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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)
And here a true nugget of gold, courtesy of Boris Johnson, here reported by the Independent’s John Rentoul:
Extraordinary Q from Jeremy Lefroy, Con, urging PM not to use language of “surrender” or “traitor” – Johnson says he didn’t say it
Boris Johnson just said, when pressed on whether he’ll go for a second prorogation, that the government will look closely at the provisions in the Supreme Court judgment to find a way forward.
If you thought parliament gave Theresa May a tough time, tune in and watch the sheer rage Boris Johnson is at the receiving end of tonight.
This from Labour MP Bridget Phillipson:
I can barely find the words to express my revulsion at Johnson’s behaviour tonight. Not a hint of humility, no contrition, no apology. Johnson debases our politics, stokes division & undermines our democracy
This from Labour’s Angela Rayner:
PM tonight has been awful, his arrogant, dismissive, belligerent, attitude to other MPs has been a disgrace, he is using language that stokes up fear, division and makes people feel insecure, his persona exudes “my way or the highway”, dreadful stuff, not a consensus man at all!
This from Green MP Caroline Lucas:
The tone of PM’s speech was truly shocking - whipping up hatred, treating parliament with contempt & dividing the country still further.This populist rhetoric isn’t only unfitting for the office of PM, but it’s also genuinely, seriously dangerous.Words have consequences pic.twitter.com/FSdfQBr6qA
And this from my colleague Marina Hyde on tonight’s backlash against the PM’s tone:
Woman after woman after woman after woman has had to stand up tonight and plead with Boris Johnson to moderate his language for their own safety, and he just doubles down every time. What an absolutely hollowed-our human. Narcissism has taken it all.
Johnson just said in the Commons that the best way of honouring the memory of Jo Cox and of bringing this country together is to get Brexit done. The atmosphere is still very charged, with a number of emotional speeches and pleas from MPs having taken place in the last half hour, with many addressing the distasteful tone in which much of the debate is being delivered. At some point, Johnson sounded like a father telling his distressed children that all will be well in the end, in a low, soft voice after many minutes of shouting and booing.
This is the statement Lammy is referring to in the post below, here reported by the BBC’s Nick Eardley:
No 10: “It’s put up or shut up time” https://t.co/hKr19PmjEI
This from Labour MP David Lammy, on Downing Street’s announcement a little while ago that a second prorogation could be on the cards if the opposition does not table a no confidence vote tonight:
Totally delusional, desperate and unhinged. This would put Boris Johnson in contempt of court. He will be humiliated all over again. https://t.co/6S9OWbo5Yn
And this from the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg on the scenes that have played out in the Commons over the last hour or so.
Have seen more hours of the Commons than I care to remember + that was one of most brutal + mad I have ever seen - no shred of remorse from the PM ruled to have broken law yesterday, paltry attempt at answering Corbyn's Qs, a few Labour MPs screaming, 'you should be in jail'
This is a point well worth noting, in the words of SkyNews’ Lewis Goodall:This is a point well worth noting, in the words of SkyNews’ Lewis Goodall:
Early warning signal for PM. Richard Drax asks Johnson to assure him that the deal he brings back "bears no resemblance" to Theresa May's deal.Whatever deal Johnson brings back it will be virtually identical save for the backstop which will just be called something else.Early warning signal for PM. Richard Drax asks Johnson to assure him that the deal he brings back "bears no resemblance" to Theresa May's deal.Whatever deal Johnson brings back it will be virtually identical save for the backstop which will just be called something else.
Labour MP Paula Sherriff just had a withering, tearful outburst in the Commons, saying Johnson should be “ashamed” of his conduct and that MPs had been threatened and put in danger, and should enjoy more respect from the prime minister. Sherriff reminded MPs of her friend Jo Cox’s fate, who was murdered by an extremist for standing publicly by her beliefs.Labour MP Paula Sherriff just had a withering, tearful outburst in the Commons, saying Johnson should be “ashamed” of his conduct and that MPs had been threatened and put in danger, and should enjoy more respect from the prime minister. Sherriff reminded MPs of her friend Jo Cox’s fate, who was murdered by an extremist for standing publicly by her beliefs.
The PM rebuffed her remarks with blunt indifference.The PM rebuffed her remarks with blunt indifference.
This from the HuffPost’s Paul Waugh:This from the HuffPost’s Paul Waugh:
Wow. @BorisJohnson responds to emotional plea by @paulasherriff to stop using perjorative and 'dangerous' language like 'Surrender Act' (citing memory of Jo Cox and referring to new death threats to MPs), by saying her remarks are mere "Humbug".Total fury on Labour benches.Wow. @BorisJohnson responds to emotional plea by @paulasherriff to stop using perjorative and 'dangerous' language like 'Surrender Act' (citing memory of Jo Cox and referring to new death threats to MPs), by saying her remarks are mere "Humbug".Total fury on Labour benches.
Justine Greening, who had the Conservative whip removed on 3 September and now sits as an independent politician, is now asking the PM whether, if he brings a deal back to the Commons and, if it is rejected, he will respect it.Justine Greening, who had the Conservative whip removed on 3 September and now sits as an independent politician, is now asking the PM whether, if he brings a deal back to the Commons and, if it is rejected, he will respect it.
She asks also whether he will respect the Benn bill and ask for an extension. She adds that it is “deeply disrespectful” of the PM to continue to call the Benn bill “surrender bill”.She asks also whether he will respect the Benn bill and ask for an extension. She adds that it is “deeply disrespectful” of the PM to continue to call the Benn bill “surrender bill”.
Johnson responds by saying the “surrender act” has done great damage to what the government is trying to do, a clear and direct provocation. Adds that there will not be another extension.Johnson responds by saying the “surrender act” has done great damage to what the government is trying to do, a clear and direct provocation. Adds that there will not be another extension.
The mood dips after this, with an almost eerie momentary silence falling over the Commons.The mood dips after this, with an almost eerie momentary silence falling over the Commons.
Asked by Conservative MP Victoria Prentis whether he is working hard for a Brexit deal and whether MPs will have the opportunity to vote on another deal, Johnson responds:Asked by Conservative MP Victoria Prentis whether he is working hard for a Brexit deal and whether MPs will have the opportunity to vote on another deal, Johnson responds:
“I can absolutely guarantee that if and when we are able to bring back an agreement that I think will work for this house and this country on October 17 and 18, of course we will put it to parliament and I do hope it will then get assent.”“I can absolutely guarantee that if and when we are able to bring back an agreement that I think will work for this house and this country on October 17 and 18, of course we will put it to parliament and I do hope it will then get assent.”
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.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.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: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?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.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.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.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.She joins the chorus of MPs calling on Johnson to show remorse, apologise, and be honest.
This from the Labour MP Toby Perkins: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.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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Corbyn says, for the good of the country, Johnson should go.
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.
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.
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.
US 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.
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.
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.
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?