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| Brexit: Michael Gove insists UK will still leave EU on 31 October – live news | Brexit: Michael Gove insists UK will still leave EU on 31 October – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Foreign secretary Dominic Raab clarified the position on goods moving from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland. | |
| He told the Andrew Marr Show: ”If it’s going into the EU then it ought to be able to take place without any extra frictions or any extra tariffs. | |
| “If it’s going into other parts of the world then you have to look at the arrangements either the EU has that we accede to, or the new arrangements that the UK puts in place.” | |
| Raab added the EU would not allow the UK to “cherry pick” the same arrangements that had been given to Northern Ireland. | |
| “This is only being offered in relation to Northern Ireland because of the unique circumstances of Northern Ireland.” | |
| Our Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll on the DUP’s position | |
| Full statement in screen grab pic.twitter.com/sujW9PuHrY | |
| Some interesting polling in the Sunday Times Scotland this morning found that Scottish voters would prefer the SNP to be pushing for a second EU referendum before another election. | |
| The Panelbase poll taken between before SNP conference last weekend – during which there was a great deal more discussion of a second referendum on independence than on EU membership – found that only 26% supported the election-first stance, while 46% would prefer another referendum. | |
| And among SNP voters, six out of 10 would prefer the priority to be another vote on Brexit. | |
| The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has confirmed the party will bring a vote of no confidence in the prime minister, potentially later in the week. | |
| Blackford told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme: “We are prepared, once we’ve got that extension in place, to take our responsibilities and move a motion of no confidence and I would be looking for parliamentary time to do that and I would expect everyone else to step up.” | |
| Blackford said Boris Johnson’s behaviour in sending multiple letters to the EU last night proved he was “not treating the office with any respect or dignity”. | |
| Blackford would not be drawn on what court action might follow from the weekend – the SNP MP Joanna Cherry’s ongoing case regarding the PM’s compliance with the Benn act still has court time reserved for this Monday – but he said he would “strongly suspect we may see action taking place at the courts in the coming days”. | |
| Blackford restated that the SNP would support a confirmatory referendum, but added: “If we are going to move forward to people’s vote then we do need a government in place to support that, we need a general election too.” | |
| Keir Starmer believes the prime minister has taken a “silly approach” to the Benn act and has accused him of being “childlike”. | |
| Following yesterday’s Commons defeat, Boris Johnson called on EU leaders to reject any extension of Britain’s membership of the EU. | Following yesterday’s Commons defeat, Boris Johnson called on EU leaders to reject any extension of Britain’s membership of the EU. |
| Starmer told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show: “The law is very clear. He should have signed one letter in accordance with the law. If we crash out because of what he has done with the letters [...] without a deal, he bears personal responsibility for that.” | |
| He added that Labour would be open to talking to the DUP following their opposition to Johnson’s Brexit deal. | |
| He said: “I would openly invite the DUP to talk to us. If you want to work with us to improve the situation we’re in, our door is open to that discussion.” | |
| Labour will back an amendment next week calling for a referendum on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, has said. | Labour will back an amendment next week calling for a referendum on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, has said. |
| Labour will back an amendment next week calling for a referendum on PM’s #Brexit deal says Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer#Marr https://t.co/NqsJPeXvMD pic.twitter.com/BKVf8q8yDd | Labour will back an amendment next week calling for a referendum on PM’s #Brexit deal says Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer#Marr https://t.co/NqsJPeXvMD pic.twitter.com/BKVf8q8yDd |
| The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has insisted a Conservative government would work to protect workers’ rights after Brexit. | The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has insisted a Conservative government would work to protect workers’ rights after Brexit. |
| He said British businesses and workers need “a set of regulations that is smarter and tailored towards them”. | He said British businesses and workers need “a set of regulations that is smarter and tailored towards them”. |
| “Workers are far safer under a Conservative government, given our economic record and the protections we’re putting in place, than they are under this shower of a Labour party,” Raab told the Andrew Marr Show. | “Workers are far safer under a Conservative government, given our economic record and the protections we’re putting in place, than they are under this shower of a Labour party,” Raab told the Andrew Marr Show. |
| Asked why the “level playing field” for workers’ regulation had been taken out of the legally binding withdrawal agreement and put into the non-legally binding political declaration, Raab responded: “We’re basically saying these issues of employment rights, environmental protections, are so important, and the circumstances in the UK are obviously different. | Asked why the “level playing field” for workers’ regulation had been taken out of the legally binding withdrawal agreement and put into the non-legally binding political declaration, Raab responded: “We’re basically saying these issues of employment rights, environmental protections, are so important, and the circumstances in the UK are obviously different. |
