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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) | |
| As he emerged from a “short and normal” meeting with EU Ambassadors in Brussels this morning, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier joked with reporters saying “you are very patient” before adding “me too, me too”. | |
| Barnier insisted he is taking the next step on ratifying the deal struck with the UK at the meeting and will update the European Parliament tomorrow. | |
| He said the extension request for a three month Brexit delay was a matter for Donald Tusk, the EU Council’s President, and would be dealt with “in the next few days”. | |
| The extension was not discussed by Ambassadors today. Deciding whether to delay Brexit and avoid No Deal is a decision for EU Leaders. | |
| “It’s above my pay grade,” one Ambassador told ITV News. | |
| The EU will wait until the Brexit deal comes up in front of MPs on Tuesday before making decisions on the terms of a further extension. | |
| Brussels – with MPs likely to vote on a series of amendments to the deal including a confirmatory referendum – is reluctant to be dragged into the political drama in Westminster. | |
| EU ambassadors agreed this morning that the withdrawal agreement would be sent to the European parliament on Monday. MEPs could vote on it on Thursday if the Commons has given its approval. | |
| EU will wait until MPs debate Brexit deal before extension decision | |
| Our country faces a fundamental choice about the future of our economy and the living standards of our people. #Ridge pic.twitter.com/vB0osDgR2o | Our country faces a fundamental choice about the future of our economy and the living standards of our people. #Ridge pic.twitter.com/vB0osDgR2o |
| Michael Gove has disclosed the government’s Operation Yellowhammer contingency plan to handle a no-deal Brexit is being “triggered”. | Michael Gove has disclosed the government’s Operation Yellowhammer contingency plan to handle a no-deal Brexit is being “triggered”. |
| The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in charge of preparations for a no-deal outcome, said the risk of such a scenario had increased due to MPs forcing the government to ask Brussels for another delay to the Brexit date. | The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, in charge of preparations for a no-deal outcome, said the risk of such a scenario had increased due to MPs forcing the government to ask Brussels for another delay to the Brexit date. |
| Some Westminster observers viewed the move as a bid to increase pressure on MPs to back prime minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. | Some Westminster observers viewed the move as a bid to increase pressure on MPs to back prime minister Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. |
| Gove told Sky News: “The risk of leaving without a deal has actually increased because we cannot guarantee that the European Council will grant an extension. | Gove told Sky News: “The risk of leaving without a deal has actually increased because we cannot guarantee that the European Council will grant an extension. |
| “And that is why I will, later today, be chairing a Cabinet committee meeting, extraordinarily on a Sunday, in order to ensure that the next stage of our exit preparations and our preparedness for no-deal is accelerated. | “And that is why I will, later today, be chairing a Cabinet committee meeting, extraordinarily on a Sunday, in order to ensure that the next stage of our exit preparations and our preparedness for no-deal is accelerated. |
| “It means that we are triggering Operation Yellowhammer. | “It means that we are triggering Operation Yellowhammer. |
| “It means that we are preparing to ensure that, if no extension is granted, we have done everything possible in order to prepare to leave without a deal.” | “It means that we are preparing to ensure that, if no extension is granted, we have done everything possible in order to prepare to leave without a deal.” |
| (4/4) The DUP does not seek a second referendum; merely implementation of the first. The people of the United Kingdom were asked whether the UK should leave the EU, not whether Great Britain should leave Northern Ireland behind. Leaving as one nation remains our goal. | (4/4) The DUP does not seek a second referendum; merely implementation of the first. The people of the United Kingdom were asked whether the UK should leave the EU, not whether Great Britain should leave Northern Ireland behind. Leaving as one nation remains our goal. |
| (3/4) DUP support for the Letwin amendment was a situation that could have been easily avoided had the PM kept to words he penned to Jean-Claude Juncker just a matter of two weeks ago. | (3/4) DUP support for the Letwin amendment was a situation that could have been easily avoided had the PM kept to words he penned to Jean-Claude Juncker just a matter of two weeks ago. |
| (2/4) The DUP wants to “get Brexit done” but it must be a Brexit for the whole of the United Kngdom. Our position has been clear and it has been consistent. | (2/4) The DUP wants to “get Brexit done” but it must be a Brexit for the whole of the United Kngdom. Our position has been clear and it has been consistent. |
