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Brexit: Boris Johnson at risk of Commons defeat as MPs debate move against no deal – live news Brexit: Boris Johnson at risk of Commons defeat as MPs debate move against no deal – live news
(32 minutes later)
Clarke says the obvious compromise is a soft Brexit, that would keep the economic relationship with the EU (ie, single market membership).
He says people say this amounts to disrespecting the referendum result.
But he says he has voted for Brexit three times. He voted for a deal that Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, now derides.
Back in the Commons Ken Clarke, the Tory former chancellor who is now the father of the house (the longest-serving MP) is now speaking.
He says parliament has voted against no deal. But Boris Johnson has put himself into the situation where he has to have no deal.
If parliament allows itself to be sidelines, the impact this would have on what future governments might to would be “horrendous”.
Clarke says allowing Johnson to implement a no-deal Brexit against the wishes of parliament would set a “horrendous” precedent for the future.
He mocks Jacob Rees-Mogg for what he said about a WTO Brexit being acceptable. (See 9.25pm.) He says no doubt the North Koreans thrive on such a regime. The only other countries trading just on WTO terms are Algeria and Serbia, he says. He says he admires Rees-Mogg’s ability to keep a straight face when he was making this argument.
Jared O’Mara has postponed his plan to resign from the Commons, PA Media reports. The Sheffield Hallam MP, 37, announced his decision in July to step down after a series of problems which saw him suspended from the parliamentary Labour party and then resign from the party. MPs cannot simply resign. If they want to leave the Commons they have to apply to be appointed to one of two ancients stewardships, PA reports. A Treasury spokesman said:
Jared O’Mara remains an MP after writing to the chancellor asking to postpone his appointment to an office of the Crown.
Turning away from the debate for a moment, Steve Baker, the new chair of the European Research Group, has given an interesting briefing to journalists. During the leadership election Boris Johnson ruled out an election pact with the Brexit party. But Baker, after a meeting of the ERG where he took over as chair from Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the Tories would need to reach an arrangement with Nigel Farage’s party to win a general election before Brexit. Baker said:
What’s very clear to me is if we have an election before we have left the European Union, and the Brexit party think that we are heading in a direction which does not deliver our independence from the EU, then they will stand candidates virtually everywhere.
And the result will be as per Peterborough and in Wales - they will result in a Lib/Lab Remain coalition and we will lose Brexit, and that’s why I’ve said we need to have some sort of accommodation with them but we are not quite at that bridge yet.
Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, is speaking now. He accuses Boris Johnson of acting like a dictator. And he says the Conservative party is now acting like a cult.
Rees-Mogg says the public gave MPs an instruction.Rees-Mogg says the public gave MPs an instruction.
He says if the bill passes tomorrow, MPs will either have to accept the backstop, accept endless Brexit delays or revoke article 50 altogether.He says if the bill passes tomorrow, MPs will either have to accept the backstop, accept endless Brexit delays or revoke article 50 altogether.
He says today’s motion is “the most unconstitutional use of this house since the days of Charles Stewart Parnell, when he tried to bung up parliament”.He says today’s motion is “the most unconstitutional use of this house since the days of Charles Stewart Parnell, when he tried to bung up parliament”.
He quotes AV Dicey, the Victorian jurist, saying that political conventions are there to ensure that the will of the people gets enacted.He quotes AV Dicey, the Victorian jurist, saying that political conventions are there to ensure that the will of the people gets enacted.
Parliament should accept the will of the nation, he says.Parliament should accept the will of the nation, he says.
Sovereignty comes from the people to parliament. It does not come out of a void ... We should recognise that the people are our masters, and show ourselves to be their liege and servants.Sovereignty comes from the people to parliament. It does not come out of a void ... We should recognise that the people are our masters, and show ourselves to be their liege and servants.
Rees-Mogg ends by urging MPs to “consider the chaos this concatenation of circumstances could create”.Rees-Mogg ends by urging MPs to “consider the chaos this concatenation of circumstances could create”.
