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Brexit: MPs take control of Commons business as government reels from vote defeat – live news Brexit: MPs take control of Commons business as government reels from vote defeat – live news
(32 minutes later)
Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee, is not making the opening speech in the second reading debate on the bill bearing his name. For the next four hours Benn is effectively in charge of the Commons order paper, as a result of the SO24 motion passed last night.
The bill, European Union (withdrawal) (No 6) bill, is not on the parliamentary website yet. But Benn posted a copy of the text on Twitter on Monday.
The veteran Conservative MP Roger Gale said the strategy pursued by Boris Johnson and his advisor Dominic Cummings “is in danger of tearing the party apart” and said the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservatives may have to act.
“I think to have an unelected, foul-mouthed oaf at the heart of Downing Street is dangerous and unacceptable,” he told ITV news.
The time has come for Mr Johnson to get a handle on this and have Mr Cummings frogmarched out of Downing Street, because if he doesn’t the damage is going to continue.
The manner, in which I know because I have had from the horse’s mouth, some of my colleagues who went to discuss courteously with Mr Johnson their situation yesterday were treated by Mr Cummings was quite appalling. That has to stop, if it doesn’t then maybe the 1922 Committee can do something about it but we cannot go on like this.
In the Commons John Bercow, the Speaker, is taking points of order ahead of the debate on the Benn bill.
Sir Bill Cash, the Tory Brexiter, asked if the bill required Queen’s consent. Cash said he was inspired to ask the question partly by this blog by Robert Craig, a public law lecturer, who suggested Queen’s consent would be required. He argued that this would be a problem.
But Bercow told Cash he had considered this matter and decided Queen’s consent was not required.
Here is a question from below the line.
Andrew, the short-term is all that anyone has time for now (ie winning the vote to block no deal unless parliament agrees to it) but what's the most probable outcome given that Johnson's is now a minority government please?
Are the Tories still the biggest party even though 21 Tory MPs have now had the whip withdrawn (temporarily or permanently)?
If they're not the biggest party, who's got the right (eg the Speaker?) to insist on Johnson admitting that fact to the Queen?
The Conservative party is still the biggest party in the House of Commons. The Commons authorities have updated the figures in the light of the Tory decision to remove the whip from 21 MPs last night. Here are the figures.
What this shows is that there are now more independent MPs in the Commons than there are SNP MPs. If they were to organise as a group, and appoint a leader (Philip Hammond?), he would get to ask two questions every week at PMQs instead of Ian Blackford.
More than 100,000 people have applied to register to vote in the past 48 hours, with young people making up the bulk of the surge, my colleague Ben Quinn reports.
More than 100,000 apply to register to vote in UK in 48 hours
Simon Coveney, Ireland’s deputy prime minister, confirmed that he has seen zero plans for an alternative to the backstop solution for the Irish border. He told the Guardian:
We’ve seen nothing in writing, it’s as simple as that.
He said all they have heard are some “conceptual ideas largely”.
He said he did not recognise claims by Dominic Raab last week that the EU had come round and he learned in Helsinki at a summit of foreign ministers that they were “willing to contemplate opening up the withdrawal agreement in a way that wasn’t there before”.
“I was in Helsinki and I listened to Dominic Raab, and I talked to all of the same people,” and did not hear that, he said. He said it was important for the British to “understand there is a difference between a willingness to look at proposals that do the same job as the backstop” and a renegotiation.
More voters think Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament was undemocratic than not, according to a YouGov poll for the People’s Vote campaign. Here is an extract from the People’s Vote news release.More voters think Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend parliament was undemocratic than not, according to a YouGov poll for the People’s Vote campaign. Here is an extract from the People’s Vote news release.
Voters regard Johnson’s suspension of parliament as undemocratic by an overwhelming 46% to 32%, while the prime minister’s decision to throw 21 of his MPs – including two former chancellors of the exchequer and the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill – out of his party is also viewed as undemocratic by 45% to 32%.Voters regard Johnson’s suspension of parliament as undemocratic by an overwhelming 46% to 32%, while the prime minister’s decision to throw 21 of his MPs – including two former chancellors of the exchequer and the grandson of Sir Winston Churchill – out of his party is also viewed as undemocratic by 45% to 32%.
Barely a fifth (22%) of voters think people voted in 2016 to leave with no deal, reinforcing claims by Johnson’s opponents that he has no mandate to impose this on the British people now. But only 21% think a general election is the right way to settle Brexit. Instead, a majority – 53% excluding don’t knows – say they support a new public vote.Barely a fifth (22%) of voters think people voted in 2016 to leave with no deal, reinforcing claims by Johnson’s opponents that he has no mandate to impose this on the British people now. But only 21% think a general election is the right way to settle Brexit. Instead, a majority – 53% excluding don’t knows – say they support a new public vote.
Johnson has defended his hardline stance by claiming he’s seeking to negotiate a new deal but fewer voters (39%) think he’s serious about this than think he’s not serious (42%).Johnson has defended his hardline stance by claiming he’s seeking to negotiate a new deal but fewer voters (39%) think he’s serious about this than think he’s not serious (42%).
Labour says the party is still in favour of calling a general election once the Benn bill becomes law, not once the 19 October deadline has passed (see 2.35pm), PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield reports.Labour says the party is still in favour of calling a general election once the Benn bill becomes law, not once the 19 October deadline has passed (see 2.35pm), PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield reports.
Spokesman for Jeremy Corbyn says this is not the position. Labour would back an election once the extension bill has Royal Assent, meaning it could still happen on October 15th. https://t.co/fV5VISvYYbSpokesman for Jeremy Corbyn says this is not the position. Labour would back an election once the extension bill has Royal Assent, meaning it could still happen on October 15th. https://t.co/fV5VISvYYb
And here is a video of the moment where Boris Johnson, “from a sedentary position”, as they like to say in the Commons, appeared to call Jeremy Corbyn “a great girl’s blouse”.And here is a video of the moment where Boris Johnson, “from a sedentary position”, as they like to say in the Commons, appeared to call Jeremy Corbyn “a great girl’s blouse”.
