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Brexit: MPs voting on whether to hold a general election after bill intended to prevent no deal passes – live news Brexit: Government fails in bid to call a general election for 15 October – live news
(32 minutes later)
I’ll be rounding up a few reactions to tonight’s events now.
This here from the FT’s editor Lionel Barber:
Am hearing many Tory MPs, including majority of Boris Johnson’s Cabinet, believe expelling two former Chancellors, moderates and long serving Tories like @NSoames was huge error. “We’ve got to bring them back if we want to win the coming election” said one. Watch this space
The Commons has now moved on to a debate on Treasury funding for the Department of Health and Social Care.
The prime minister along with the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, SNP Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, Jess Phillips and Dominic Grieve will be on Peston in a bit. Should be fun.
Boris Johnson responded by saying that 48 hours ago, Corbyn wanted to “stop the coup” and let the people vote. “Now he is saying ‘stop the election and stop the people from voting’.
“I think he has become the first leader of the opposition in the democratic history of our country to refuse the invitation to an election. I can only speculate as to the reasons behind his hesitation. The obvious conclusion I’m afraid is he does not think he will win,” Johnson said.
As expected, Boris Johnson has suffered another big loss, with the Commons rejecting his motion calling for a general election.
The PM would have needed 434 votes to reach a two-thirds majority.
Ayes: 298
Noes: 56
MPs are now voting on the government’s motion calling to hold a general election.
This from my colleague Lisa O’Carroll:This from my colleague Lisa O’Carroll:
Michel Barnier cancelled a planned engagement in Belfast on Monday telling organisers at Queen’s University that his speech could be “used by some to undermine the chances of an orderly Brexit”.Michel Barnier cancelled a planned engagement in Belfast on Monday telling organisers at Queen’s University that his speech could be “used by some to undermine the chances of an orderly Brexit”.
https://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/2019/09/barnier-letter.pdf
It is understood he agreed to deliver the Bill Clinton Leadership Lecture some time ago but decided the timing was no longer appropriate when “the UK is engaged in an intense political debate” about its future.It is understood he agreed to deliver the Bill Clinton Leadership Lecture some time ago but decided the timing was no longer appropriate when “the UK is engaged in an intense political debate” about its future.
“In many respects, we have finally arrived at a moment of truth for the country. It is my judgment that pronouncing myself publicly in the midst of the debate that is ongoing in Westminster would not be appropriate,” he wrote.“In many respects, we have finally arrived at a moment of truth for the country. It is my judgment that pronouncing myself publicly in the midst of the debate that is ongoing in Westminster would not be appropriate,” he wrote.
He said he had wanted to deliver a speech showing “full respect” for the sovereignty of the UK and the EU and UK’s “common goal” to achieve an orderly Brexit for Northern Ireland in particular.He said he had wanted to deliver a speech showing “full respect” for the sovereignty of the UK and the EU and UK’s “common goal” to achieve an orderly Brexit for Northern Ireland in particular.
Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle is having a rant. “What the PM has offered us is really a poisoned chalice,” he says. Says Johnson is a man who has been sacked twice for lying. “He clearly is a person we cannot trust,” he says. Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle is having a rant. “What the PM has offered us is really a poisoned chalice,” he says. He says that Johnson is a man who has been sacked twice for lying. “He clearly is a person we cannot trust,” he says.
The Tory MP John Baron says: “If you’re not prepared to walk away, it makes for a worse deal.”The Tory MP John Baron says: “If you’re not prepared to walk away, it makes for a worse deal.”
He says there are too many MPs who are trying desperately to derail Brexit. Points out that Labour promised originally to deliver Brexit. He says there are too many MPs who are trying desperately to derail Brexit and points out that Labour promised originally to deliver Brexit.
Too many members of the Commons are secretly Remain MPs and have kicked the can down the road too often, and should own up to the fact that what they really want to do is stop Brexit. Too many members of the Commons are secretly remain MPs and have kicked the can down the road too often, and should own up to the fact that what they really want to do is stop Brexit, he says.
Labour’s Sandy Martin is up next. “I am absolutely desperate for a general election,” he says. But, he says, the PM is calling for a general election in order to be in sole control, when parliament is prorogued, when Britain leaves the EU. Says revoking article 50 would be “entirely wrong”. Labour’s Sandy Martin is up next. “I am absolutely desperate for a general election,” he says. But, he says, the PM is calling for a general election in order to be in sole control, when parliament is prorogued, when Britain leaves the EU. He says revoking article 50 would be “entirely wrong”.
“I want to see a viable deal that would not destroy the economy of this country being agreed by this parliament.” He adds that he wants this deal to be put to the people again in a people’s vote.“I want to see a viable deal that would not destroy the economy of this country being agreed by this parliament.” He adds that he wants this deal to be put to the people again in a people’s vote.
Labour’s Thelma Walker says the PM once said the chambers “were just theatre” and that the real business was going on in meetings. This stayed with her, she says.Labour’s Thelma Walker says the PM once said the chambers “were just theatre” and that the real business was going on in meetings. This stayed with her, she says.
She says she wants a general election to get a government acting with honour and integrity, but only if there is no chance of a no-deal Brexit. She says Brexit has made Britain “the laughing stock of the world”. “Our country deserves much better,” she adds. She says she wants a general election to get a government acting with honour and integrity, but only if there is no chance of a no-deal Brexit. She says Brexit has made Britain “the laughing stock of the world”.
Jenkin says there is fear in the Commons about the consequences of a general election. He predicts the rise of “far more extremist parties” if this House continues putting off making a decision. “Our country deserves much better,” she adds.
Jenkin says there is fear in the Commons about the consequences of a general election. He predicts the rise of “far more extremist parties” if the House continues putting off making a decision.
