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Brexit: Parliament to be prorogued tonight, Downing Street confirms – live news
Brexit: John Bercow to step down as Speaker by 31 October – live news
(about 2 hours later)
The government intends to prorogue parliament this evening, but before MPs get sent away for their five-week recess, they have got a huge amount to get through. Here is the timetable for the rest of the day.
From my colleague Patrick Wintour
I use the word “timetable” provisionally, because at this point it is not at all clear how long everything will take. In theory, if everything took the maximum amount of time allocated, the Commons could still be sitting at 8am tomorrow morning. No one expects that to happen. But it is likely that the final vote, on whether or not to have an early election, will come after midnight.
Everyone will have a view on Bercow's personality and neutrality, but this graph shows he made the executive answerable to MPs, often when Ministers refused to be so. By this alone, he revived a moribund parliamentary democracy in the UK. pic.twitter.com/aR8ZaQXAgA
Here is what we know.
The tributes to John Bercow are still coming in. They have included tributes from Dame Cheryl Gillan, who praised Bercow for the support he has given to those who have campaigned on behalf of those with autism, from Angela Eagle, who praised his campaigning on behalf of LGBT issues, and from Peter Bone, the Tory Brexiter, who said that even though he disagreed with some of Bercow’s rulings, he thought Bercow had been an “outstanding” Speaker.
2.30pm: Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, takes questions.
Bercow told Bone it was big of him to say that in the light of their Brexit disagreements.
3.30pm: Two MPs make applications for emergency debates under standing order 24. They are Dominic Grieve, the Tory pro-European, and Jeremy Corbyn. Taking advantage of the Speaker’s decision to allow SO24 motions to be used not just for neutral motions (ie, ones with no practical effect), Grieve has used the process to table a “humble address” that would be force the government to release written material. And he is asking for not just one batch of material, but two: all private correspondence relating to the decision to prorogue parliament, and the Operation Yellowhammer government no-deal planning documents. Corbyn’s motion is about the rule of law, but I have not seen the text yet.
Here is the full text of John Bercow’s resignation statement.
The Speaker will have to decide whether to accept one or both motions. Given the level of anger in the Commons about the prorogation decision, it is quite likely both will be allowed.
Colleagues, I would like to make a personal statement to the house. At the 2017 election I promised my wife and children that it would be my last. This is a pledge that I intend to keep. If the house votes tonight for an early general election, my tenure as Speaker and MP will end when this parliament ends.
In theory each debate could last up to three hours, taking you to 10pm if both motions were to be put to a vote. But at Westminster today there is an assumption that MPs will get through the SO24 debate or debates more quickly.
If the house does not so vote, I have concluded that the least disruptive and most democratic course of action would be for me stand down at the close of business on Thursday, 31 October. Least disruptive because that date will fall shortly after the votes on the Queen’s speech expected on 21 and 22 October.
Early evening?: The government has tabled five motions under the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act. Up to 90 minutes is allocated for each debate, but it is understood that four of the motions will get pulled, and the other one is not expected to take the full 90 minutes.
The week also after that may be quite lively and it would be best to have an experienced figure in the chair for that short period.
Early/mid evening?: MPs have to conclude the parliamentary buildings (restoration and renewal) bill, which is returning from the Lords. Up to an hour has been set aside for this debate, but, again, it could wrap up more quickly than that.
Most democratic because it will mean that a ballot is held when all members have some knowledge of the candidates. This is far preferable to a contest at the beginning of a parliament when new MPs will not be similarly informed and may find themselves vulnerable to undue institutional influence.
9pm or later?: MPs begin the 90-minute debate on Boris Johnson’s motion calling for an early election. Johnson is expected to win the vote technically, because most MPs voting are expected to vote in favour, but lose the vote in practical terms, because under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act two thirds of MPs (434) must vote in favour for the election election to happen.
We would not want anyone to be whipped senseless, would we? Throughout my time as Speaker I have sought to increase the relative authority of this legislature for which I will make absolutely no apology to anyone, anywhere, at any time.