And here is Martin Belam’s story about it.And here is Martin Belam’s story about it.
'You great big girl’s blouse' – Johnson appears to insult Corbyn during PMQs'You great big girl’s blouse' – Johnson appears to insult Corbyn during PMQs
Here is the video of the Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi demanding an apology at PMQs from Boris Johnson for comparing Muslim women to letterboxes and launch an inquiry into Islamophobia. It was the most compelling moment of PMQs.Here is the video of the Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi demanding an apology at PMQs from Boris Johnson for comparing Muslim women to letterboxes and launch an inquiry into Islamophobia. It was the most compelling moment of PMQs.
And here is my colleague Kate Proctor’s story.And here is my colleague Kate Proctor’s story.
Boris Johnson urged to apologise for 'derogatory and racist' letterboxes articleBoris Johnson urged to apologise for 'derogatory and racist' letterboxes article
From the BBC’s Adam FlemingFrom the BBC’s Adam Fleming
Here's the draft legislation to allow EU27 member states to claim from the major disasters fund in case of a No Deal #Brexit. To apply they'll have to prove economic damage of at least €1.5bn or 0.3% of Gross National Income. https://t.co/HuH2lHrtNQHere's the draft legislation to allow EU27 member states to claim from the major disasters fund in case of a No Deal #Brexit. To apply they'll have to prove economic damage of at least €1.5bn or 0.3% of Gross National Income. https://t.co/HuH2lHrtNQ
Labour’s position on the timing of an election is shifting. These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, reflecting what was said at today’s meeting of the parliamentary Labour party. (See 11.50am.)Labour’s position on the timing of an election is shifting. These are from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, reflecting what was said at today’s meeting of the parliamentary Labour party. (See 11.50am.)
1. ok - last night official line from Labour was they will back an election 'as the Bill to stop No Deal becomes law.' - and the statement referred to Friday night1. ok - last night official line from Labour was they will back an election 'as the Bill to stop No Deal becomes law.' - and the statement referred to Friday night
2. Now, Labour MPs say Keir Starmer told them at the PLP that Labour will NOT vote for an election until the bill has been passed AND implemented, which means AFTER October 19th - which obviously means no chance election until much later on2. Now, Labour MPs say Keir Starmer told them at the PLP that Labour will NOT vote for an election until the bill has been passed AND implemented, which means AFTER October 19th - which obviously means no chance election until much later on
Starmer was referring to 19 October because that is the deadline in the Benn bill being debated this afternoon when the PM would have to seek an article 50 extension, unless either MPs had passed a Brexit deal or they had voted for a no-deal Brexit.Starmer was referring to 19 October because that is the deadline in the Benn bill being debated this afternoon when the PM would have to seek an article 50 extension, unless either MPs had passed a Brexit deal or they had voted for a no-deal Brexit.
If MPs were to vote for an election after 19 October, it would take place in November at the earliest.If MPs were to vote for an election after 19 October, it would take place in November at the earliest.
Here is my colleague Phillip Inman’s main story about the spending review.Here is my colleague Phillip Inman’s main story about the spending review.
Sajid Javid promises 'decade of renewal' as he sets out post-Brexit spendingSajid Javid promises 'decade of renewal' as he sets out post-Brexit spending
Here is the Treasury’s spending review document (pdf).Here is the Treasury’s spending review document (pdf).
And here is the Treasury’s own summary of what was in the announcement.And here is the Treasury’s own summary of what was in the announcement.
McDonnell says Javid has given no sign of appreciating the seriousness of the climate crisis.McDonnell says Javid has given no sign of appreciating the seriousness of the climate crisis.
And he says McDonnell has delivered “a pathetic sum to spending departments who are on their knees at the moment”. And he says Javid has delivered “a pathetic sum to spending departments who are on their knees at the moment”.
This is not a government, but a racket, he says. They are pretending to plan ahead while plotting a no-deal Brexit. He repeats Jeremy Corbyn’s line about the government having “no mandate, no morals and no majority”.This is not a government, but a racket, he says. They are pretending to plan ahead while plotting a no-deal Brexit. He repeats Jeremy Corbyn’s line about the government having “no mandate, no morals and no majority”.
The government has been in power for nine years. They are trying to fool the public with promises about a “fantasy Brexit”.The government has been in power for nine years. They are trying to fool the public with promises about a “fantasy Brexit”.
He describes the government as a “unique combination of rightwing extremism and bumbling incompetence”. And he ends by saying it is a government that “will never be forgiven but will soon be forgotten”.He describes the government as a “unique combination of rightwing extremism and bumbling incompetence”. And he ends by saying it is a government that “will never be forgiven but will soon be forgotten”.
McDonnell says Boris Johnson just said “pathetic” to him.McDonnell says Boris Johnson just said “pathetic” to him.
McDonnell says he knows what develops real pathos – seeing the experience of those suffering from benefit cuts, he says.McDonnell says he knows what develops real pathos – seeing the experience of those suffering from benefit cuts, he says.
McDonnell asks if the 10,000 extra prison places are the same 10,000 extra prison places promised by the government in 2016, and then again in 2017, and then again in 2018.McDonnell asks if the 10,000 extra prison places are the same 10,000 extra prison places promised by the government in 2016, and then again in 2017, and then again in 2018.
Will anyone in government apologise to the Prison Officers Association for ignoring its warning about the safety impact of job cuts?Will anyone in government apologise to the Prison Officers Association for ignoring its warning about the safety impact of job cuts?