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Brexit: unrepentant Boris Johnson tells Labour to 'face day of reckoning' and have an election – live news Brexit: unrepentant Boris Johnson tells Labour to 'face day of reckoning' and have an election – live news
(32 minutes later)
Following the PM’s statement, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, has called on the prime minister to be impeached for misleading the public about his attempted shut down of parliament.
Roberts reminded Johnson that he had supported current Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price’s motion seeking to impeach Tony Blair in 2004 for lying about the Iraq war. The process of impeachment would involve the House of Commons first voting on an impeachment motion, which, if passed, could lead to prosecution and trial. Historically trials have taken place in Westminster Hall, on the parliamentary estate.
Saville Roberts asked the PM:
The prime minister is surely not a man who would like to look inconsistent. So, I ask him: does he still believe it to be right and proper to seek to impeach a prime minister who has been judged to mislead the public?
Anna Soubry, the leader of the Independent Group for Change, calls on Johnson to apologise to parliament and to the Queen.
The PM responds by bringing up John’s Major’s previous proroguing of parliament for 18 days, and adds that parliament still has enough time to debate Brexit and always had enough time.
Labour’s Jess Phillips says the biggest difference between her and the PM is that she’d be ashamed if the Labour party was responsible for the current mess.
She joins the chorus of MPs calling on Johnson to show remorse, apologise, and be honest.
This from the Labour MP Toby Perkins:
Incredible that PM offers not a shred of contrition for the farce that his government perpetuates whilst the country desperately waits for them to DO SOMETHING. This Brexit failure is his and TMay’s alone. Maddening that he seeks to turn that anger against others.
Yvette Cooper was next up, and brought up the incongruence between the attorney general’s concession from earlier that the government “got it wrong” in relation to prorogation of parliament, and the PM’s statement in the Commons a little while ago, in which he told MPs that the supreme court judgment was wrong.
Johnson responded by restating that the judgment “was wrong”.
The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, weighed in shortly after, and reminded the PM that “actions have consequences”.
“Even my five-year-old knows that if you do something wrong you have to say sorry,” she said.
Added that if her son can apologise for kicking a football indoors, the prime minster can have the humility to say sorry for “misleading the Queen and illegally shutting down” democracy.
Jeremy Hunt told Boris Johnson that he’s glad he’s not PM. He said that a large proportion of people are being “alienated” by attempts to block Brexit.
Hello everyone, I’m taking over from my colleague Andrew Sparrow now.
Ian Blackford, parliamentary leader of the SNP, is not beating around the bush tonight. “Has he no shame?” he asked about Boris Johnson in his speech in the Commons a little while ago.
Blackford said Johnson accuses MPs of running off to the courts, but has no reasonable justification for his actions, and called it “devastating” for a PM to have such judgment. That’s not leadership, he said.
He added that Johnson’s language was “despicable” and unsuitable for a PM, and that he is no longer tenable. He said the PM sought to silence parliament and fought the law, but the law won.
“The opposition must unite to trigger a vote of no confidence to bring this chaotic government down,” Blackford said.
He reiterated that the SNP’s priority is stopping no deal, and that doing nothing is no option anymore. The PM’s “time must be up”, he said.
The Speaker, John Bercow, reminded Blackford that he must not call on the prime minister to “end his lying”. Blackford conceded.
Earlier, when Geoffrey Cox, the attorney general, was under pressure during questions, he retaliated with a blistering, offensive broadside about parliament, dismissing it as “dead” and having “no moral right to sit”. (See 12.21pm.) MPs have a perfect right to sit because they were elected, just two years ago, but no matter. A few hours later Boris Johnson chose exactly the same hyper-aggressive approach. Having been found to have acted unlawfully by the supreme court, some humility might have been expected. But instead Johnson sounded utterly unrepentant, and instead his speech amounted highly-charged, after-dinner rant about Labour and the rest of the opposition, whom he accused of blocking Brexit.