Rees-Mogg says the bill involves a deliberate attempt to allow an extension long enough to allow a second piece of legislation, or to allow Brexit to be revoked.Rees-Mogg says the bill involves a deliberate attempt to allow an extension long enough to allow a second piece of legislation, or to allow Brexit to be revoked.
He says this procedure could be used again to have a further Brexit delay.He says this procedure could be used again to have a further Brexit delay.
This would create a marionette government, he says.This would create a marionette government, he says.
Rees-Mogg says the bill will not deliver certainty on Brexit. It is nothing but “legislative legerdemain”, he says.Rees-Mogg says the bill will not deliver certainty on Brexit. It is nothing but “legislative legerdemain”, he says.
Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Brexit committee, and the principal sponsor of the bill to be debated tomorrow if this motion passes, asks how he can say there is anything wrong with this procedure given that the Speaker has approved it.Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Brexit committee, and the principal sponsor of the bill to be debated tomorrow if this motion passes, asks how he can say there is anything wrong with this procedure given that the Speaker has approved it.
Rees-Mogg says there is a difference between irregular and improper. This procedure might not be improper, but it is irregular, he says.Rees-Mogg says there is a difference between irregular and improper. This procedure might not be improper, but it is irregular, he says.
Here is the Labour MP Liz Kendall on Jacob Rees-Mogg’s performance.Here is the Labour MP Liz Kendall on Jacob Rees-Mogg’s performance.
Rees-Mogg visibly enraging Tory MPs who I would have thought he should be trying to persuade to back the government. Never seen such cold hard anger.Rees-Mogg visibly enraging Tory MPs who I would have thought he should be trying to persuade to back the government. Never seen such cold hard anger.
Rees-Mogg says parliamentary rules (the ones he has accuses John Bercow of subverting) are there to protect people from tyranny. He says there is a tried and tested means of removing an unpopular government - a confidence vote. But Labour has not tabled one, because it is afraid of losing, he claims.Rees-Mogg says parliamentary rules (the ones he has accuses John Bercow of subverting) are there to protect people from tyranny. He says there is a tried and tested means of removing an unpopular government - a confidence vote. But Labour has not tabled one, because it is afraid of losing, he claims.
Protesters chanting “stop the coup” have begun marching past the Houses of Parliament, the Press Association is reporting. Purple, red and green smoke was released at the front of the column of demonstrators who are blocking the road from Parliament Square leading up to College Green in Westminster.Protesters chanting “stop the coup” have begun marching past the Houses of Parliament, the Press Association is reporting. Purple, red and green smoke was released at the front of the column of demonstrators who are blocking the road from Parliament Square leading up to College Green in Westminster.
Rees-Mogg turns to the detail of the bill.Rees-Mogg turns to the detail of the bill.
He says the provisions that would allow another similar bill to be debated on day two of the next session of parliament, if this one does not pass the Lords, would interrupt the Queen’s speech.He says the provisions that would allow another similar bill to be debated on day two of the next session of parliament, if this one does not pass the Lords, would interrupt the Queen’s speech.
The SNP’s David Linden asks for an assurance that, if the bill passes the Commons and the Lords, the government will not try to stop it getting royal assent.The SNP’s David Linden asks for an assurance that, if the bill passes the Commons and the Lords, the government will not try to stop it getting royal assent.
Rees-Mogg says the government will follow the law.Rees-Mogg says the government will follow the law.
Rees-Mogg accuses Letwin of “stunning arrogance”. He says Letwin has misunderstood parliament. Its authority comes from the people, he argues (which is why he says it should not be challenging the referendum result).Rees-Mogg accuses Letwin of “stunning arrogance”. He says Letwin has misunderstood parliament. Its authority comes from the people, he argues (which is why he says it should not be challenging the referendum result).