| “We actually should make sure politicians are accountable to the voters watching the show. Why would you abdicate responsibility for those issues if they’re so important?” | “We actually should make sure politicians are accountable to the voters watching the show. Why would you abdicate responsibility for those issues if they’re so important?” |
| Michael Gove has said the risk of the UK leaving the EU without a deal has grown as a result of yesterday’s vote. | Michael Gove has said the risk of the UK leaving the EU without a deal has grown as a result of yesterday’s vote. |
| Reasserting the government’s belief that Brexit will definitely happen on October 31, the cabinet minister told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “The risk of leaving without a deal has actually increased because we cannot guarantee that the European council will grant an extension.” | Reasserting the government’s belief that Brexit will definitely happen on October 31, the cabinet minister told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday: “The risk of leaving without a deal has actually increased because we cannot guarantee that the European council will grant an extension.” |
| He said he would chair a cabinet meeting later today in order to trigger Operation Yellowhammer, the government’s contingency plan to prepare for a possible no-deal outcome. “We’re preparing to ensure that if no extension is granted that we have done everything possible in order to leave without a deal,” said Gove. | He said he would chair a cabinet meeting later today in order to trigger Operation Yellowhammer, the government’s contingency plan to prepare for a possible no-deal outcome. “We’re preparing to ensure that if no extension is granted that we have done everything possible in order to leave without a deal,” said Gove. |
| Although the prime minister has already been forced to send a letter requesting a further Brexit delay, Gove insisted that “parliament can’t change the determination” of the government to leave the EU by Halloween. | Although the prime minister has already been forced to send a letter requesting a further Brexit delay, Gove insisted that “parliament can’t change the determination” of the government to leave the EU by Halloween. |
| “We know that the European Union want us to leave, we know that we have a deal that allows us to leave,” he said. “We are going to leave on October 31st. We have the means and ability to do so.” | “We know that the European Union want us to leave, we know that we have a deal that allows us to leave,” he said. “We are going to leave on October 31st. We have the means and ability to do so.” |
| He said he was optimistic that the government would get enough votes in order to get Boris Johnson’s deal through the Commons – in which case there would be no extension. | He said he was optimistic that the government would get enough votes in order to get Boris Johnson’s deal through the Commons – in which case there would be no extension. |
| The former Tory minister Amber Rudd has said she feels Theresa May’s Brexit deal was better than the one currently being offered by Johnson. | The former Tory minister Amber Rudd has said she feels Theresa May’s Brexit deal was better than the one currently being offered by Johnson. |
| Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, Rudd, now an independent, said: “I don’t think it’s as good as Theresa May’s deal. I regret the fact that we don’t have effectively a backstop for the whole of the country. Instead it’s only Northern Ireland. | Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge, Rudd, now an independent, said: “I don’t think it’s as good as Theresa May’s deal. I regret the fact that we don’t have effectively a backstop for the whole of the country. Instead it’s only Northern Ireland. |
| “In terms of the economy, it’s very good for Northern Ireland but it’s less good for the union. I thought that Theresa May’s deal was the right deal. I think this is not as good.” | “In terms of the economy, it’s very good for Northern Ireland but it’s less good for the union. I thought that Theresa May’s deal was the right deal. I think this is not as good.” |
| However, Rudd stressed that she still supported Johnson’s deal. “We have to make sure that we don’t leave with no deal … I want to support it and I will, and I think, not all of us, but most of us former Conservatives, who supported the Letwin amendment will do so as well,” she said. | However, Rudd stressed that she still supported Johnson’s deal. “We have to make sure that we don’t leave with no deal … I want to support it and I will, and I think, not all of us, but most of us former Conservatives, who supported the Letwin amendment will do so as well,” she said. |
| “I think it’s absolutely right to say we don’t want to leave with no deal but we do want to leave with a deal and this deal from the prime minister is good enough for me.” | “I think it’s absolutely right to say we don’t want to leave with no deal but we do want to leave with a deal and this deal from the prime minister is good enough for me.” |
| The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has also been talking to Sophy Ridge this morning. After being mocked on Thursday for his seeming own-goal in defending the law that would delay Brexit, Farage reaffirmed to the Sky presenter that he would rather have a Brexit extension followed by a general election than see Boris Johnson’s deal being passed in the Commons. | The Brexit party leader, Nigel Farage, has also been talking to Sophy Ridge this morning. After being mocked on Thursday for his seeming own-goal in defending the law that would delay Brexit, Farage reaffirmed to the Sky presenter that he would rather have a Brexit extension followed by a general election than see Boris Johnson’s deal being passed in the Commons. |
| “I want to leave on the 31st October with a clean-break Brexit because that’s the only Brexit worth having,” he said. | “I want to leave on the 31st October with a clean-break Brexit because that’s the only Brexit worth having,” he said. |