Tory MPs loved it. And if the Number 10 strategy at the moment is all about depicting Johnson as a tribune of the Brexit-loving masses, taking on the courts and parliament, perhaps at one point, when the election comes, it will work.
But what was striking was that this appears to be about the only strategy Johnson has. Today Johnson had absolutely nothing to say about his Brexit negotiating strategy and he had absolutely nothing to say about his strategy for getting legislation through parliament. Jeremy Corbyn said the speech amounted to “10 minutes of bluster”, and he was right. All the alpha-male belligerent bravado was cover for the fact that the PM seems to be running out of options.
Here are the main points.
Johnson challenged the opposition parties to call a vote of no confidence if they want a general election. He said he would make time for a motion tabled by a minor opposition party, not just Labour, to be debated. But the opposition parties want a guarantee that there will not be a no-deal Brexit on 31 October first, and so it is hard to see this offer being taken up.
Johnson accused the opposition of being afraid of facing the public. This was undemocratic, he claimed. He said:
It’s not just that this parliament is in gridlock, paralysed and refusing to deliver the priorities of the people. It’s not just unable to move forward. It’s worse than that – out of sheer selfishness and political cowardice members opposite are unwilling to move aside and give the people a say.
He said he wanted to offer voters a “life after Brexit”. He said:
The public don’t want another referendum – what they want and what they demand, is that we honour the promise we made to the voters to respect the first referendum. And they also want us to move on – to put Brexit behind us and focus on the NHS, on violent crime and on cutting the cost of living. That is why I also brought forward a Queen’s speech. My government intends to present a programme for life after Brexit.
He said that he thought the supreme court decision was wrong.
Corbyn renewed his call for Johnson should resign. He opened his statement saying:
I thank the prime minister for advance copy of his statement. Unfortunately it was like his illegal prorogation of parliament: null, of no effect, and should be quashed.
This was 10 minutes of bluster from a dangerous prime minister who thinks he is above the law, but in truth is not fit for the office he holds.
Corbyn said Labour would be happy to back an election as soon as Johnson agreed to extend article 50.
That’s all from me for tonight.
My colleague Jedidajah Otte is taking over now.
Johnson is replying to Corbyn.Johnson is replying to Corbyn.
He says he does respect the supreme court.He says he does respect the supreme court.
On the subject of the Benn Act, he says he will respect the law and come out of the EU on 31 October.On the subject of the Benn Act, he says he will respect the law and come out of the EU on 31 October.
He says preparations for a no-deal Brexit are going well.He says preparations for a no-deal Brexit are going well.
He says there is progress in the Brexit talks. But he says it has not been made any easier by the opposition, and the “surrender bill” (his term for the Benn Act).He says there is progress in the Brexit talks. But he says it has not been made any easier by the opposition, and the “surrender bill” (his term for the Benn Act).
He says he is sorry the Labour conference is over. He says he would have liked people to have heard more of Labour policies like abolishing private schools.He says he is sorry the Labour conference is over. He says he would have liked people to have heard more of Labour policies like abolishing private schools.
Johnson says he has heard that Corbyn wanted to announce an election in his conference speech. But he was censored by the “Stasi” in Labour, in the form of John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, he says. He says Corbyn is being held hostage by his party. “Free the Islington One,” he says.Johnson says he has heard that Corbyn wanted to announce an election in his conference speech. But he was censored by the “Stasi” in Labour, in the form of John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor, he says. He says Corbyn is being held hostage by his party. “Free the Islington One,” he says.
He says: “This parliament must either stand aside and either let this government get Brexit done or bring a vote of confidence and finally face a day of reckoning with the voters.”He says: “This parliament must either stand aside and either let this government get Brexit done or bring a vote of confidence and finally face a day of reckoning with the voters.”
