'Jeremy Hunt apologises after failing to vote with government on prorogation by mistake – as it happened' diff viewer (14/15)

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~~Jeremy Hunt apologises after failing to vote with government on prorogation by mistake - live news~~	Jeremy Hunt apologises after failing to vote with government on prorogation by mistake – as it happened
2019-07-18 16:28:10 UTC	2019-07-18 19:16:10 UTC (about 3 hours later)
MPs have easily passed a backbench amendment seeking to block any attempt by a future government to prorogue parliament to ensure a no-deal Brexit, in what is likely to be seen as a pre-emptive strike against Boris Johnson’s authority.	MPs have easily passed a backbench amendment seeking to block any attempt by a future government to prorogue parliament to ensure a no-deal Brexit, in what is likely to be seen as a pre-emptive strike against Boris Johnson’s authority.
A no-deal Brexit would plunge Britain into a recession that would shrink the economy by 2%, push unemployment above 5% and send house prices tumbling by around 10%, according to the government’s independent forecasting body.	A no-deal Brexit would plunge Britain into a recession that would shrink the economy by 2%, push unemployment above 5% and send house prices tumbling by around 10%, according to the government’s independent forecasting body.
Claims by Boris Johnson that regulations imposed by “Brussels bureaucrats” were damaging the trade in kippers have been debunked by the European commission, which said that the food safety obligations criticised by him were due to rules set by Britain.	Claims by Boris Johnson that regulations imposed by “Brussels bureaucrats” were damaging the trade in kippers have been debunked by the European commission, which said that the food safety obligations criticised by him were due to rules set by Britain.
Boris Johnson could be the UK’s last prime minister, Gordon Brown has warned, after the Conservative leadership frontrunner met Scottish MPs to reassure them of his desire to bolster the union.	Boris Johnson could be the UK’s last prime minister, Gordon Brown has warned, after the Conservative leadership frontrunner met Scottish MPs to reassure them of his desire to bolster the union.
Jeremy Corbyn faces a new front of internal dissent over his handling of antisemitism in the party, with Labour peers potentially set to hold a vote of no-confidence in him next week, it has emerged.	Jeremy Corbyn faces a new front of internal dissent over his handling of antisemitism in the party, with Labour peers potentially set to hold a vote of no-confidence in him next week, it has emerged.
Conservative former ministers and human rights groups have accused the government of failing to outlaw torture as it published fresh guidance on the treatment of detainees abroad and refused to launch a judge-led inquiry into post-9/11 rendition cases.	Conservative former ministers and human rights groups have accused the government of failing to outlaw torture as it published fresh guidance on the treatment of detainees abroad and refused to launch a judge-led inquiry into post-9/11 rendition cases.
Leading British politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan are among thousands of people who have signed a letter of support f the four US congresswomen of colour who were targeted by Donald Trump in a series of racist tweets this week.	Leading British politicians including Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan are among thousands of people who have signed a letter of support f the four US congresswomen of colour who were targeted by Donald Trump in a series of racist tweets this week.
The mayors of London, Greater Manchester and other English cities have written to the government urging faster implementation of “desperately needed” changes to gender recognition legislation.	The mayors of London, Greater Manchester and other English cities have written to the government urging faster implementation of “desperately needed” changes to gender recognition legislation.
Civil servants working for the Department for Exiting the European Union have been awarded nearly £1.3m in bonuses, new figures show.	Civil servants working for the Department for Exiting the European Union have been awarded nearly £1.3m in bonuses, new figures show.
That’s all from me for today.	That’s all from me for today.
Thanks for the comments.	Thanks for the comments.
Here is my colleague Rafael Behr on what today’s vote means.	Here is my colleague Rafael Behr on what today’s vote means.
This Commons vote shows how weak a Boris Johnson government would be \| Rafael Behr	This Commons vote shows how weak a Boris Johnson government would be \| Rafael Behr
And this is how his column starts.	And this is how his column starts.
It is a measure of how far British politics has passed through the looking glass that MPs feel compelled to put in law that prime ministers should govern with the consent of parliament. There was a time, not too long ago, when that sort of thing was understood as a convention underpinning democracy. The imminent arrival of Boris Johnson in Downing Street has made it prudent to get implicit constitutional principles down in writing.	It is a measure of how far British politics has passed through the looking glass that MPs feel compelled to put in law that prime ministers should govern with the consent of parliament. There was a time, not too long ago, when that sort of thing was understood as a convention underpinning democracy. The imminent arrival of Boris Johnson in Downing Street has made it prudent to get implicit constitutional principles down in writing.
Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has been explaining why he did not vote with the government against the Hilary Benn amendment intended to stop Boris Johnson proroguing parliament.	Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has been explaining why he did not vote with the government against the Hilary Benn amendment intended to stop Boris Johnson proroguing parliament.
The Conservative Party has always, at its core, had a fundamental belief in the importance of strong institutions – and in a representative democracy there can be no more vital institution than it’s Parliament. 1/2	The Conservative Party has always, at its core, had a fundamental belief in the importance of strong institutions – and in a representative democracy there can be no more vital institution than it’s Parliament. 1/2
It should not be controversial to believe that Parliament be allowed to sit, and have a say, during a key period in our country’s history. 2/2	It should not be controversial to believe that Parliament be allowed to sit, and have a say, during a key period in our country’s history. 2/2
In an interview with the BBC’s Newsnight Margot James, who resigned as a culture minister today so that she could vote against the government for the anti-prorogation amendment, said “quite a number” of ministers would leave the government if Boris Johnson becomes PM and join the campaign to block a no-deal Brexit. She said	In an interview with the BBC’s Newsnight Margot James, who resigned as a culture minister today so that she could vote against the government for the anti-prorogation amendment, said “quite a number” of ministers would leave the government if Boris Johnson becomes PM and join the campaign to block a no-deal Brexit. She said
Over the course of the last few months I’ve been increasingly uncomfortable about the way the rhetoric is developing on Brexit. My constituents voted to leave in Stourbridge by 70 percent, so I’ve honoured that commitment, voted for the prime minister’s deal three times, but when that didn’t get through parliament I became more and more worried that there is the potential to crash out with no-deal at the end of October. The fact that Boris Johnson - and he hasn’t won yet by the way but obviously he may - is not ruling out proroguing parliament, I felt that this time that rather than just abstain I would vote for the amendments that will make it more difficult ...	Over the course of the last few months I’ve been increasingly uncomfortable about the way the rhetoric is developing on Brexit. My constituents voted to leave in Stourbridge by 70 percent, so I’ve honoured that commitment, voted for the prime minister’s deal three times, but when that didn’t get through parliament I became more and more worried that there is the potential to crash out with no-deal at the end of October. The fact that Boris Johnson - and he hasn’t won yet by the way but obviously he may - is not ruling out proroguing parliament, I felt that this time that rather than just abstain I would vote for the amendments that will make it more difficult ...
I think a lot of people would be prepared to serve under Jeremy Hunt if he gets in. If we do end up with Boris as our prime minister, then I think quite a number of people who would have always been voting with the government will leave the government and will be doing everything they can with myself and others to make sure we leave with a deal, or we carry on negotiating or we look for another outcome.	I think a lot of people would be prepared to serve under Jeremy Hunt if he gets in. If we do end up with Boris as our prime minister, then I think quite a number of people who would have always been voting with the government will leave the government and will be doing everything they can with myself and others to make sure we leave with a deal, or we carry on negotiating or we look for another outcome.
You have to remember that democracy isn’t just about the majority wins and has everything its way – especially when the minority is as big as 48%, and also when a majority actually voted to remain in Scotland and Northern Ireland. So I think we have to treat the minority with more respect than proroguing parliament and clearing off without a deal – leaving us very exposed as an economy and a society and reliant on the United States at a very bad time.	You have to remember that democracy isn’t just about the majority wins and has everything its way – especially when the minority is as big as 48%, and also when a majority actually voted to remain in Scotland and Northern Ireland. So I think we have to treat the minority with more respect than proroguing parliament and clearing off without a deal – leaving us very exposed as an economy and a society and reliant on the United States at a very bad time.
As my colleagues Peter Walker and Jessica Elgot report in their story on the prorogation vote, the 17 Tory rebels included Keith Simpson, who was voting against his party for the first time in his long career as an MP. Simpson said:	As my colleagues Peter Walker and Jessica Elgot report in their story on the prorogation vote, the 17 Tory rebels included Keith Simpson, who was voting against his party for the first time in his long career as an MP. Simpson said:
This is the first time I have rebelled against my party in 22 years in parliament. This is a huge national issue, I said months ago to my local paper and my association that I was totally against no deal. So this is the first time I have rebelled but you can get a taste for it.	This is the first time I have rebelled against my party in 22 years in parliament. This is a huge national issue, I said months ago to my local paper and my association that I was totally against no deal. So this is the first time I have rebelled but you can get a taste for it.
