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Brexit: MPs give bill to stop no-deal second reading by majority of 29 – live news Brexit: MPs pass bill to prevent no deal amid confusion over amendment to put May's deal back on table – live news
(32 minutes later)
MPs have given the Benn bill its third reading by 327 votes to 299 - a majority of 28.
At second reading the majority in favour was 29.
That is all from me for tonight. I am now handing over to my colleague Jedidajah Otte who will cover the debate on an early election.
This is from Graeme Cowie, a Commons clerk, on the Kinnock amendment.
I’m not sure what this amendment actually does. It attaches a purpose for the desired extension, but it doesn’t actually compel the Government (or anyone else for that matter) to actually introduce a Bill.Am I missing something? https://t.co/5ROz1patdx
Here is Labour’s Alex Sobel on the Kinnock amendment division - or non-division.
The amendment in the name of Stephen Kinnock didn’t have a vote as the Government didn’t provide tellers to count. This meant the amendment went through although the No Lobby was full. This wasn’t an accident you can be assured there’s some skullduggery going on
This is from the Labour MP Sarah Champion, who is one of the MPs who signed the Kinnock amendment that has been passed.
Big big win, my amendment to publish the withdrawal bill passed. We can now have an informed debate and hopefully secure a deal the House can accept. I both astounded and delighted!!
MPs are now voting to give the bill its third reading.
From Labour’s Jim McMahon
Mays Withdrawal Agreement is coming back...
Here is some comment from journalists on what has just happened.
From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssbeg
It looks like the Kinnock amendment to put Theresa May's deal back to the Commons for another vote just went through by mistake.... things are getting very very odd around here indeed
From the Spectator’s James Forsyth
So, Theresa May’s Brexit deal has got further tonight—with her out of office—than it ever did with her in office. Strange times…
From the Mirror’s Pippa Crerar
Has the Government done this deliberately to screw the whole vote?
MPs started voting on Stephen Kinnock’s amendment 6. But then, a few minutes into voting, Lindsay Hoyle, announced that the division had been called off because the amendment had been passed - because MPs opposed to it did not put up tellers.
Here is the explanation of what the Kinnock amendment does.
This amendment would set out as the purpose of seeking an extension under article 50(3) TEU the passage of a withdrawal agreement bill based on the outcome of the inter-party talks which concluded in May 2019 – see NC1 for contents of the Bill and Amendment XX for text of the request letter to the European Council.
This means that, if the PM needs to request an article 50 extension (because he has not negotiated a new deal, and MPs have not voted to approve a no-deal Brexit), then getting an extension to pass a version of the Theresa May deal becomes government policy.
Effectively, that means that any Brexit delay would not be a blind delay; it would be a delay to enable a version of the Theresa May going through.
It is not clear whether this has passed by accident - or as a result of some cunning plot.
The Richard Graham amendment (see 7.10pm) was defeated by 495 votes to 65 - a majority of 430.
According to the Lib Dem MP Layla Moran, there are rumours there could be 10 votes on amendments.
Rumours of ten votes. One down...
MPs are now voting on amendments to the Benn bill, which is designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. We don’t know yet how many amendments will be put to a vote. Each vote takes about 15 minutes. But it may well be that all amendments get voted down.MPs are now voting on amendments to the Benn bill, which is designed to stop a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. We don’t know yet how many amendments will be put to a vote. Each vote takes about 15 minutes. But it may well be that all amendments get voted down.
After that there will be a vote on the third reading of the bill. The result of this is set to be identical, or almost identical, to the vote at second reading - which was the important vote on principle. The opposition and Tory rebels won the comfortably. (See 5.22pm.)After that there will be a vote on the third reading of the bill. The result of this is set to be identical, or almost identical, to the vote at second reading - which was the important vote on principle. The opposition and Tory rebels won the comfortably. (See 5.22pm.)
After the third reading the bill will be ready to go to the Lords.After the third reading the bill will be ready to go to the Lords.
And then MPs will have a 90-minute debate on Boris Johnson’s motion saying there should be an early election. It may be a lively debate - Johnson is opening for the government - but the opposition will not back the motion, and so Johnson will not get the two-thirds majority he needs under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act for an early election to actually go ahead.And then MPs will have a 90-minute debate on Boris Johnson’s motion saying there should be an early election. It may be a lively debate - Johnson is opening for the government - but the opposition will not back the motion, and so Johnson will not get the two-thirds majority he needs under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act for an early election to actually go ahead.
MPs are now voting on the first amendment - amendment 19.MPs are now voting on the first amendment - amendment 19.
The full list of amendments is here (pdf).The full list of amendments is here (pdf).
And the full text of the bill is here (pdf).And the full text of the bill is here (pdf).