As he ends he gets a prolonged round of applause from Conservative MPs. This is unusual. MPs are not supposed to applaud, and when MPs do break the rules, it is more often SNP and Labour MPs who clap than Tories.As he ends he gets a prolonged round of applause from Conservative MPs. This is unusual. MPs are not supposed to applaud, and when MPs do break the rules, it is more often SNP and Labour MPs who clap than Tories.
Corbyn says, for the good of the country, Johnson should go.Corbyn says, for the good of the country, Johnson should go.
He says he wants an election. And Johnson wants an election. Corbyn ends:He says he wants an election. And Johnson wants an election. Corbyn ends:
If he wants an election, get an extension and let’s have an election.If he wants an election, get an extension and let’s have an election.
Corbyn says Johnson also has questions to ask about his conduct in public office.Corbyn says Johnson also has questions to ask about his conduct in public office.
He says the culture department is reviewing the awarding of a grant to a company run by his friend.He says the culture department is reviewing the awarding of a grant to a company run by his friend.
Did Johnson initiate that review? Will he report himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation.Did Johnson initiate that review? Will he report himself to the Cabinet Office for investigation.
Here is the Guardian’s latest story on this, from my colleagues Rajeev Syal and Matthew Weaver.Here is the Guardian’s latest story on this, from my colleagues Rajeev Syal and Matthew Weaver.
US phone call raises further questions over grant to Boris Johnson's friendUS phone call raises further questions over grant to Boris Johnson's friend
Corbyn says the Operation Yellowhammer document shows why a no-deal Brexit would be so serious.Corbyn says the Operation Yellowhammer document shows why a no-deal Brexit would be so serious.
Why did the government describe these documents when they were leaked as out-of-date? When it was published, it was exactly the same?Why did the government describe these documents when they were leaked as out-of-date? When it was published, it was exactly the same?
Corbyn says it talks of people going of without food and medicine.Corbyn says it talks of people going of without food and medicine.
He says Johnson has hardly put any progress into the Brexit talks. Any progress has been minimal. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said there had been very little support.He says Johnson has hardly put any progress into the Brexit talks. Any progress has been minimal. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said there had been very little support.
Corbyn says he has some questions for Johnson.Corbyn says he has some questions for Johnson.
Does Johnson think the government got it wrong, or does he agree with Jacob Rees-Mogg that the supreme court committed a “constitutional coup”.Does Johnson think the government got it wrong, or does he agree with Jacob Rees-Mogg that the supreme court committed a “constitutional coup”.
Can Johnson confirm that he will abide by the terms of the Benn Act?Can Johnson confirm that he will abide by the terms of the Benn Act?
Jeremy Corbyn is responding to Johnson now.
He says Johnson’s statement was similar to what the supreme court said about prorogation - “null, of no effect, and should be quashed”.
He says this is an extraordinary and precarious moment in this country’s history.
The highest court in the land found that the PM broke the law, he says.
He says the judges concluded there was no reason, let alone a good reason, for the PM to have shut down parliament.
He says Johnson should have done the right thing and resigned afterwards.
But instead he is here, with no shred of humility and no substance either.
Johnson says Labour has until the house rises today to table a motion of no confidence. If it does that, it can have the vote tomorrow.
And he uses the line flagged up earlier about being willing to make the time for a confidence vote if the other opposition parties want to table a no confidence motion.
Johnson ends by saying it is time to get Brexit done.
He wants to deal with the people’s priorities, like the NHS.
He says parliament decided to hold this referendum. It should either get this done or face the voters.
Johnson says the opposition parties had a remedy at their disposal.
He says the opposition parties could have voted for an election.
In Brighton Labour members demanded one - even though they twice voted against it.
He says Jeremy Corbyn keeps changing his mind. He does not know whether John McDonnell has forced him to change his mind.
He asks if Corbyn will vote no confidence in Johnson as PM.
He asks if Corbyn even wants to be PM.