The Tory leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt has apologised after revealing that he missed today’s vote by accident. He would have voted with the government, he says.	The Tory leadership candidate Jeremy Hunt has apologised after revealing that he missed today’s vote by accident. He would have voted with the government, he says.
I missed votes today because I thought I was slipped and it turns out I was not.Apologies to my colleagues & Whips https://t.co/Nlm1Yaen8R position is that parliament should NOT restrict the hands of an incoming govt in this way & I remain opposed to how parl voted	I missed votes today because I thought I was slipped and it turns out I was not.Apologies to my colleagues & Whips https://t.co/Nlm1Yaen8R position is that parliament should NOT restrict the hands of an incoming govt in this way & I remain opposed to how parl voted
Votes in the House of Commons can have legislative consequences and political consequences, and sometimes it is not entirely obvious what either of them will be. This afternoon’s vote relating to a no-deal Brexit is important, but probably not decisive. Here are some thought on what it means.	Votes in the House of Commons can have legislative consequences and political consequences, and sometimes it is not entirely obvious what either of them will be. This afternoon’s vote relating to a no-deal Brexit is important, but probably not decisive. Here are some thought on what it means.
1) Boris Johnson has suffered his first Commons defeat - before even becoming prime minister. Jeremy Hunt, his rival for the Tory leadership, has ruled out proroguing parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit, but Johnson pointedly hasn’t. Over the last two days peers and MPs have voted to tie his hands on this point. Coming after the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch as ambassador to Washington in response to comments from Johnson, this is fresh evidence that the Westminster machine already regards him as PM.	1) Boris Johnson has suffered his first Commons defeat - before even becoming prime minister. Jeremy Hunt, his rival for the Tory leadership, has ruled out proroguing parliament to facilitate a no-deal Brexit, but Johnson pointedly hasn’t. Over the last two days peers and MPs have voted to tie his hands on this point. Coming after the resignation of Sir Kim Darroch as ambassador to Washington in response to comments from Johnson, this is fresh evidence that the Westminster machine already regards him as PM.
2) This vote probably means proroguing parliament in the autumn to stop MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit is now closed as an option for Johnson. The Benn amendment says, if parliament were prorogued or adjourned in this timescale, it would have to be recalled. But a tiny window of uncertainty remains because a) if the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland were to revive, the Benn amendment would become redundant; and b) there is always the faint chance of a rogue PM trying to ignore this law.	2) This vote probably means proroguing parliament in the autumn to stop MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit is now closed as an option for Johnson. The Benn amendment says, if parliament were prorogued or adjourned in this timescale, it would have to be recalled. But a tiny window of uncertainty remains because a) if the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland were to revive, the Benn amendment would become redundant; and b) there is always the faint chance of a rogue PM trying to ignore this law.
3) Stopping parliament being prorogued is not the same as stopping a no-deal Brexit. It remains the case that, if Johnson were to opt for a no-deal Brexit, MPs sitting in the Commons in September or October would have no obvious means of stopping him. An Institute for Government report said, under the rules as they are now, it would be “almost impossible” for MPs to stop no-deal without using a no confidence vote to bring down the government. Even if Johnson did lose a no confidence, there is no guarantee he would pause Brexit to allow the electorate to have its say. But the IfG report also says the situation might be different if the Speaker were to be more “flexible” in his interpretation of Commons procedure, and John Bercow has repeatedly hinted that he would be willing to bend the rules to help MPs vote against no-deal (as he did here, referring to standing order 24).	3) Stopping parliament being prorogued is not the same as stopping a no-deal Brexit. It remains the case that, if Johnson were to opt for a no-deal Brexit, MPs sitting in the Commons in September or October would have no obvious means of stopping him. An Institute for Government report said, under the rules as they are now, it would be “almost impossible” for MPs to stop no-deal without using a no confidence vote to bring down the government. Even if Johnson did lose a no confidence, there is no guarantee he would pause Brexit to allow the electorate to have its say. But the IfG report also says the situation might be different if the Speaker were to be more “flexible” in his interpretation of Commons procedure, and John Bercow has repeatedly hinted that he would be willing to bend the rules to help MPs vote against no-deal (as he did here, referring to standing order 24).