Amendment 19 has been tabled by the Tory Richard Graham. It is an amendment that is designed to ensure that parliament would get the chance to debate whether it wanted the existing deal after the EU council in October.Amendment 19 has been tabled by the Tory Richard Graham. It is an amendment that is designed to ensure that parliament would get the chance to debate whether it wanted the existing deal after the EU council in October.
Explaining it, Graham told MPs:Explaining it, Graham told MPs:
There are many of us in this house on all sides who do not want no-deal and yet ... many colleagues have not supported a deal and therefore my simple amendment to the bill today proposes that the amendment requires the government to have a vote on Monday 21st October, the first sitting day after the EU council on a deal - whether it be a new deal or the previous deal and that should that vote be successful and be approved by members of this house, then the government would be required, if they needed more time, to ask for an extension from the EU purely in order to get the legislation through parliament.There are many of us in this house on all sides who do not want no-deal and yet ... many colleagues have not supported a deal and therefore my simple amendment to the bill today proposes that the amendment requires the government to have a vote on Monday 21st October, the first sitting day after the EU council on a deal - whether it be a new deal or the previous deal and that should that vote be successful and be approved by members of this house, then the government would be required, if they needed more time, to ask for an extension from the EU purely in order to get the legislation through parliament.
It gives us all one last chance to vote for a deal if we do not want no-deal.It gives us all one last chance to vote for a deal if we do not want no-deal.
Barclay says the EU says it is ready for a no-deal Brexit. But he says there is a difference between having the right regulations in place (where he implies EU preparations are satisfactory) and operational readiness, which he says varies from state to state.Barclay says the EU says it is ready for a no-deal Brexit. But he says there is a difference between having the right regulations in place (where he implies EU preparations are satisfactory) and operational readiness, which he says varies from state to state.
Caroline Flint, a Labour MP backing the Kinnock amendments, tells Barclay in an intervention that many of her colleagues now regret not voting for a Brexit deal. She says she would like both front benches to get this message. Now is the time to move on, she says.Caroline Flint, a Labour MP backing the Kinnock amendments, tells Barclay in an intervention that many of her colleagues now regret not voting for a Brexit deal. She says she would like both front benches to get this message. Now is the time to move on, she says.
Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, is now winding up for the government. He says the government opposes the bill. He says it is “so flawed” that the government has not even proposed amendments to it.Stephen Barclay, the Brexit secretary, is now winding up for the government. He says the government opposes the bill. He says it is “so flawed” that the government has not even proposed amendments to it.
Referring to the Kinnock amendments, Barclay complains that Kinnock voted against the Brexit deal all three times.Referring to the Kinnock amendments, Barclay complains that Kinnock voted against the Brexit deal all three times.
In the debate Paul Blomfield, the shadow Brexit minister, is winding up for Labour now. He says he has some sympathy for the Kinnock amendment, but he argues that it is flawed because, he says, the cross-party talks did not actually reach an agreement on a revised withdrawal agreement text.In the debate Paul Blomfield, the shadow Brexit minister, is winding up for Labour now. He says he has some sympathy for the Kinnock amendment, but he argues that it is flawed because, he says, the cross-party talks did not actually reach an agreement on a revised withdrawal agreement text.
The debate on the 29 amendments tabled to the Benn bill has not been especially illuminating. The most interesting ones are those tabled by Labour’s Stephen Kinnock and other, mostly Labour, MPs designed to allow MPs to vote for a version of Theresa May’s deal, incorporating the changes proposed during the cross-party talks.The debate on the 29 amendments tabled to the Benn bill has not been especially illuminating. The most interesting ones are those tabled by Labour’s Stephen Kinnock and other, mostly Labour, MPs designed to allow MPs to vote for a version of Theresa May’s deal, incorporating the changes proposed during the cross-party talks.
Proposing his amendments, Kinnock said:Proposing his amendments, Kinnock said:
It is a travesty that parliament did not get to vote on the withdrawal agreement bill as it was very different to the former prime minister’s blind Brexit and provided far more clarity on EU and UK relations.It is a travesty that parliament did not get to vote on the withdrawal agreement bill as it was very different to the former prime minister’s blind Brexit and provided far more clarity on EU and UK relations.
Here are some lines about what Boris Johnson told the Conservative 1922 Committee this afternoon.
From Sky News
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the 1922 committee of Conservative MPsthere must be an election and Britain will leave the EU on Oct 31st
From the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn
More trouble for Boris. Lots of Tory backbenchers in a 1922 Committee meeting with the PM now just cheered Edward Leigh and Damian Green for speaking up for the 21 rebels, and booed Dan Kawczynski for attacking them.
I'm told Boris is now explaining his alternative Irish backstop idea to the 1922, an all-Ireland agrifood zone, by quoting Ian Paisley Snr: "Our people may be British but our cows are Irish”.
In reply to backbenchers demanding the whip is restored to the 21, I’m told Boris repeatedly said he “can’t undermine the chief”. Tory MPs say it was the PM who instructed the Chief Whip to do it.