| “I want a general election, so an extension for a few weeks in which we can have a general election is a much better outcome than signing up to a treaty that becomes part of international law that binds us in foreign policy and in many, many other areas.” | “I want a general election, so an extension for a few weeks in which we can have a general election is a much better outcome than signing up to a treaty that becomes part of international law that binds us in foreign policy and in many, many other areas.” |
| He added: “We are going to have to be on a level playing field with the rest of Europe, which means we still haven’t taken back control of our laws. This is not Brexit.” | He added: “We are going to have to be on a level playing field with the rest of Europe, which means we still haven’t taken back control of our laws. This is not Brexit.” |
| He described Johnson’s deal as “a new EU treaty”, adding that “all it does is take us on to the next stage of negotiations”. | He described Johnson’s deal as “a new EU treaty”, adding that “all it does is take us on to the next stage of negotiations”. |
| Our video team were at the huge People’s Vote march in London yesterday, following some of the estimated one million anti-Brexit protesters as they demanded a fresh referendum. You can watch their work here: | Our video team were at the huge People’s Vote march in London yesterday, following some of the estimated one million anti-Brexit protesters as they demanded a fresh referendum. You can watch their work here: |
| John McDonnell has said Boris Johnson has behaved “a bit like a spoilt brat” after the prime minister sent an unsigned letter to the EU asking for a delay, and then a second arguing against it. | John McDonnell has said Boris Johnson has behaved “a bit like a spoilt brat” after the prime minister sent an unsigned letter to the EU asking for a delay, and then a second arguing against it. |
| Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on her Sunday show, the shadow chancellor said: “He may well be in contempt of parliament or the courts themselves. Parliament made a decision, he should abide by it, and this idea that you send another letter contradicting the first, I think it flies in the face of what the parliament and the courts have decided.” | Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on her Sunday show, the shadow chancellor said: “He may well be in contempt of parliament or the courts themselves. Parliament made a decision, he should abide by it, and this idea that you send another letter contradicting the first, I think it flies in the face of what the parliament and the courts have decided.” |
| He added that another meaningful vote on Johnson’s Brexit deal would be “pointless” until MPs had been able to scrutinise the legislation needed to implement it. | He added that another meaningful vote on Johnson’s Brexit deal would be “pointless” until MPs had been able to scrutinise the legislation needed to implement it. |
| “Until you see the legislation, you don’t know the detail, and as someone said yesterday, the devil is in the detail,” McDonnell said. | “Until you see the legislation, you don’t know the detail, and as someone said yesterday, the devil is in the detail,” McDonnell said. |
| While he said an amendment for a second referendum on Brexit would “almost inevitably” come up in parliament over the next few days, McDonnell would not confirm whether Labour would bring one forward, instead emphasising that the party would argue for a general election. | While he said an amendment for a second referendum on Brexit would “almost inevitably” come up in parliament over the next few days, McDonnell would not confirm whether Labour would bring one forward, instead emphasising that the party would argue for a general election. |
| “In a general election we would negotiate a sensible option for Brexit and we’d take that back to the people,” he said. | “In a general election we would negotiate a sensible option for Brexit and we’d take that back to the people,” he said. |
| Morning, it’s Amy Walker here. I’ll be kicking off the live blog today. | Morning, it’s Amy Walker here. I’ll be kicking off the live blog today. |
| The Sunday papers worked late into last night reacting to Boris Johnson’s defeat in the Commons yesterday. The Observer carried a picture of the People’s Vote march alongside news of the prime minister’s “humiliating defeat”. The Mirror took a similar approach, declaring that “Blustering Boris” had been “beaten again”. | The Sunday papers worked late into last night reacting to Boris Johnson’s defeat in the Commons yesterday. The Observer carried a picture of the People’s Vote march alongside news of the prime minister’s “humiliating defeat”. The Mirror took a similar approach, declaring that “Blustering Boris” had been “beaten again”. |
| Meanwhile, others, such as the Sunday Times, painted a picture of a dedicated leader battling the “Brexit wreckers”. The Mail on Sunday described MPs who had helped to delay Johnson’s deal as the “House of Fools” and the Sunday Express asked “Why Won’t They Let Us Leave?”. | Meanwhile, others, such as the Sunday Times, painted a picture of a dedicated leader battling the “Brexit wreckers”. The Mail on Sunday described MPs who had helped to delay Johnson’s deal as the “House of Fools” and the Sunday Express asked “Why Won’t They Let Us Leave?”. |
| As yet another turbulent day gets under way, I’ll be keeping you updated with what ministers and MPs are saying on the Sunday politics shows. First up is Sophy Ridge on Sky News, who is scheduled to interview John McDonnell, Nigel Farage, Amber Rudd and Michael Gove among others. | As yet another turbulent day gets under way, I’ll be keeping you updated with what ministers and MPs are saying on the Sunday politics shows. First up is Sophy Ridge on Sky News, who is scheduled to interview John McDonnell, Nigel Farage, Amber Rudd and Michael Gove among others. |