He says Corbyn wants him to go to Brussels on 17 October to negotiate a delay. But Corbyn won’t go himself. And even if he did want to go, his colleagues would not let him, because they don’t want him negotiating for Britain with people like Vladimir Putin.
Johnson says some MPs have been going to the courts to block Brexit.
He says it is no disrespect to say that while he respects the supreme court, he thinks its decision was wrong.
He says decisions about prorogation are political matters.
He says the Labour party is determined to say it knows best, and to thumb its noses at the people.
Jeremy Corbyn and his party do not trust the people, he says.
He says they do not care about the extra cost of staying in.
And they do not care about Brexit being delayed for months, he says.
He says he wants to move up a gear. But Labour wants to put on the handbrake.
He says he will not betray the people.
Johnson says he wants to show the public there is “life after Brexit”.
That is why he wants a Queen’s speech, so he can show his domestic programme.
Johnson says the opposition parties are promising a second referendum.
But the idea that there could be a second referendum, with people respecting the result, is a fantasy, he says.
He says the public do not want a second referendum. They want the first one honoured, he says.
Boris Johnson is making his statement now.
He says the British people just want Brexit done.
He says he has been making progress in the Brexit talks with the EU.
In his speech to the Labour conference yesterday Jeremy Corbyn accused Boris Johnson of planning to send troops to Saudia Arabia. He told delegates:
It really beggars belief that this week Boris Johnson is openly talking about sending troops to Saudi Arabia as part of the increasingly dangerous confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, in an apparent bid to appease Donald Trump. Have we learned nothing?
In the Commons a few minutes ago, in a statement on Iran, Emily Thornberry, the shadow foreign secretary, repeated the same point, saying that Johnson was “openly talking about sending troops to Saudia Arabia in an apparent bid to please Donald Trump”. She asked for an assurance that, if troops were going to be sent to the Gulf for military action, that the Commons would get a vote.
Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, claimed that there were no such plans. Responding to Thornberry, he said:
[Thornberry] talked whether the UK would be sending troops to Saudia Arabia. There has been no suggestion of that at all. It is simply wrong for her to say it. What has been said is that the US is sending troops to Saudi Arabia to make sure that Saudi can protect itself from further attacks, or repeats of the attacks Aramco.
We have said that we would consider a request that we’ve received for support in relation to air defences. That is something that we will consider. But we are absolutely clear that our over-arching strategic objective is deescalation, reducing tensions. And we want to see Iran come in from out of the international cold. But we need to be absolutely unwavering and clear in our resolve that the only way that will happen is if Iran steps up and starts to meet its responsibilities.
The suggestion that the UK was considering sending troops to Saudia Arabia, emerged from what Boris Johnson said when he spoke to reporters on his flight to New York recently, although the headlines about troops being despatched (see here and here) did not necessarily match what was actually being proposed.
According to a leak of what Boris Johnson is due to say in his statement to MPs shortly, he will challenge the opposition parties to table a motion of no confidence in the government. This is from the Press & Journal’s Dan O’Donoghue.
NEW: Boris Johnson will tonight allow opposition MPs to table a confidence vote in his Government...excerpt from his Commons statement due shortly pic.twitter.com/QjTnrgAEJ2
Under current parliamentary rules only a motion of no confidence tabled by the leader of the opposition has to be debated. Jeremy Corbyn says he will only do that when he is sure he can win, and when he has absolutely guaranteed that there will not be a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.
Johnson seems to be planning to say that, if the Lib Dems or the SNP tabled a no confidence motion, he would make time for it to be debated. But all the opposition parties are agreed at the moment that they want an absolute guarantee that there will not be a no-deal Brexit first.
My colleague Heather Stewart has more on the plans for a vote tomorrow on a mini-recess to allow Tory MPs to attend their party conference in Manchester.
NEW: Labour now expecting government to table a motion tomorrow morning seeking a three-day conference recess.Government rejected Labour's offer to debate uncontentious bills next week, so that conference could proceed without a recess being called.