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Brexit: MPs vote to force government to publish no-deal plans and advisers' messages – live news
Brexit: MPs vote to force government to publish no-deal plans and advisers' messages – live news
(about 2 hours later)
Winding up his speech, Corbyn calls on Johnson to come to the dispatch box to set out “his detailed plan for Brexit” and confirm he will abide by the law.
Today’s sketch from the Guardian’s John Crace, as we await the early election debate while MPs discuss Lords amendments to the parliamentary renovation plans.
I hope the prime minister will live up to the office that he holds, accept the decisions made of the parliament and carry out the wishes of that Act to ensure that an application is made to prevent this country crashing out on the 31st of October with all the damage that will do to food supplies, medicine supplies, industrial supplies, and his longer term ambitions of heading this country in a totally different direction which many, many people are truly frightened of.
Bercow begins his long goodbye by inflicting more Tory turmoil | John Crace
Prominent Brexiteer and Tory backbencher Peter Bone asks whether Corbyn would support a no-deal if one of the other EU countries blocked the UK from extending article 50.
The Liberal Democrats are set to officially back revoking article 50 in an attempt to position themselves as the most pro-EU political party.
The Labour leader dismisses the question as hypothetical and calls on the government to accept the decision of parliament to pass the act preventing no-deal into law – before predicting the vote calling for a general election later this evening will not pass.
Guardian political correspondent Kate Proctor reports that the move would effectively sever the chances of an alliance with Labour at a forthcoming general election.
“No 10 has briefed that the PM will defy the law, so until the government has abided by that law, I don’t believe there will be a majority in this house for what the PM is proposing later today under the Fixed-term Parliament Act.
“I relish the chance to take the fight to Boris Johnson in an election and I’m confident we’d make significant gains,” says party leader Jo Swinson.
Asked again what would happen if an EU country did not grant an extension, Corbyn says: “We’ve always wanted to get a deal but what we don’t want is a no deal exit with all the dangers for jobs, living standards, supplies and the prime minister and his chums taking us down the road into the arms of Donald Trump and the trade arrangements he’ll make with the US.”
“Whenever the election comes, our position is clear and unequivocal. A majority Liberal Democrat government would not renegotiate Brexit, we would cancel it by revoking article 50 and remaining in the European Union.”
He goes on to reference Amber Rudd’s claims over the weekend that there was “not one shred of evidence” that the government had made any new proposals during the Brexit negotiations.
Liberal Democrats poised to back revoking article 50
Former minister Angela Eagle intervenes to highlight the apparent contradiction between Boris Johnson saying he would obey the bill preventing a no-deal if it was passed, but the next day announcing he would rather be dead in a ditch.
In the Commons, DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds says that his party is “fully committed” to restoring devolved powers in Stormont.
Corbyn says he does not wish anyone dead in the ditch, but that the PM should accept the democratic will of parliament. “We don’t have an executive president who can rule over us .. We will expect the prime minister to abide by the details of the law.”
He alludes to a number of the party’s controversial positions, including on keeping abortion illegal, and says the DUP would deal with the important issues Northern Ireland faces “without prejudice to the issues that Sinn Féin have elevated”.
The SNP’s leader in Westminster, Angus Robertson, then says the government has a responsibility to recognise the impact of its abusive language and actions outside of parliament.
Dodds claims that Sinn Féin is “preventing the restoration of Stormont” upon the basis of these issues.
Corbyn agrees that language has consequences: “Surely we can have an intelligent debate in our society without resorting to that kind of behaviour, language or violence threatened against some individuals.”
Hunt and Johnson rule out abortion reform in Northern Ireland
Here is the text of Jeremy Corbyn’s motion, which is now being debated and may go through without a division.
Former Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins is to join investment bank Goldman Sachs, according to the FT.
That this house welcomes the completion of all parliamentary stages of the European Union (withdrawal) (No 6) bill and has considered the matter of the importance of the rule of law and ministers obligation to comply with the law.
The paper reports that he will not earn an elite-rank wage, but will receive a six-figure sum just below the managing director level, where salaries start at £770,000.
Earlier (see 5.12pm), the Labour leader said MPs would be concerned by suggestions from No 10 that the prime minister may not obey this law.
