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Brexit: Tory MP defects as Johnson confronts rebels ahead of key Commons vote – live news Brexit: Tory MP defects as Johnson confronts rebels ahead of key Commons vote – live news
(30 minutes later)
These are from Tony Connelly, RTE’s Europe editor.
The most striking quote is in the final tweet. This is what an EU source told Connelly about the UK’s plan for an alternative to the backstop:
Nothing has been put on the table, not even a proper sketch or hint of a plan. We’re waiting. But for the moment there is zilch.
Breaking: EU member states have been told by the European Commission Task Force that the UK under Boris Johnson is rengeging on its commitments to protect the all-Ireland economy and meaningful North-South cooperation, as enshinred in the Joint Report of December 2017 1/
An EU source said 2 warnings from the Commission set "alarm bells" ringing: that Johnson was reducing the ambition of the Joint Report (no hard border, protecting North South cooperation + the all island economy) to a pledge to have trade that is "as frictionless as possible" 2/
Secondly the UK is now resisting the ambition of having a “legally operable” solution for border in the event of a renegotiated Withdrawal Agreement, instead pushing for what was described as “aspirational” measures to avoid a hard border. 3/
The warnings came during a 90-minute briefing of diplomats from EU27 member states by a senior figure from the European Commission Task Force 4/
The overall message was that the UK has not brought forward any concrete proposals to replace the backstop. 5/
“The one message that came back very forcefully from the meeting was that there are no concrete proposals,” says one source. “Nothing has been put on the table, not even a proper sketch or hint of a plan. We’re waiting. But for the moment there is zilch.” 6/
A government spokesman has said that it is not just Tory MPs who vote with the opposition on the SO24 motion this evening, enabling the bill designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October, who will lose the Tory whip, meaning they should be prevented from standing for the party at the general election; those who abstain will lose the whip too, the spokesman said. He explained:
The prime minister would not expect people who have voted to take power away from this government and to hand it to the opposition, to be a Conservative candidate or a Conservative MP.
Boris Johnson is to visit Dublin to meet Leo Varadkar on Monday, the Irish government has confirmed.
A spokesman said that while Brexit would be on the agenda, the talks would not amount to negotiations on the backstop.
“We don’t negotiate bilaterally,” a spokesman said. “The government has consistently stressed that negotiations on Brexit take place between the UK and the EU27, for which Michel Barnier speaks.”The meeting comes weeks after Johnson was accused of snubbing the taoiseach by not including him in the first round of phone calls to foreign premiers after he became prime minister.
In his response to Trickett, Gove criticised Labour for backing the SO24 motion. Referring to Geoffrey Howe’s quote in the speech he gave after he resigned from Margaret Thatcher’s cabinet, Gove says people sometime talk about the team captain breaking someone’s bat before they go out to face the bowling. Gove says that Labour’s approach would be so damaging to the government’s strategy that it would amount to “blowing up the whole pavilion”.
Responding to Gove for Labour, Jon Trickett, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, says the government should publish the Operation Yellowhammer document so that people can see how damaging the government thinks a no-deal Brexit would be.
Yesterday a story in the Financial Times (paywall) said that Gove had been planning to publish the document today, but that he had dropped the idea because it was too negative. Here is an extract from George Parker’s story.
Mr Gove, minister for no-deal planning, had been expected to publish extracts of the document on Tuesday as part of his efforts to prepare the UK for the possibility of Brexit taking place without an agreement on 31 October.
Government officials worked throughout the weekend overhauling the Operation Yellowhammer document, and Mr Gove had hoped to use the work to prove that he had a grip on potential no-deal problems.
But, on Monday, Mr Gove and fellow cabinet ministers decided to abandon Tuesday’s publication of the document. “The meeting didn’t go well,” said one person close to the meeting. “The whole thing was seen as far too pessimistic about no deal.”
Gove concludes by saying a no-deal Brexit would pose undoubted risks and real challenges for the UK. But he says there would also be opportunities.Gove concludes by saying a no-deal Brexit would pose undoubted risks and real challenges for the UK. But he says there would also be opportunities.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office, is now making a Commons statement about planning for a no-deal Brexit. Michael Gove is now making a Commons statement about planning for a no-deal Brexit.
He says a no-deal Brexit would present difficulties, but he says people can prepare for them. He says a no-deal Brexit would present difficulties, but he says people can prepare for them. He says the Operation Yellowhammer plan sets out a “reasonable worst-case scenario” for what might happen. It is not a prediction, he says.
He says the Operation Yellowhammer plan sets out a “reasonable worst-case scenario” for what might happen. It is not a prediction, he says.
He says today the government is announcing an extra £20m of spending to ensure that traffic can flow freely in Kent in the event of a no-deal Brexit.He says today the government is announcing an extra £20m of spending to ensure that traffic can flow freely in Kent in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
He urges EU states to reciprocate the assurances that the UK has given for EU nationals living in the UK in the event of no deal.He urges EU states to reciprocate the assurances that the UK has given for EU nationals living in the UK in the event of no deal.
Boris Johnson’s statement is now over. Unusually, John Bercow wrapped it up while some MPs still wanted to ask questions. That means we are running slightly ahead of the timetable I anticipated earlier. (See 2.30pm.)Boris Johnson’s statement is now over. Unusually, John Bercow wrapped it up while some MPs still wanted to ask questions. That means we are running slightly ahead of the timetable I anticipated earlier. (See 2.30pm.)
Here are some comments from journalists on how Boris Johnson is performing in this statement.Here are some comments from journalists on how Boris Johnson is performing in this statement.