Around 11pm or later?: Parliament prorogues. This involves a ceremony taking place in the House of Lords, with MPs summoned to attend, as happens with the Queen’s speech - only without the Queen.
To deploy a perhaps dangerous phrase, I have also sought to be the backbencher’s backstop.
Plaid Cymru, the Welsh nationalist party, is suggesting Boris Johnson could be impeached if he ignores the law designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid’s Wesminster leader, said this after the meeting of opposition leaders this morning.
I could not do so without the support of a small but superb team in Speaker’s House, the wider house staff, my Buckingham constituents, and above all my wife, Sally, and our three children, Oliver, Freddy and Jemima. From the bottom of my heart, I thank them all profusely.
I am glad that as opposition parties, we are united in our belief that Boris Johnson’s attempt to undermine the rule of law must be stopped.
I could also not have served without the repeated support of this house and its members past and present. This is a wonderful place filled overwhelmingly by people who are motivated by their notion of the national interest by their perception of the public good. And by their duty, not as delegates, but as representatives, to do what they believe is right for our country.
If the prime minister refuses to seek an extension to the period under article 50, he will have broken the law – plain and simple – and he must be subject to legal repercussions.
We degrade this parliament at our peril. I have served as a member of parliament for 22 years, and for the last 10 as Speaker. This has been, let me put it explicitly, the greatest privilege and honour of my professional life for which I will be eternally grateful.
I told other opposition parties this morning that if he does break the law, we should be ready to impeach Boris Johnson – a procedure that he himself supported in 2004 when current Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price sought to impeach Tony Blair for lying.
I wish my successor in the chair the very best fortune in standing up for the rights of honourable and right honourable members individually and for parliament institutionally as the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Saville Roberts did not mention the fact that Price’s attempt to impeach Blair in 2004 got nowhere. As this Commons library briefing (pdf) explains, “impeachment is considered obsolete, as it has been superseded by other forms of accountability”. Ken Macdonald, a former director of public prosecutions, has suggested Johnson could be jailed for contempt of court if he ignored this law.
It is important to remember, of course, that only yesterday the Conservatives announced that they were going to field a candidate against John Bercow at the next election, even thought the Speaker is normally given a clear run, because they had concluded that he was biased against them on Brexit. The story is here.
This is what Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, said after the meeting of opposition parties this morning.
Tories plan to contest John Bercow's seat in breach of convention
It is clear there must be an early election - but it cannot happen while the Tory government is threatening to subvert the law to force through a catastrophic no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
A few minutes ago Michael Gove praised Bercow lavishly. (See 3.51pm.) Maybe he was being sincere if speaking in a personal capacity (Gove is an accomplished parliamentarian debater, and did not seem to mind Bercow giving backbenchers the chance to hold the executive to account), but for a Conservative party and government representative to be praising Bercow a day after launching a plan to unseat him, and on the day the government is closing parliament to stop ministers being held to account, was astonishingly hypocritical.
If Boris Johnson wants an election he must obey the law and take a no-deal Brexit off the table. It is beyond belief that the prime minister is disrespecting democracy by seeking to shut down parliament and railroad through an extreme Brexit against the will of parliament and the people.
David Lidington, the former Cabinet Office minister, represents the constituency next door to Bercow’s in Buckinghamshire. He says John Bercow never allowed his duties as Speaker to detract from his need to represent his constituents.
Once the threat of no deal is off the table, we will move for an early election.
Hilary Benn, the chair of the Commons Brexit committee, whose bill designed to rule out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October was passed as a result of a procedural ruling allowed by Bercow, praises Bercow as a reforming Speaker who has empowered parliament.
The government has spent tens of thousands of pounds in recent days on adverts promising “Brexit is happening” on 31 October, despite increasing uncertainty over whether it actually will, PA Media reports. Figures from Facebook showed the government had paid out £30,531 on the targeted posts in the five days since they were launched on 4 September – the same week MPs voted to block a no-deal departure. The adverts point to information for businesses and members of the public on how to prepare for the planned exit on Halloween.
