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Brexit: Bercow refuses to allow 'meaningful vote' on deal today - live news Brexit: Bercow refuses to allow 'meaningful vote' on deal today - live news
(32 minutes later)
Bercow is warming up a bit now, telling Jenkin: “When he was getting decisions in his favour he was grumbling. He is grumbling now because he is getting the judgements that he doesn’t like.” Ian Blackford, the leader of the SNP at Westminster, wants to know the whereabouts of Boris Johnson, who he says has been utterly humiliated by his defeat in the House of Commons on Saturday.
The unsigned letter which was sent to Brussels at the weekend “lacked respect,” he adds.
Barclay replies that the crux of the issue was that the prime minister had complied with the law and had set out his well-known views on the issue.
There isn’t any word from him about where Johnson is.
Ken Clarke is on his feet now, asking that the date of October 31 should no longer has the “sacred quality” that it has attained, though he would be personally quite happy if a withdrawal can be secured in the right way.
“The date was not selected by the British public or the British government. It was a compromise selected by President Macron and others and was plucked out of the air,” he adds
Barclay says that the prime minister has confirmed that the UK government would abide by the law, but has also left no one in any dount about what his position is.
“We in this house want to collude with the British public to get Brexit done,” he adds, sidestepping that second Corbyn question about whether some MPs are facing potential investigations for “colluding with foreign governments”.
Points of order have been concluded and Jeremy Corbyn is on his feet with the first of urgent questions, asking the prime minister to make a statement on his request for an extension on Brexit.
Steven Barclay, the minister for Exiting the EU, responds in place of Boris Johnson by saying that the letter was sent in compliance with section one of the Benn act.
The Labour leader says he admires Barclay for keeping a straight face as he gave that answer, accusing Johnson of sending the letter with “posturing and attempts to distract”.
Despite having said that he would never request an extension, Corbyn adds that the prime minister has done so. He asks when he expects any EU extension to be granted and if the government can rule out reports that MPs could face jail for “colluding” with foreign governments.
Bercow says he has the sense that his ruling is “procedurally right”, however irksome it is to some in the chamber.
The Spectator’s assistant editor, Isabel Hardman, meanwhile, separates the contributions from the floor as follows:
There are two different groups of MPs making points of order here. The first want to make an election campaign point (whether they’re Tory or otherwise), while a second smaller group actually want to talk about procedure.
Bercow adds: “I have made a principled judgment and there is every opportunity for the government to have its way, with the approval of parliament, by the end of October.”
Crispin Blunt, another Tory MP, is on his feet and says he is one of the members who has formally recorded what he says has been Bercow’s “partiality” in the chair.
Blunt asks if Bercow’s ruling might be altered on the basis of what the response from Brussels might be to the letter(s) sent at the weekend by Downing Street.
Cue another Bercow impression – this time of Willie Whitelaw: “Personally I think it is better to cross bridges when I come to them.”
There’s a bit of political kickabout over a second referendum by the former Tory, now LibDem, Sarah Wollaston and the Conservative MP Desmond Swayne.
Swayne says with a smile that he believes Bercow is right, but adds: “By the same logic, It’s quite right for the voters not to have to answer the same question again.”
Bercow is warming up a bit now, telling Jenkin: “When he was getting decisions in his favour he was not grumbling. He is grumbling now because he is getting the judgments that he doesn’t like.”
A translation from the BBC’s Andrew Sinclair:A translation from the BBC’s Andrew Sinclair:
Speaker response to @bernardjenkin “I don’t recall you complaining when I used to let eurosceptic mps ask urgent questions “Speaker response to @bernardjenkin “I don’t recall you complaining when I used to let eurosceptic mps ask urgent questions “
Bercow continues to defend himself under questioning, saying that one of the reason for the rules he has invoked was to prevent “conflicting” rulings on similar issues coming soon after the other “in short order” Bercow continues to defend himself under questioning, saying that one of the reason for the rules he has invoked was to prevent “conflicting” rulings on similar issues coming soon after the other “in short order”.
“And what could be shorter order than the next sitting day after the last judgement was made.. and that was the rationale for the perfectly reasonable judgement that I have made,” says the speaker. “And what could be shorter order than the next sitting day after the last judgment was made … and that was the rationale for the perfectly reasonable judgment that I have made,” says the Speaker.
Bernard Jenkin, the Brexit supporting Tory MP, is on his feet insisting that the motion which the government wanted to be voted on today was very different from the one which MPs considered on Saturday. Bernard Jenkin, the Brexit-supporting Tory MP, is on his feet insisting that the motion the government wanted to be voted on today was very different from the one MPs considered on Saturday.
To ‘ooohs’ he adds that the Public administration committee, which he chairs, will be holding hearing on the role of the speaker. To “ooohs”, he adds that the public administration committee, which he chairs, will be holding a hearing on the role of the Speaker. Bercow replies that that it is absolutely right for the committee to do what it wanted to to and he was “entirely untroubled” by it.
Bercow replies that that it is absolutely right for the committee to do what it wanted to to and he was “entirely untroubled” by it. Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin says it is “remarkable” how often the Speaker seems to take one side in the Commons:“If you didn’t enjoy being bombarded you wouldn’t enjoy so much sitting in that chair.”