From my colleague Jonathan FreedlandFrom my colleague Jonathan Freedland
The quiet precision of Philip Hammond, David Gauke, Yvette Cooper, Hilary Benn and others is exposing Johnson's bluster to damning effectThe quiet precision of Philip Hammond, David Gauke, Yvette Cooper, Hilary Benn and others is exposing Johnson's bluster to damning effect
From Sky’s Lewis GoodallFrom Sky’s Lewis Goodall
He has never been an especially effective Commons performer. Chamber doesn't play to his strengths. He needs laughter, an audience which wants to play along and give him energy. Today he's getting the exact opposite.He has never been an especially effective Commons performer. Chamber doesn't play to his strengths. He needs laughter, an audience which wants to play along and give him energy. Today he's getting the exact opposite.
From the Mail on Sunday’s Dan HodgesFrom the Mail on Sunday’s Dan Hodges
Boris is having a shocker here. Stumbling over response to Hammond.Boris is having a shocker here. Stumbling over response to Hammond.
Boris now floundering in response to Hilary Benn. Much more of this and the 1922 will be getting a raft of letters asking for Theresa May to come back.Boris now floundering in response to Hilary Benn. Much more of this and the 1922 will be getting a raft of letters asking for Theresa May to come back.
From my colleague Peter WalkerFrom my colleague Peter Walker
I haven't seen a prime minister take such as kicking in the Commons as Boris Johnson is experiencing now since... well, probably since the last time Theresa May stood at the despatch box. But you know what I mean.I haven't seen a prime minister take such as kicking in the Commons as Boris Johnson is experiencing now since... well, probably since the last time Theresa May stood at the despatch box. But you know what I mean.
From my colleague John CraceFrom my colleague John Crace
Boris Johnson is really struggling here. It’s as if his own MPs have just woken up to the fact he’s a bit shitBoris Johnson is really struggling here. It’s as if his own MPs have just woken up to the fact he’s a bit shit
Johnson says he expects the final deal to be agreed at the EU summit starting on Thursday 17 October.Johnson says he expects the final deal to be agreed at the EU summit starting on Thursday 17 October.
Jeremy Lefroy, a Conservative, asks if MPs will be able to pass all the required legislation between that summit and 31 October.Jeremy Lefroy, a Conservative, asks if MPs will be able to pass all the required legislation between that summit and 31 October.
Johnson says that is what the government is planning. He offers to ensure Lefroy gets a briefing on how this would happen.Johnson says that is what the government is planning. He offers to ensure Lefroy gets a briefing on how this would happen.
The Conservative Huw Merriman says if the Tories are going to remove the whip from MPs who rebel tonight, will Johnson also remove the whip from any MPs who do not back any deal he does bring back to the Commons.
(Some of the hardline Brexiters in the European Research Group say, even with the removal of the backstop, they would still find the Brexit deal unacceptable.)
Johnson confirms this would happen. “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” he says.
Labour’s Alison McGovern asks Johnson if he has seen the comment from Gavin Barwell, Theresa May’s former chief of staff, about the Brexit negotiation being a sham. If it is not a sham, will Johnson publish his backstop plans?
McGovern is referring to this tweet.
V important thread for MPs who would support a deal but not no deal. I've had same reports re "sham negotiations" from multiple govt sources. If not true (my views were sometimes misreported when I was Chief of Staff) Government should publish its proposals to replace backstop https://t.co/YV8cGefcd2
Johnson says he thinks he has said enough on this. He says voting for the SO24 motion tonight will harm the chances of the government getting a deal.
Labour’s Liz Kendall asks if Johnson will abide by the law if parliament passes legislation requiring him to request an article 50 extension.
Johnson says he will obey the law. But he says this provision would be a mistake.
Labour’s Jess Phillips says she has joined one of the legal challenges to the prorogation case because she does not want MPs not to have the chance to debate the domestic violence bill. Is it true senior civil servants refused to sign witness statements for this case?
Johnson says the proper processes were gone through. Domestic violence will receive proper consideration in the Queen’s speech, he says.
Steve Brine, a Conservative, tells Johnson that it is wrong to say that all MPs opposed to no deal are opposed to Brexit. Does Johnson accept that?
Johnson dodges the question, but says people used to say the EU would not alter the backstop. Now it is accepting it could change.
Labour’s Barry Sheerman says his daughter used to work as a special adviser for a Labour minister. Will Johnson condemn the way Sonia Khan was sacked by Dominic Cummings as a special adviser?
Johnson says he will not comment on personnel matters.
Anna Soubry, the Independent Group for Change leader, also asks about the Telegraph story, and asks if it is true that Johnson rang the Telegraph editor to complain about it.
Johnson again refuses to comment on the story. But he says he has not had any conversation today with any journalist about this matter.
David Gauke, the former justice secretary and a Tory rebel, asks Johnson to confirm two claims in the Daily Telegraph story today (paywall).
One was that David Frost, his Europe adviser, told a cabinet committee in August “of the decision to ‘run down the clock’ [in the Brexit talks] and keep up the appearance of activity, which he said was ‘important for both process and domestic handling reasons’.”
The other claim was that Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, said at a subsequent cabinet committee meeting that it was a “complete fantasy” to think the EU would drop the backstop.
Johnson says he cannot comment on leaks.
Here is video of Phillip Lee crossing the floor in the Commons.
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, asks Johnson to agree that a no-deal Brexit would be catastrophic.
Johnson says he does not agree. He says there will be “bumps on the road”, but the UK is a great country and it can get this down.
The alternative plan, backed by Jeremy Corbyn, would force the UK to accept whatever is offered by the EU, he says.