Bercow says Gove never complained about urgent questions being granted at short notice, because he was always quick enough and bright enough to respond.
Jeremy Corbyn has described the government’s decision to prorogue parliament this evening as “disgraceful”. Asked about the move, Corbyn said:
He suggests that praising Gove may not do him credit on the Tory benches.
I think it is disgraceful. Parliament should be sitting. Parliament should be holding the government to account. And the prime minister appears to want to run away from questions.
(Many Tory MPs loath Bercow, and will be glad to see him gone.)
Corbyn also confirmed that the opposition parties have agreed not to back an early election until the government has complied with the bill ruling out a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister, is speaking now. He says for the first time he would like to associate himself with what Jeremy Corbyn said. He says Bercow was a tenacious backbencher, and frontbencher too.
This is from Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, commenting after a meeting with Jeremy Corbyn and other opposition leaders this morning.
He says he has no wish to prematurely truncate Bercow’ role in the chair.
Tonight, the @LibDems will vote against the PM’s election, which he could use to tip us into a No Deal. We will not support an election until Article 50 has been extended. Other opposition leaders have confirmed the same in cross-party meeting this morning.
He says he has always appreciated the way Bercow has tried to ensure the executive has been held to account. He says Bercow has acted in the best tradition of Speakers.
One consequence of the decision to prorogue parliament this evening is that Boris Johnson will not have to give evidence to the Commons liaison committee at a session that was scheduled for Wednesday. Hilary Benn, the Labour chair of the Commons Brexit committee (and a member of the liaison committee) has issue this statement on behalf of the People’s Vote campaign, which wants a second referendum. He said:
He says Bercow has tried to make the executive answerable to the Commons, just as the house is answerable to the people.
It is extraordinary that Boris Johnson will shut down parliament this evening for over a month at the very moment when we need our elected MPs to be in the House of Commons holding the government to account. It also means that the prime minister will avoid having to face questions from the liaison committee on Wednesday. I don’t think he was relishing the prospect.
He ends by saying he and Bercow have children at the same school.
Richard Benyon, one of the 21 Conservative MPs who lost the whip last week after he voted against the government, has announced he is standing down at the next election.
Jeremy Corbyn rises on a point of order and uses it to thank John Bercow for his work as Speaker.
Today I have announced that I will not be seeking re-election at the forthcoming General Election. Read my full statement here: https://t.co/mO16xmNjwQ
He says Bercow has “totally changed the way in which the job has been done”. He has gone out to the country and spoken at schools and factories. He says he will always remember Bercow speaking to students with learning disabilities at an event in Corbyn’s constituency. He says he has made the role of Speaker more powerful.
Here is a full list of MPs who are standing down. There are now almost 20 MPs, elected as Tories at the last election, who have said they are not standing again. Almost all are from the centrist, one nation wing of the party. There are another 13 who could go because they lost the whip last week and may struggle to get re-elected as independents.
Corbyn says, as someone who aspires to hold executive office, he approves of a powerful parliament holding the executive to account. He says he has tried to do that himself during his career.
Back in the public administration committee, Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, said that in the event of a general election, essential government business could continue. That would include the Brexit talks, he said.
Bercow says he could not have served without the support of the Commons.
Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar have issued a joint statement following their talks in Dublin. Here it is in full.
He says it is filled with people motivated by their sense of public duty, and with people who see themselves not as delegates but as representatives – there to do what is best for the public.
They said that while “common ground” was established in some areas, “significant gaps” remain between them.
He says he has been an MP for 22 years, and Speaker for 10 years. It has been the greatest honour of his life, he says.
The prime minister and the taoiseach had a positive and constructive meeting in Government Buildings this morning.
He wishes his successor all the best in terms of standing up for the rights of MPs individually, and for parliament institutionally.
This was an essential and timely opportunity for the prime minister and the taoiseach to establish a relationship and a better understanding of each other’s positions.