Big move for @OllyRobbins to Goldman Sachs. I'm sure his Eurosceptic critics will not begrudge him this big money move. Much..https://t.co/EvaUR66A4C
Opening his speech, Corbyn thanked the Speaker and welcomed the decision the house had just reached and said he looked forward to the government abiding by it.
The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg tweets that the government is expected to disclose the Brexit documents tomorrow.
The fact that parliament is compelled to pass a law to ensure the will of parliament is upheld shows what extraordinary times we now live in. The house has rejected no deal, businesses and trade unions are united in rejecting no deal, and there is no majority for it across the country.
Meanwhile, Grieve rebels expect No 10 hand over the documents tmrw
The Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster [Michael Gove], the co-convenor of the vote leave campaign, said in March this year ‘we didn’t vote to leave without a deal. It is clear there is no mandate for no deal.
'The government is going to have to make up its mind whether it is a bunch of hoodlums...or a respectable group'Dominic Grieve says the government is taking a 'revolutionary step' if it chooses not to provide documents and communications requested by MPs https://t.co/idMn6TokbS pic.twitter.com/4U4s7XmAVh
In trying to diminish the act, the government’s spin doctors have branded it the surrender bill and ministers dutifully trotted out this phrase in the media and the minister who’s going to reply has already replied like Pavlov’s dogs always do.
There are reports that Phil Hogan, Ireland’s European commission nominee, is to be confirmed as the EU’s chief trade negotiator.
We are not at war. The prime minister is obsessed with this hyperbole and aggressive language. ‘surrender bill’, ‘do or die’, or ‘I’d rather be dead in a ditch’, the list goes on. Mr Speaker, we’re supposed to be having negotiations with our European partners. The lives at stake as a result of all of this, are not those of the prime minister or his cabinet.
The Irish politician has been critical of Boris Johnson and warned last month of the ramifications of a no-deal Brexit on the relationship between the UK and EU states.
He went on to criticise Boris Johnson’s absence from the House of Commons, amid cries of “where is he”.
“If the UK fails to prevent a crash-out Brexit they should be under no illusion regarding the foul atmosphere they will create with their EU partners and the serious consequences this will have for negotiating any future trade agreement,” he said, according to the Irish Times.
Following the conclusion of this 90-minute debate, MP’s will debate a motion under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act and Lords amendments to the parliamentary buildings (restoration and renewal) bill.
Phil Hogan, Ireland's European Commission nominee, will be confirmed tomorrow as the EU's chief trade negotiator, @rtenews understands
Then, at around 10pm, MPs will debate Boris Johnson’s motion calling for an early election over the course of an hour and a half, before a vote which will take 15 minutes. Parliament will then prorogue.
The BBC has posted this remarkable video of opposition MPs arguing earlier. A number of other MP’s, including the chancellor Sajid Javid, has since reposted the exchange.
That was Boris Johnson’s fourth main defeat in a Commons vote since he became prime minister. The other defeats were: on the Oliver Letwin motion allowing time for the Benn bill, on the Benn bill at second and third reading and on holding an early election. The final vote counted as a defeat, because Johnson did not get the required two-thirds majority, although technically he won, because more MPs voted in favour than against.
Former Labour MP Ian Austin criticises Jeremy Corbyn during rule of law debate in the Commons, sparking row with Labour MP Liz McInnes https://t.co/uVaIZFGfWd pic.twitter.com/E18WxpxMSC
But what does this defeat mean?
In the Commons, MPs are now debating the motion relating to the executive in Northern Ireland moved by Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith in Theresa May’s former chief whip’s first appearance at the dispatch box.
Humble addresses are considered binding on the government. The passing of this motion (see 7.24pm) means the government is now obliged to release to the Commons:
However, he says that there is not enough time to debate all the motions on the order paper. Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government for more than two years but Smith says he believes the parties could swiftly agree a programme for government despite fundamental disagreements.
1) all private messages sent between nine advisers, including Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s de facto chief of staff, including text and WhatsApp messages and private emails, sent from 23 July relating to the prorogation of parliament.
Political parties across the spectrum must now realise that the lack of political leadership has left public servants bearing the load for far too long .. There can be no more excuses. We just have to get this assembly and executive up and running .. The government will now intensify its efforts to put forward compromise solutions to the parties.
2) all the documents prepared within government since 23 July 2019 relating to operation Yellowhammer and submitted to the cabinet or a cabinet committee.
