexit by Oct 31st, restore faith in our democracy, and support the wealth creators that fund our vital public services. Together, we will succeed > https://t.co/tGRXu94CmT pic.twitter.com/x9HfKOP0QuToday I set out my vision for sensible, pragmatic, One Nation Conservatism. We must deliver Brexit by Oct 31st, restore faith in our democracy, and support the wealth creators that fund our vital public services. Together, we will succeed > https://t.co/tGRXu94CmT pic.twitter.com/x9HfKOP0Qu
Johnson is trying here to show he has support from both sides of the party. One picture features backers from the centrist/remain wing (Chloe Smith, James Brokenshire and Grant Shapps) and another features Brexiter rightwingers from a different faction (Iain Duncan Smith, Priti Patel and Nadine Dorries).Johnson is trying here to show he has support from both sides of the party. One picture features backers from the centrist/remain wing (Chloe Smith, James Brokenshire and Grant Shapps) and another features Brexiter rightwingers from a different faction (Iain Duncan Smith, Priti Patel and Nadine Dorries).
In the debate, Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, is now speaking for the government.In the debate, Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, is now speaking for the government.
He says Labour frequently objects to the concept of a “blind Brexit”. But this is a blind motion. It does not say what would happen on Tuesday 25 June, the day that would be set aside for a bill to be passed trying to block a no-deal Brexit.He says Labour frequently objects to the concept of a “blind Brexit”. But this is a blind motion. It does not say what would happen on Tuesday 25 June, the day that would be set aside for a bill to be passed trying to block a no-deal Brexit.
UPDATE: Here is a clip.UPDATE: Here is a clip.
Brexit Secretary @SteveBarclay "...he [Sir Keir Starmer[ keeps telling me how much he doesn't like a blind Brexit, and yet what we have before the House is in essence, a blind motion..." pic.twitter.com/R5vmcVciA6Brexit Secretary @SteveBarclay "...he [Sir Keir Starmer[ keeps telling me how much he doesn't like a blind Brexit, and yet what we have before the House is in essence, a blind motion..." pic.twitter.com/R5vmcVciA6
John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, interrupts the debate to announce the results of an election for the chair of the Northern Ireland affairs committee. The Conservative Simon Hoare has been elected. He replaces Andrew Murrison, who has recently been made a minister.John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, interrupts the debate to announce the results of an election for the chair of the Northern Ireland affairs committee. The Conservative Simon Hoare has been elected. He replaces Andrew Murrison, who has recently been made a minister.