From the FT’s Sebastian Payne
Boris Johnson came under sustained attack in the 1922 committee this evening for withdrawing the whip from the 21 anti no deal rebels. The prime minister blamed it on the chief whip, saying it would be wrong to undermine him. "It was completely pathetic," said one MP.
Johnson was also questioned about the role of Dominic Cummings in the sacking of the 21 rebels. The PM responded that Cummings shouldn't be blamed as it was him in a "latex mask".
From the Spectator’s James Forsyth
Boris Johnson’s deployment of Ancient Greek to explain his decision to take the whip away from 21 Tory MPs hasn’t totally reassured Tory MPs. But there does seem to have been a hint of eventual reconciliation
Dame Caroline Spelman will not lose the Tory whip for voting against the government tonight, the Telegraph’s Gordon Rayner reports.
Sounds as though Caroline Spelman will be spared. Govt source says today's vote was NOT being treated as a confidence vote so she won't be kicked out despite breaking three-line whip. Where does that leave party discipline though?
Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, admitted on Sky News that Labour has not got a settled view on exactly when it wants an early election to be held. She said:
We want the general election after we’ve sorted out the no deal … I can’t help you with exactly what date it’s going to be. Or when it is that we’re going to put it down.
Whether it’s going to be the mechanism which is two-thirds [of MPs voting for an election] or whether we’re going to go for [a confidence vote] later on - I’m not sure at the moment because we’re making decisions on an hourly basis.
Thornberry also said her preference would be to wait for a few weeks.
I personally think that we need to have a general election when we’re going to win it. I’ll wait a couple of weeks. If we can give them a little bit of extra rope – just let them be in power for a few more weeks, then people can really see how bad they are.
My colleague Peter Walker has been covering the Young Conservatives for a People’s Vote protest outside Conservative Campaign Headquarters this afternoon about the effective deselection of pro-European Tories. He has found out that the group does exist.
I’ve popped from parliament to Conservative HQ nearby, where we’re promised a demo by Young Conservatives aghast at Boris Johnson’s approach to Brexit and party purges. So far there’s about a dozen media people... but no protesters. It’s not due just yet, so hopefully not a hoax.
The disgruntled Young Conservatives *do* exist, but not in great numbers - fewer than the assembled media so far. They seem to also be linked to the Conservative Group for Europe, headed by Ken Clarke, so these are very much the pro-remain edge of the party. pic.twitter.com/Gn7KHlXlFp
They’re now eagerly chanting, “We want our party back,” and “Dominic Cummings is not a Conservative”. Given their Ken Clarke-like views on Europe, “our party back” potentially means from some time in the Heath era.
Donald Trump has been speaking about Boris Johnson. Asked by reporters what he thought about developments in the UK, and the Commons defeat Johnson suffered last night, Trump replied:
He’s a friend of mine, and he’s going at it, there’s no question about it … Boris knows how to win. Don’t worry about him.
Jeremy Corbyn’s video tweet of Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi urging Boris Johnson at PMQs to apologise for his comment about Muslim women has been retweeted by the American congresswoman Ilhan Omar. Omar herself has been the subject of racist abuse from Donald Trump.
In every corner of the globe and certainly here in America, every constituent deserves courageous Representatives who could call out hate and bigotry. Demand it, expect it and don’t even allow them to coward! https://t.co/IXtV3XfTN9
Voting on the Benn bill was much the same as voting on the SO24 motion yesterday, but there have been some minor changes.
New Tory rebel
Dame Caroline Spelman has joined the Tory rebels. Yesterday she voted against the SO24 motion, but today she voted for the Benn bill.
Non-voting rebel
But there were 21 Tory rebels in the vote at 5pm, the same number as last night. That’s because Caroline Nokes, who rebelled last night, did not vote this afternoon. It is not clear why.
Independents joining the rebels
Two independents who did not vote yesterday, Kelvin Hopkins and John Woodcock, both voted with the opposition and Tory rebels today.
Extra non-voting Labour MP
Yesterday, two Labour MPs did not vote: Sir Kevin Barron and Derek Twigg. Today, a third Labour MP, Ronnie Campbell, did not vote. Yesterday, Campbell voted with the Labour whip for the SO24 motion.
The division lists for the second reading vote on the Benn bill are here.
Boris Johnson is addressing the Conservative 1922 Committee, according to the Spectator’s James Forsyth.
The usual desk banging reception for the Tory leader at the ‘22. But Boris Johnson will need to reassure a slew of Tory MPs nervous after last night’s expulsions
Dame Caroline Spelman, the former environment secretary, was the new Tory rebel, the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn reports.
The Tory rebellion is growing: Govt defeated on 2nd reading of Benn bill to delay Brexit by one more than last night; 329-300. Caroline Spelman is the new rebel.