The Guardian’s Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll reported earlier (see 4.26pm) that there were rumours Boris Johnson was considering putting forward a Northern Ireland-only backstop to get a Brexit deal through parliament in the second half of October.
The motion mentions 23 July because that is the day Boris Johnson became Tory leader. He become prime minister the following day.
As Daniel Boffey reported on Friday, it is understood the UK has suggested there is a need for Stormont to be able to vote on the continuation of the proposed common regulatory area, which has been described by EU officials as a “backstop-lite”.
The material is meant to be handed over by 11 September.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson sums up how the government has fared of late.
However, it does not seem likely that the government will comply. The Commons will not even be sitting on Wednesday. Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, told MPs that he wanted to publish some version of the Operation Yellowhammer document anyway. But during the debate Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, suggested that the government would not have the legal power to enforce the release of the internal prorogation messages, even if it wanted to comply. (See 5.51pm.)
How to sum up last few days for @BorisJohnson? 5 days in Commons + 5 major defeats - 21 Tory MPs = 0 majority + 0 election + 0 plan for Brexit + 5 weeks of Parliament suspensed
Last year Labour used the humble address mechanism to require the publication of the attorney general’s legal advice about the withdrawal agreement. The government initially ignored the request, and it only complied a month later when MPs passed another motion finding the government in contempt of parliament.
The Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee writes that MPs should do away with “Corbynphobia” to prevent a no deal.
In this case no such contempt motion will be passed any time soon, because after tonight the Commons will not be sitting until 14 October.
It’s no use wishing for another leader of the opposition; this is the one Labour has, and in this crisis he is now stepping up to the plate. His leadership of the alliance has been “collegiate”; he is the grownup, while Johnson breaks things. Theresa May lost her 20-point lead in the 2017 election; Johnson’s lead in the polls is about half that. Corbyn’s manifesto back then was highly popular and you can bet it will sell well again. He’s a good campaigner; Johnson may disappoint.
And even if it were passed, a contempt motion on its own would not necessarily force Boris Johnson’s government to comply. Theresa May’s government did, but May respected the authority of parliament. Johnson’s administration seems much more contemptuous of it.
If Boris Johnson quits, MPs should back Jeremy Corbyn to avoid no deal | Polly Toynbee
On other issues MPs and campaigners have threatened legal action, or gone to court, to ensure that Johnson complies with their wishes. But this vote is not a matter of legislation, and it does not relate to the exercise of prerogative powers. It is a Commons procedural matter, and so it is hard to see on what basis the courts could intervene.
That’s all from me for the night. My colleague Mattha Busby is now taking over.
MPs have backed the Grieve motion requiring the release of some no-deal planning documents, and private messages from No 10 officials about prorogation, by 311 votes to 302 – a majority of nine.
Here is the text of Dominic Grieve’s motion.
That a humble address be presented to Her Majesty, that she will be graciously pleased to direct ministers to lay before this House, not later than 11.00pm Wednesday 11 September, all correspondence and other communications (whether formal or informal, in both written and electronic form, including but not limited to messaging services including WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Facebook messenger, private email accounts both encrypted and unencrypted, text messaging and iMessage and the use of both official and personal mobile phones) to, from or within the present administration, since 23 July 2019 relating to the prorogation of Parliament sent or received by one or more of the following individuals: Hugh Bennett, Simon Burton, Dominic Cummings, Nikki da Costa, Tom Irven, Sir Roy Stone, Christopher James, Lee Cain or Beatrice Timpson; and that ministers be further directed to lay before this House no later than 11.00pm Wednesday 11 September all the documents prepared within Her Majesty’s government since 23 July 2019 relating to operation Yellowhammer and submitted to the cabinet or a cabinet committee.
MPs are now voting on Dominic Grieve’s SO24 motion.
Dominic Grieve intervenes. He asks Gove to explain why no government official swore an affidavit for the prorogation court case?
Gove says the question for MPs is, are they willing to ignore data protection legislation, the ECHR and the normal conventions of government, just so that Grieve’s curiosity can be satisfied.
John Bercow, the Speaker, intervenes and calls the vote.
Gove says he has already said that the government intends to plan a version of the Operation Yellowhammer report on no-deal planning.
But it is neither an impact assessment or a worst-case scenario, he says.
