This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/oct/20/brexit-boris-johnson-eu-deal-delay-live-news
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: Government to seek meaningful vote on deal on Monday – live news | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Here is the link to the Commons Order Paper outlining Monday’s agenda - | |
| https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201920/cmagenda/LargeP_OP191021.pdf | |
| The order paper for Monday confirms the government will seek ameaningful vote on its Brexit deal again, as announced by JacobRees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, on Saturday. | |
| However, the Speaker of the Commons may disallow this because the government already had one attempt at getting the motion through on Saturday, when it was amended by parliament to prevent it being a meaningful vote. | |
| This meant that the Benn Act was triggered and Boris Johnson had to write to the EU requesting an extension to article 50. | |
| How would any future ‘meaningful vote’ on the PM’s Brexit deal work? | |
| Opposition MPs are likely to put forward amendments to any government motion to approve Johnson’s Brexit deal, and Bercow has suggested “manuscript” amendments submitted on the day itself could be accepted. Opposition MPs have indicated they would seek to amend the deal to try to “shape” Brexit. This is likely to include trying to hold a second EU referendum, securing a future customs union or inserting safeguards on workers’ rights and environmental protections. | |
| Losing another meaningful vote on the deal could lead to the PM facing an opposition motion of no confidence, paving the way for a general election and further clouding the precise future of the Brexit process. | |
| Has Johnson sent a letter to Brussels seeking a Brexit delay? | |
| Under the terms of the so-called Benn act, which was passed against the PM’s wishes, Johnson was compelled to write to the EU asking for a three-month Brexit extension if he had not secured a deal by 11pm UK time on 19 October. He told the Commons on Saturday: “I will not negotiate a delay with the EU, and neither does the law compel me to do so.” | |
| But he did eventually send two letters to the European council president, Donald Tusk. There was an unsigned photocopy of the request he was obliged to send under the Benn act, followed by a letter explaining why the government did not actually want an extension. There was also an explanatory letter from Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s ambassador to the EU, which was sent to Jeppe Tranholm-Mikkelsen, the secretary general of the Council of the European Union. | |
| Will the EU agree to an extension? | |
| Despite the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, raising doubts over the likelihood of another Brexit delay, that decision needs to be taken by all 27 remaining EU states. The EU could set a different length to an extension, either shorter or longer than the three-month one cited in the Benn act. | |
| The EU could decide not to formally respond to the PM’s letter until it sees if Johnson can get the withdrawal agreement bill through parliament this week. If the PM gets the cill through, there could be a special gathering of EU leaders on 28 October. | |
| If the deal needs more time at that stage to get through parliament, leaders could agree to a short “technical” extension. | |
| Here’s a helpful Q&A from the Press Association on the state of play: | |
| Why did a ‘meaningful vote’ on Johnson’s Brexit deal not go ahead on Saturday? | |
| MPs voted by a majority of 16 to back an amendment put forward by the former cabinet minister Oliver Letwin to withhold approval of the latest deal agreed between Johnson and Brussels “unless and until implementing legislation is passed”. Letwin, who lost the Tory whip for voting against the government on Brexit previously, said the amendment was “insurance” against the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal by mistake on the scheduled deadline of 31 October. After he lost the vote, the prime minister decided not to have the so-called “meaningful vote” on his deal. | |
| When will Johnson next try to get his Brexit deal through parliament? | |
| The government is set to bring the withdrawal agreement bill – the legislation needed for Brexit – to the Commons this coming week. However, time is running out to beat the 31 October deadline because the European parliament would also need to ratify it. Ministers could try to hold additional sittings to get the legislation through. | |
| The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the government wanted to hold another meaningful vote on Johnson’s deal on Monday and would make an emergency business statement to achieve this. The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said he would consider whether to allow the government’s plans. | |
| Does Johnson have the numbers to achieve a Commons majority for his Brexit deal? | |
| In the current hung parliament, much will hinge on the PM securing support from pro-Brexit Tories who voted down Theresa May’s deal on three occasions, plus the 21 former Conservatives who lost the whip over the issue of a no-deal Brexit. | |
| The former Tory cabinet minister Amber Rudd has indicated she will support Johnson’s deal and thinks there is a “coalition for getting the prime minister’s deal through”. The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said he believed the government had enough backing, telling the Andrew Marr Show: “We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons.” | |
| The DUP is strongly opposed to Johnson’s deal due to the arrangements for Northern Ireland, so the backing of enough Labour MPs in leave-supporting seats will also be vital. | |
| Moving away from Brexit, Boris Johnson has held telephone talks with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, about the situation in Syria. | Moving away from Brexit, Boris Johnson has held telephone talks with the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, about the situation in Syria. |
| Johnson expressed concern over Turkey’s military action in the north of the country, Downing Street said. | Johnson expressed concern over Turkey’s military action in the north of the country, Downing Street said. |
| The two leaders are looking to hold discussions with Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron on the situation, as well as issues including migration and terrorism. | The two leaders are looking to hold discussions with Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron on the situation, as well as issues including migration and terrorism. |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister welcomed the agreement between the US and Turkey on the temporary suspension of fighting, which he said was a step in the right direction. He hoped that the agreement would hold and minimise further casualties on all sides. | A Downing Street spokesman said: “The prime minister welcomed the agreement between the US and Turkey on the temporary suspension of fighting, which he said was a step in the right direction. He hoped that the agreement would hold and minimise further casualties on all sides. |
| “But he also underlined that there remains a great deal of concern about Turkey’s military operation in north-east Syria. The prime minister and the president agreed to look for an opportunity to meet alongside President Macron and Chancellor Merkel to discuss the current situation as well as broader issues including counter-terrorism and migration.” | “But he also underlined that there remains a great deal of concern about Turkey’s military operation in north-east Syria. The prime minister and the president agreed to look for an opportunity to meet alongside President Macron and Chancellor Merkel to discuss the current situation as well as broader issues including counter-terrorism and migration.” |
| .@RachelWatson27 tells BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland what cannot be pointed out enough: the key Brexit conundrum for opposition parties is that 3 years on they still struggle to find a position they can all agree on | .@RachelWatson27 tells BBC's Sunday Politics Scotland what cannot be pointed out enough: the key Brexit conundrum for opposition parties is that 3 years on they still struggle to find a position they can all agree on |
| 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,” and adding “Me too, me too.” | 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,” and adding “Me too, me too.” |
| Barnier said he was taking the next step on ratifying the deal struck with the UK and would update the European parliament tomorrow. | Barnier said he was taking the next step on ratifying the deal struck with the UK and would update the European parliament tomorrow. |
| He said the request for a three0month Brexit delay was a matter for Donald Tusk, the EU council’s president, and would be dealt with “in the next few days”. | He said the request for a three0month 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 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. | 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. |
| With MPs likely to vote on a series of amendments to the deal including a confirmatory referendum, Brussels is reluctant to be dragged into the political drama in Westminster. | With MPs likely to vote on a series of amendments to the deal including a confirmatory referendum, Brussels 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 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 | 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 that the government’s Operation Yellowhammer contingency plan to handle a no-deal Brexit is being triggered. | Michael Gove has disclosed that the government’s Operation Yellowhammer contingency plan to handle a no-deal Brexit is being triggered. |
| The chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, who is 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, who is 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 an attempt to increase the pressure on MPs to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. | Some Westminster observers viewed the move as an attempt to increase the pressure on MPs to back 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. 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. | 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. |
| “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 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.” |
| (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. |