| DUP MP Sammy Wilson on supporting the Letwin amendment and the party’s position. | DUP MP Sammy Wilson on supporting the Letwin amendment and the party’s position. |
| (1/4) The votes of DUP MPs were significant in the passing of the Letwin amendment, but it is far from the first time that DUP votes have been crucial on the issue of Brexit. In nearly half of all votes, it has been DUP MPs who have ensured progress towards our exit from the EU. | (1/4) The votes of DUP MPs were significant in the passing of the Letwin amendment, but it is far from the first time that DUP votes have been crucial on the issue of Brexit. In nearly half of all votes, it has been DUP MPs who have ensured progress towards our exit from the EU. |
| Asked if the EU would be open to an extension, Michel Barnier told reporters that the European council president, Donald Tusk, would consider the next stage. | Asked if the EU would be open to an extension, Michel Barnier told reporters that the European council president, Donald Tusk, would consider the next stage. |
| Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said there had been a “very short and normal meeting” of EU ambassadors this morning to take the next steps to ratify the withdrawal agreement. | Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, said there had been a “very short and normal meeting” of EU ambassadors this morning to take the next steps to ratify the withdrawal agreement. |
| “Tomorrow I will await the European parliament,” he said. | “Tomorrow I will await the European parliament,” he said. |
| The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole on the current state of parliament: | The Mail on Sunday’s Harry Cole on the current state of parliament: |
| There is a real feel of 2009 to this Parliament. The arrogance of the pre expenses crisis Commons has seeped back in a different form. 2010 election saw 150 stand down and scores lose their seats. Can’t help but feel like a similar clear out is coming down the line. | There is a real feel of 2009 to this Parliament. The arrogance of the pre expenses crisis Commons has seeped back in a different form. 2010 election saw 150 stand down and scores lose their seats. Can’t help but feel like a similar clear out is coming down the line. |
| The Scottish Conservative MP Luke Graham has insisted a no-deal Brexit is what the party has been trying to avoid all along. | The Scottish Conservative MP Luke Graham has insisted a no-deal Brexit is what the party has been trying to avoid all along. |
| “What we saw in the last week is the prime minister actually deliver a deal that delivers on a lot of the objectives that we were trying to achieve as a country,” he told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme. | “What we saw in the last week is the prime minister actually deliver a deal that delivers on a lot of the objectives that we were trying to achieve as a country,” he told the BBC’s Sunday Politics Scotland programme. |
| “There’s less discussion about no deal, it’s a discussion about we’ve got a deal, the EU have agreed it, it’s now for us to agree it as well. | “There’s less discussion about no deal, it’s a discussion about we’ve got a deal, the EU have agreed it, it’s now for us to agree it as well. |
| “The prime minister has written his letters in accordance with the law and now we’re focusing on getting a deal. | “The prime minister has written his letters in accordance with the law and now we’re focusing on getting a deal. |
| “We’ve got one on the table and it’s time for MPs right across the House of Commons to come together and actually vote for that deal so we can move forward.” | “We’ve got one on the table and it’s time for MPs right across the House of Commons to come together and actually vote for that deal so we can move forward.” |
| Sir Oliver Letwin says he is “absolutely behind the government now” and will back Boris Johnson’s deal as amended. | Sir Oliver Letwin says he is “absolutely behind the government now” and will back Boris Johnson’s deal as amended. |
| He tabled an amendment on Saturday to prevent an unintended no-deal Brexit. | He tabled an amendment on Saturday to prevent an unintended no-deal Brexit. |
| “I'm behind the government”Sir Oliver Letwin tells #Marr he supports PM’s #Brexit deal and "there will be no more amendments" from himhttps://t.co/NqsJPeXvMD pic.twitter.com/8oUVgg6LMH | “I'm behind the government”Sir Oliver Letwin tells #Marr he supports PM’s #Brexit deal and "there will be no more amendments" from himhttps://t.co/NqsJPeXvMD pic.twitter.com/8oUVgg6LMH |
| The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has clarified the position on goods moving from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland. | The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has 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.” | 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.” | 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 | Our Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll on the DUP’s position |
| Full statement in screen grab pic.twitter.com/sujW9PuHrY | 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. | 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. | 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. | And among SNP voters, six out of 10 would prefer the priority to be another vote on Brexit. |