Bercow has finished. He receives a round of applause, although with most of the clapping coming from the opposition benches.
They spoke privately over breakfast for more than half an hour before joining their delegations for another half-hour meeting.
Bercow says he has always sought to be the champion of backbenchers.
While they agreed that the discussions are at an early stage, common ground was established in some areas although significant gaps remain.
If you like, he has been their backstop, he says.
The UK and Ireland are committed to securing an agreement between the European Union and the UK, and recognise that negotiations take place through the Brussels taskforce.
He thanks House of Commons staff.
They also shared their commitment to the Belfast/Good Friday agreement and the restoration of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland.
And he thanks his wife and his three children. He sounds very emotional at this point.
They look forward to meeting each other again in the near future.
John Bercow, the Speaker, says he wants to make a personal statement.
Labour’s Rupa Huq goes next.
At the 2017 election he promised his wife and children that it would be his last, he says.
Q: When were you told of the PM’s plan to prorogue parliament for five weeks?
He says if the Commons votes for an early general election, his tenure as Speaker and as an MP will end when this parliament ends.
Sedwill says the paper has been revealed in court. He was on holiday at the time, but he was kept informed, and read that paper on the day it was submitted to the PM, or the day after.
He says, if MPs do not vote for an election, he has concluded the least disruptiveoption will be to stand down at close of play on Thursday 31 October.
The SNP’s Ronnie Cowan asks if, in the event of a vote of no confidence, the PM could just run down the clock for 14 days without recommending an alternative PM to the Queen.
He says the votes on the Queen’s speech will come at the start of that week. He says it would make sense to have an experienced Speaker in the chair for those votes.
Sedwill confirms that that is the case.
And he says this would be the most democratic option because it would allow the new Speaker to be elected by MPs who know the candidates.
Sedwill suggests that, following a vote of no confidence, the prime minster would not be obliged to suggest an alternative PM to the Queen.
From the Evening Standard’s Joe Murphy
Sir Mark Sedwill, the cabinet secretary, has just started giving evidence to the Commons public administration and constitutional affairs committee.
Speaker’s wife Sally is in the Gallery. Major announcement about to take place?
There is a live feed here.
Tory MPs are falling like skittles at the moment. Another, Mark Prisk, has announced that he is standing down at the next election.
Sedwill has just said the prime minister is under a duty to resign only when he, or she, can make a recommendation to the Queen as to who is most likely to be able to command the confidence of the House of Commons.
Prisk, 57, a former minister, voted remain in 2016 and voted with the government in the divisions on Theresa May’s Brexit deal. In his letter announcing his decision he says it is not a reaction to Brexit. But he also deprecates “the rise of narrow ideology over pragmatic, common sense”, and so it is not hard to guess what he thinks of what Boris Johnson and Dominic Cummings are doing to the Conservative party.
That is a political judgment the PM must exercise, with advice from the cabinet secretary.
Today I have announced that I will not be standing at the next general election. Read my full statement here pic.twitter.com/OgTkw7XLlj
Q: Does the PM need to test that, with a sitting House of Commons?
No, says Sedwill.
He says when Boris Johnson was appointed there was talk of having a vote of confidence in the house. But that did not go ahead.
From Sky’s Sam Coates
Exc: No10 has seen polling that means if there was an election now, Boris Johnson would do worse than Theresa May, according to Jason Stein, who was a Tory special advisor and Amber Rudd aide until Saturday night Here’s what he told me for a Sky News interview: pic.twitter.com/bDszzB2Ky7
Downing Street has also insisted, again, that Boris Johnson will refused to request an article 50 extension - even though legislation passed last week, and due to receive royal assent later today, would require him to do this if MPs do not pass a deal or vote to approve a no-deal Brexit. The prime minister’s spokesman told journalists at the morning lobby briefing:
The prime minister is not going to seek an extension.
If MPs want to resolve this there is an easy way - vote for an election today and let the public decide.
Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, claims that Boris Johnson has changed tack and that he is now going “all out” for Theresa May’s Brexit deal.
