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Brexit: Government fails in bid to call a general election for 15 October – live news Brexit: government fails in bid to call a general election for 15 October – live news
(32 minutes later)
The PM told Peston earlier that “it’s been a very good day”, before starting to list several areas his government is intending to invest in, such as schools, police and social care.
He said tonight’s events effectively wrote the letter to the EU asking for another extension for him.
Like earlier in the Commons, he uses the word “sad” again to describe the situation.
Peston asks if he really will expel Tory MPs who might vote against his deal with Brussels, like the PM said he would yesterday.
Johnson repeats his “what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander” line, but is otherwise pretty evasive.
Peston has just started, where Jess Phillips and Dominic Grieve currently discuss the punishment of the 21 Tory rebels who defied the government whip yesterday.
Grieve, introduced to the audience as a “Former Conservative” tonight, says it’ll depend on when the next election is and on the circumstances whether he will run or not.
Phillips repeats she wouldn’t trust Johnson on anything, and that she believes he will try and force no deal.
This from Metro’s Joel Taylor:
Boris Johnson is now wanting to ‘trust in the British people’ in a general election https://t.co/fJniSLSwBj
Anna Soubry is one of many MPs that are outraged by the treatment of the Conservative rebels.
This is utterly disgraceful and I cannot believe that the likes of @AmberRuddHR @NickyMorgan01 @RobertBuckland @MattHancock are standing by, mute & letting this happen the #ConservativeParty is making the Corbynistas look like a bunch of pussy cats https://t.co/nJpFFdRUkA
This from David Gauke, one of the Tory MP’s who rebelled against the government and had their whip withdrawn yesterday.
Just received a text to say that my Association Chairman has been told that I am no longer a member of the Conservative Party. First I’d heard of that.Not even a member of the Conservative Party?I finally have something in common with Dominic Cummings.
This from ITV’s Paul Brand:
NEW: PM tells @Peston says the opposition will find themselves in an "unsustainable position" and will eventually have to vote for an election. "To be so subsumed by cowardice is not politically sustainable."
Allister Heath, the editor of the Sunday Telegraph, also believes Boris Johnson will eventually get his way.
He writes (paywalled):
The Tory party is dead; long live the Tory party. The seismic realignment that was supposed to take place in 2016 is finally upon us, and a tougher, rougher, non-deferential conservatism is making its explosive debut.
[...]
Right now, Johnson and Cummings are still on a path to success, even if they have had to recalibrate their journey several times as obstacles have emerged. The situation is tense, the PM is feeling the pressure and much of the Cabinet is in a state of shock. But Boris hasn’t been “humiliated”. He hasn’t been “wrong-footed”.
The semi-prorogation didn’t “backfire”: it flushed out his hardcore opponents and allowed him to expel them. He knew he would have to do something drastic at some stage and there was no way that those committed to derailing his plans would ever have been allowed to stand under Tory colours at the election. His party was already split de facto, if not de jure; he was always leading a minority government in all but name. The sackings merely formalised this.
[...]
Last but not least, engineering a delay in Brexit would simply encourage the Government to go for broke. If they were to back a no-deal Brexit, Nigel Farage would step aside and the Leave vote would unite. I am sure those in No 10 genuinely and rightly want a deal. But they may not have a choice if furious voters begin to turn to the Brexit Party again. Do the Remainers really want to goad Downing Street in this way?
Johnson’s gamble was breathtaking in its ambition: he would take over a fatally divided Tory party with no majority, forcibly reform it in his image and gain a pro-Brexit majority. For all of the madness of the past few days, I’m still predicting that he will pull it off.
There is still some confusion about what happened earlier in the Commons when the Kinnock amendment was passed automatically because the government didn’t provide any tellers, and about the potential consequences.There is still some confusion about what happened earlier in the Commons when the Kinnock amendment was passed automatically because the government didn’t provide any tellers, and about the potential consequences.
This from BuzzFeed’s Alex Wickham:This from BuzzFeed’s Alex Wickham:
Labour say their legal advice is that Kinnock amendment is not legally significant so no dramaLabour say their legal advice is that Kinnock amendment is not legally significant so no drama
And this from the editor of Politics.co.uk, Ian Dunt:And this from the editor of Politics.co.uk, Ian Dunt:
Had to step away, and everything just went completely weird with the Kinnock amendment and now I'm lost in an avalanche of what the fuck is actually going on.Had to step away, and everything just went completely weird with the Kinnock amendment and now I'm lost in an avalanche of what the fuck is actually going on.
There seems to be a rift in the Labour party regarding when it will vote for a general election.There seems to be a rift in the Labour party regarding when it will vote for a general election.
This from Kevin Schofield from PoliticsHome.com:This from Kevin Schofield from PoliticsHome.com:
Labour press release says Labour will back an election once rebel bill gets Royal Assent.That directly contradicts what Keir Starmer told Labour MPs this morning and the Commons this afternoon.Labour MP: "That is not party policy." pic.twitter.com/ciTZF41H9tLabour press release says Labour will back an election once rebel bill gets Royal Assent.That directly contradicts what Keir Starmer told Labour MPs this morning and the Commons this afternoon.Labour MP: "That is not party policy." pic.twitter.com/ciTZF41H9t
Peers in the House of Lords meanwhile are still voting on amendments to the Labour business motion that is designed to ensure the no-deal Benn bill will get through the House by 5pm on Friday, just in time before parliament is to be suspended.Peers in the House of Lords meanwhile are still voting on amendments to the Labour business motion that is designed to ensure the no-deal Benn bill will get through the House by 5pm on Friday, just in time before parliament is to be suspended.
They have to vote on over 100 amendments. Earlier there were rumours that the peers were adjourning, but they’ve carried on. As my colleague Andrew Sparrow explained earlier today, Tory peers have the opportunity to filibuster the process, as this kind of debate can in theory go on for as long as it wants to.They have to vote on over 100 amendments. Earlier there were rumours that the peers were adjourning, but they’ve carried on. As my colleague Andrew Sparrow explained earlier today, Tory peers have the opportunity to filibuster the process, as this kind of debate can in theory go on for as long as it wants to.
This from Conservative peer Ralph Lucas earlier:This from Conservative peer Ralph Lucas earlier:
It appears to me that the effectiveness of the filibuster has been accepted, and the focus therefore moves to whether a deal can be done in the Commons to bring the filibuster to an end. Lord Forsyth says the price for that is Boris being allowed to call an election.It appears to me that the effectiveness of the filibuster has been accepted, and the focus therefore moves to whether a deal can be done in the Commons to bring the filibuster to an end. Lord Forsyth says the price for that is Boris being allowed to call an election.
I’ll be rounding up a few reactions to tonight’s events now.I’ll be rounding up a few reactions to tonight’s events now.
This here from the FT’s editor Lionel Barber: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 spaceAm 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 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.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’.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.“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.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.The PM would have needed 434 votes to reach a two-thirds majority.
Ayes: 298Ayes: 298
Noes: 56Noes: 56
MPs are now voting on the government’s motion calling to hold a general election.
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”.
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.
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. 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.”
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, 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. 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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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 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.
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.