Jenkin asks what will happen after another extension has been granted.Jenkin asks what will happen after another extension has been granted.
“There’s a definition of madness: to repeat the same decision again and again and expect a different outcome,” he says.“There’s a definition of madness: to repeat the same decision again and again and expect a different outcome,” he says.
He says getting on with Brexit requires respecting the decision of the people who voted to leave.He says getting on with Brexit requires respecting the decision of the people who voted to leave.
The Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin is speaking and describes the paralysis of this “zombie parliament”. He says the legitimacy of this House is in danger if the referendum is not honoured.The Conservative Sir Bernard Jenkin is speaking and describes the paralysis of this “zombie parliament”. He says the legitimacy of this House is in danger if the referendum is not honoured.
“What is going to be gained in putting off the decision again?” he asks.“What is going to be gained in putting off the decision again?” he asks.
Caroline Lucas is not holding back. She calls the dissolution of parliament “a desperate and utterly cynical move”. She is delighted that the PM needs to “try and own his own horrendous mess”.Caroline Lucas is not holding back. She calls the dissolution of parliament “a desperate and utterly cynical move”. She is delighted that the PM needs to “try and own his own horrendous mess”.
She says it is vital that no election happens before there is an extension of article 50.She says it is vital that no election happens before there is an extension of article 50.
She remarks on the fact that Boris Johnson has left the chambers: “He can’t even be bothered to listen to the debate on his own motion on something as important as a general election.”She remarks on the fact that Boris Johnson has left the chambers: “He can’t even be bothered to listen to the debate on his own motion on something as important as a general election.”
Nigel Evans is speaking again and says Labour campaigned on a similar platform as the Tories are now and promised to honour the referendum result.Nigel Evans is speaking again and says Labour campaigned on a similar platform as the Tories are now and promised to honour the referendum result.
Labour MP Clive Efford says the Benn bill does “absolutely nothing” unless the PM fails to come back from Brussels with a new deal. If he comes back with a deal MPs will vote on it on 19 October, and if it passes, Britain will leave the EU with that deal. If it doesn’t pass, the House will vote on no deal, and only if that’s rejected will MP’s go for another extension.Labour MP Clive Efford says the Benn bill does “absolutely nothing” unless the PM fails to come back from Brussels with a new deal. If he comes back with a deal MPs will vote on it on 19 October, and if it passes, Britain will leave the EU with that deal. If it doesn’t pass, the House will vote on no deal, and only if that’s rejected will MP’s go for another extension.
Philips says she doesn’t believe we should have a general election, that parliament should not go on conference recess and that that it should not be prorogued.
She says she’ll vote against an election until the end of October.
Labour MP Jess Phillips is now speaking. “I have no faith in anything the PM says, in nothing,” she says.
“The PM is playing some bully-boy game, that I’m probably not able to understand more than parliamentary procedures,” she says.
She says the PM could bring his plans to parliament, that some of her colleagues were “begging him” to reveal details of his negotiation progress. She says her constituents won’t be collateral in the games Boris Johnson is playing to realise his personal ambitions.
“There are thousands of EU migrants in my constituency and they have absolutely no idea what’s going to happen,” she adds.
Ian Duncan Smith is now speaking. He says Labour and the SNP called for an election just days earlier but now block it. He says the problem with a people’s vote is that the result would not be accepted if people voted to leave again, as the matter would go back to parliament and nothing would get decided again.
He calls for people to instead be asked in a general election.
“I have never seen a moment when an opposition party does not want to take over ... Put up, or shut up,” he says, to cheers.
Soubry says the Benn bill has been carefully drafted in the best interests of the country and is not about stopping Brexit, just about stopping no deal.
She calls for a people’s vote. “I think the British people have now changed their minds.”
Anna Soubry is now speaking. She says the PM has chosen repeatedly to use the word “frit” and “frightened” to describe MPs, when really it took a lot of courage to make their decisions, with some choosing to end their parliamentary career in order to protect their constituents.
She says that people in the UK are sick “to their back teeth” of Brexit and the matter must be brought to a conclusion.
LibDem leader Jo Swinson says MPs should put party interest aside and focus on national interest. She says the way Tory rebels have been treated is “shameful”.
Asked whether the Lib Dems would pledge to revoke article 50 at a general election, she says her party has been “crystal clear” on wanting to stop Brexit.
She says the PM had wanted the job so long “it has been almost painful to watch”, and that he said Britain would get a great deal. “Now he has the job, go and get that deal”, she says.
She adds that she doesn’t believe there is a majority in Britain for a specific kind of deal, perhaps not even in the Conservative party, and any election should happen in a “calm and orderly way”, not under the imminent threat of a no-deal exit.
Conservative MP Nigel Evans accuses Labour of “running scared’ of a general election after having spent two years asking for one.
His colleague Craig Mackinlay says many Labour MPs seem to crave EU vassalage and that voters have waited long enough. Says this parliament serves no further purpose. “It’s time for a general election,” he says.
Blackford says the SNP does not trust the prime minister because of his “contempt for democracy”. “He has treated this House and the country with contempt.”
He then calls the government “shambolic and irresponsible”.
Blackford says nobody voted for a no-deal Brexit as it was not on the ballot paper, and challenges the Tories to “shout us down, as you tried last night”.
The PM should quit the stunts, he says. The SNP is “ready to bring down the Tory government” to give Scotland a chance, and ready to work across the house in order to determine their own future.
“It should be Scotland’s right to decide its own future.”
Ian Blackford has just called on the PM to sack Dominic Cummings and to bring Ken Clarke in instead.
He says the Benn bill is designed to remove the cliff edge.
“It is the SNP’s top priority to avoid no deal,” he says.