The Boris bravado has disappeared in Dublin, saying No Deal would be a “failure of statecraft”.He is now going all out for Mrs May’s “deal”, with Northern Ireland to be hived off from the rest of the UK. A clean break Brexit is the only way forward.
Here are the main quotes from the Boris Johnson/Leo Varadkar press conference.
Boris Johnson insisted that he genuinely wanted to secure a Brexit deal before 31 October and he described a no-deal Brexit as “a failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible”. This is a marked change of tone from Johnson, who in the past has repeatedly insisted that the dangers of no deal have been exaggerated by his critics. He said:
I want to find a deal. I have looked carefully at no-deal. Yes, we could do it, the UK could certainly get through it, but be in no doubt that outcome would be a failure of statecraft for which we would all be responsible.
He also insisted a deal could be achieved.
I would overwhelmingly prefer to find an agreement. I do believe that a deal can be done by October 18 [the final day of the EU summit] so let’s do it together.
He said he was “undaunted” by the opposition to his strategy in parliament. He said:
We will come out on October 31, and I’m sure that parliamentarians will see the wisdom of doing that and respecting, honouring, the referendum result - the democratic referendum result.
And, I’m absolutely undaunted by whatever may take place in parliament.
I think what the British people want us to do is to deliver a deal and to get on and take us out on October 31.
Leo Vardakar said that there would be no “clean break” for the UK from the EU, whatever happens later this year. Nigel Farage’s Brexit party, which poses a threat to the Tories at the next election, is demanding a no-deal Brexit, which it describes as a “clean-break Brexit”. In a reference to this terminology, Varadkar said:
The story of Brexit will not end if the United Kingdom leaves on 31 October or even 31 January – there is no such thing as a clean break. No such thing as just getting it done. Rather, we just enter a new phase.
If there is no deal, I believe that’s possible, it will cause severe disruption for British and Irish people alike. We will have to get back to the negotiating table. When we do, the first and only items on the agenda will be citizens’ rights, the financial settlement and the Irish border. All the issues we had resolved in the withdrawal agreement we made with your predecessor. An agreement made in good faith by 28 governments.
Varadkar said, even if there were a deal, negotiations between the UK and the EU would have to continue.
We will enter talks on a future relationship agreement between the EU and UK. It’s going to be tough dealing with issues ranging from tariffs to fishing rights, product standards and state aid. It will then have to be ratified by 31 parliaments.
He said that, even if Johnson agreed a deal by 31 October, negotiating a free trade deal with the EU during the time set aside for the transition, and getting it ratified by all EU parliaments, would be a “Herculean task”.
He said that he was prepared to listen to Johnson’s ideas for an alternative to the backstop, but he would not just accept a “promise”. He said:
I am ready to listen, but what we will not do is replace a legal guarantee with a promise.
He said he thought the EU would need a “good reason” if it were to agree to another article 50 extension. He wanted this matter resolved at the October summit, he said. He explained:
I’m very keen to have this matter resolved at the EU summit. Brexit has dominated politics for far too long now. This is an opportunity for common ground and finding a solution.
As for an extension, we’d like to see this dealt with but if there is a good reason to have an extension we would consider it.
He said Ireland would oppose the reintroduction of direct rule in Northern Ireland, which he said would be “contrary to the St Andrews agreement”.
Johnson claimed he had “an abundance of proposals” for alternatives to the backstop. But he refused to give any detail of what they were. He said:
I’ve seen the old border and how absolutely vital it is we keep the open border, on the plan, it’s fairly obvious, we need to find a way of ensuring that the UK is not kept locked in backstop arrangement while giving Ireland the assurance that it needs.
Whether it’s electronic pre-clearance or concept of the unity of island for agri-foods, and other ideas we’ll bring forward to address the full range.
I don’t underestimate the technical problems but I do think there is a way through.
Varadkar said having no backstop would mean there being no deal. He said:
In the absence of agreed alternative arrangements, no backstop is no deal for us.