4) But Tory opposition to no-deal is looking a bit more robust this afternoon than it was. As I mentioned this morning, in recent weeks MPs trying to use parliamentary process to block no-deal have suffered a series of defeats. (See 9.09am.) Today they won a handsome victory. Some 17 Conservative MPs voted against the government, and five ministers seem to have abstained deliberately; by this time next week those five will probably be on the back benches, making a “Gauke-ward squad” of 20-plus. If Johnson sacks more ministers in a reshuffle, that could get even bigger. Most of these MPs would probably not vote against the government on no confidence motion to stop a no-deal Brexit, but with the government’s working majority set to fall to just three after the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection, the rebels probably have enough muscle to bring Johnson down.	4) But Tory opposition to no-deal is looking a bit more robust this afternoon than it was. As I mentioned this morning, in recent weeks MPs trying to use parliamentary process to block no-deal have suffered a series of defeats. (See 9.09am.) Today they won a handsome victory. Some 17 Conservative MPs voted against the government, and five ministers seem to have abstained deliberately; by this time next week those five will probably be on the back benches, making a “Gauke-ward squad” of 20-plus. If Johnson sacks more ministers in a reshuffle, that could get even bigger. Most of these MPs would probably not vote against the government on no confidence motion to stop a no-deal Brexit, but with the government’s working majority set to fall to just three after the Brecon and Radnorshire byelection, the rebels probably have enough muscle to bring Johnson down.
5) An early election looks ever more likely. Johnson would want to avoid an early election until he has delivered Brexit, but these numbers mean that he might not be left with any choice. Here is an assessment from Mujtaba Rahman, who does Brexit analysis for the Eurasia Group consultancy.	5) An early election looks ever more likely. Johnson would want to avoid an early election until he has delivered Brexit, but these numbers mean that he might not be left with any choice. Here is an assessment from Mujtaba Rahman, who does Brexit analysis for the Eurasia Group consultancy.
Our revised, short term #Brexit probabilities:-40% Early election* (basecase); 25% No-deal; 20% Tweaked deal; 10% Referendum; 5% Other scenarios - clean A50 extension, no strings attached; caretaker Govt; revoking A50; proroguing Parliament Accompanied w A50 ext pic.twitter.com/FIKHl4ygGp	Our revised, short term #Brexit probabilities:-40% Early election* (basecase); 25% No-deal; 20% Tweaked deal; 10% Referendum; 5% Other scenarios - clean A50 extension, no strings attached; caretaker Govt; revoking A50; proroguing Parliament Accompanied w A50 ext pic.twitter.com/FIKHl4ygGp
Downing Street has put out this statement about the vote. A spokesman said:	Downing Street has put out this statement about the vote. A spokesman said:
The prime minister is obviously disappointed that a number of ministers failed to vote in this afternoon’s division. No doubt her successor will take this into account when forming their government.	The prime minister is obviously disappointed that a number of ministers failed to vote in this afternoon’s division. No doubt her successor will take this into account when forming their government.
This is probably less aggressive than it sounds. If you look at the list of ministers who abstained (see 2.11pm) - Greg Clark, Sir Alan Duncan, David Gauke, Philip Hammond and Rory Stewart - they are all people who were never expected to serve in government with Boris Johnson anyway. Theresa May could have chosen to sack them now, but with only a week to go before the new PM forms a government, that would have been a bit pointless.	This is probably less aggressive than it sounds. If you look at the list of ministers who abstained (see 2.11pm) - Greg Clark, Sir Alan Duncan, David Gauke, Philip Hammond and Rory Stewart - they are all people who were never expected to serve in government with Boris Johnson anyway. Theresa May could have chosen to sack them now, but with only a week to go before the new PM forms a government, that would have been a bit pointless.
Tony Lloyd, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, rises to make a point of order. He says by the time a bill has got this far, it is the property of the house, not the government. He says there have been rumours that the government might drop the bill at this late stage to stop it becoming law. Can the Speaker rule that out?	Tony Lloyd, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, rises to make a point of order. He says by the time a bill has got this far, it is the property of the house, not the government. He says there have been rumours that the government might drop the bill at this late stage to stop it becoming law. Can the Speaker rule that out?
The Speaker, John Bercow, says he has not heard that suggestion. But he says the chief whip, Julian Smith, and the Northern Ireland minister, John Penrose, are both on the front bench now indicating that that will not happen. Penrose rises himself and confirms this.	The Speaker, John Bercow, says he has not heard that suggestion. But he says the chief whip, Julian Smith, and the Northern Ireland minister, John Penrose, are both on the front bench now indicating that that will not happen. Penrose rises himself and confirms this.