John Bercow, the Speaker, intervenes. He says he is satisfied that his judgment is correct. Although SO24 motions are normally in neutral terms, he says the SO24 procedure has been used for what he would call more “evaluative motions”. He cites a debate on 18 March 2013 (a debate on plans for a royal charter on press conduct) and a debate on 11 December 2018 (a debate on Theresa May shelving the ‘meaningful vote’). Both of these took place under SO24.John Bercow, the Speaker, intervenes. He says he is satisfied that his judgment is correct. Although SO24 motions are normally in neutral terms, he says the SO24 procedure has been used for what he would call more “evaluative motions”. He cites a debate on 18 March 2013 (a debate on plans for a royal charter on press conduct) and a debate on 11 December 2018 (a debate on Theresa May shelving the ‘meaningful vote’). Both of these took place under SO24.
Bercow says all he is doing is allowing parliament to debate an important issue.Bercow says all he is doing is allowing parliament to debate an important issue.
He insists that he will not be thrown off course, and he ends his peroration on this by quoting Boris Johnson, saying he will carry on “do or die”.He insists that he will not be thrown off course, and he ends his peroration on this by quoting Boris Johnson, saying he will carry on “do or die”.
Rees-Mogg turns to the point about the Speaker’s decision to allow this debate.Rees-Mogg turns to the point about the Speaker’s decision to allow this debate.
He says he is not challenging John Bercow’s impartiality. But impartiality is not the same as infallibility, he says.He says he is not challenging John Bercow’s impartiality. But impartiality is not the same as infallibility, he says.
Dominic Grieve, a Tory rebel, intervenes. He says Rees-Mogg talked about the need for parliament to scrutinise the executive. Yet the government is proroguing parliament for longer than needed. He says the government has also not always been honest, as when it said Operation Yellowhammer was a document produced by the old government. And the government has not been honest about the reasons for prorogation, he says. When these issues are considered together, you can see why people do not trust the government, Grieve says.Dominic Grieve, a Tory rebel, intervenes. He says Rees-Mogg talked about the need for parliament to scrutinise the executive. Yet the government is proroguing parliament for longer than needed. He says the government has also not always been honest, as when it said Operation Yellowhammer was a document produced by the old government. And the government has not been honest about the reasons for prorogation, he says. When these issues are considered together, you can see why people do not trust the government, Grieve says.
Rees-Mogg says Grieve is wrong. He says the decision to prorogue was routine.Rees-Mogg says Grieve is wrong. He says the decision to prorogue was routine.
Ken Clarke, the Tory pro-European, intervenes. He challenges Rees-Mogg’s claim that it would be acceptable for the UK to have to follow WTO rules. That would involve high tariffs. And it would require a hard border in Ireland. He says he cannot see why Rees-Mogg thinks that would not damage the economy.Ken Clarke, the Tory pro-European, intervenes. He challenges Rees-Mogg’s claim that it would be acceptable for the UK to have to follow WTO rules. That would involve high tariffs. And it would require a hard border in Ireland. He says he cannot see why Rees-Mogg thinks that would not damage the economy.
Rees-Mogg says he is surprised Clarke is surprised by what he said. He has been making the case for WTO rules for some time, he says.Rees-Mogg says he is surprised Clarke is surprised by what he said. He has been making the case for WTO rules for some time, he says.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, is speaking for the government.Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, is speaking for the government.
He says people voted to leave the EU. MPs must respect that decision.He says people voted to leave the EU. MPs must respect that decision.
He says today’s procedure is constitutionally irregular.He says today’s procedure is constitutionally irregular.
(He is referring to the fact that John Bercow, the Speaker, is allowing an SO24 emergency debate to pass a motion giving MPs control of the order paper tomorrow. In the past they have always been used for neutral motions with no practical effect. Earlier this year Bercow indicated that he was willing to allow the procedure to be used more creatively than it was in the past.)(He is referring to the fact that John Bercow, the Speaker, is allowing an SO24 emergency debate to pass a motion giving MPs control of the order paper tomorrow. In the past they have always been used for neutral motions with no practical effect. Earlier this year Bercow indicated that he was willing to allow the procedure to be used more creatively than it was in the past.)
He says this motion risks subverting parliament’s role in scrutinising the executive.He says this motion risks subverting parliament’s role in scrutinising the executive.