Bercow breaks off into a (not unconvincing) Tony Benn impression to repeat the Labour MP’s lament that politics should be about issues, not personalities, as he comes under further questioning about his ruling.Bercow breaks off into a (not unconvincing) Tony Benn impression to repeat the Labour MP’s lament that politics should be about issues, not personalities, as he comes under further questioning about his ruling.
The veteran Eurosceptic and Brexit, Bill Cash, has been on his feet urging Bercow to reconsider his decision in the light of the “law of the land” with regards to Britain’s scheduled Brexit date.The veteran Eurosceptic and Brexit, Bill Cash, has been on his feet urging Bercow to reconsider his decision in the light of the “law of the land” with regards to Britain’s scheduled Brexit date.
Bercow says he is stating the obvious: “When you make a judgement on these matters that is controversial, some people are going to be pleased and some are going to be displeased.”Bercow says he is stating the obvious: “When you make a judgement on these matters that is controversial, some people are going to be pleased and some are going to be displeased.”
“I have simply sought to discharge my obligations and to do what I believe to be right, and that is what the speaker has to do.”“I have simply sought to discharge my obligations and to do what I believe to be right, and that is what the speaker has to do.”
Meanwhile standing at bar of the House are former ministers Gauke, Hammond, Boles. They dont look too unhappy at Speaker ruling.Meanwhile standing at bar of the House are former ministers Gauke, Hammond, Boles. They dont look too unhappy at Speaker ruling.
The House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, has ruled that he will not permit MPs to have a “meaningful vote” on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal today.The House of Commons Speaker, John Bercow, has ruled that he will not permit MPs to have a “meaningful vote” on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal today.
“My ruling is that the motion will not be debated today as it would be repetitive and disorderly to do so,” he told MPs.“My ruling is that the motion will not be debated today as it would be repetitive and disorderly to do so,” he told MPs.
Bercow says he hopes that the ruling and explanation are helpful to the house, before allowing the Tory MP Peter Bone to come in with a point of order.Bercow says he hopes that the ruling and explanation are helpful to the house, before allowing the Tory MP Peter Bone to come in with a point of order.
To laughter, Bone tells him that no one knew that the prime minister was going to send a letter or not to the EU seeking a Brexit extension. Surely this something that changed the circumstances in which the vote would take place.To laughter, Bone tells him that no one knew that the prime minister was going to send a letter or not to the EU seeking a Brexit extension. Surely this something that changed the circumstances in which the vote would take place.
Bercow says that the question of whether a minister of the crown “would obey the law” would be a material consideration on his part was not one that he took into account.Bercow says that the question of whether a minister of the crown “would obey the law” would be a material consideration on his part was not one that he took into account.
Bercow says it is clear that the motions before the house are “in substance the same” and that the matter was decided as recently as 48 hours ago.Bercow says it is clear that the motions before the house are “in substance the same” and that the matter was decided as recently as 48 hours ago.
Bercow is on his feet and says he has been reflecting. There are two issues, one of substance and the other of circumstances, to consider, he adds.Bercow is on his feet and says he has been reflecting. There are two issues, one of substance and the other of circumstances, to consider, he adds.
First, he has to consider if the motion tabled by the government for today is the same in substance as that which was decided during Saturday’s sitting.First, he has to consider if the motion tabled by the government for today is the same in substance as that which was decided during Saturday’s sitting.
This looks like the last question in defence questions.
So which way will Bercow go? Here’s Ian Dunt, the editor of Politics.co.uk on what’ll happen if the Speaker (against expectations) gives a green light to a meaningful vote:
If he says it can, then all hell will break loose. We'll be right back where we were on Saturday, in a straight yes-or-no vote on the deal, without MPs seeing the legislation implementing it.
And, meanwhile, a little sympathy for the notoriously shy (ahem) Mr Bercow …
I feel for the Speaker he hates these moments when the world watches him
It’s felt like a bit of a phoney war thus far today but we’re minutes away from (potentially) a key moment, when we should learn if the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, will allow MPs to have a “meaningful vote” on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal. The word is that Bercow will be on his feet at about 3.35pm London time.
Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, and junior ministers have been taking questions and that is due to start winding up shortly.
The expectation is that Bercow will not permit such a vote given that the deal was debated by MPs on Saturday, and a backbench amendment attached, putting off final approval until the legislation surrounding the plan is agreed.
Downing Street has also, meanwhile, said it would pull the vote if any amendments are selected that would “render the vote pointless”.
“There is no point having a meaningless vote – the government would pull the motion. We will go ahead with the introduction of the WAB with second reading tomorrow,” the PM’s official spokesman said.
An update from MEPs, via the Guardian’s Brussels correspondent, Jennifer Rankin.
MEPs on Brexit Steering Group confirm that European parliament will not vote on withdrawal agreement until UK parliament has backed the deal.
The Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has just told the BBC she would be “minded” to vote on a customs union amendment if it is in the right form, but added quickly that her party was still intent on pushing for a second referendum.
MPs need more time to scrutinise the government’s deal, however, she added.
As well as writing to Boris Johnson, the first ministers for Wales and Scotland have also send one to the president of the European council, Donald Tusk, urging him to support an extension to Brexit that would allow MPs to scrutinise the deal – and perhaps even hold a second referendum.
The BBC’s Nick Eardley tweets:
Letter from Scottish and Welsh First Ministers to Donald Tusk asking for him to support Brexit extension to allow scrutiny and time for 2nd referendum pic.twitter.com/QruinTlVBa
We heard earlier that Lisa Nandy had emerged as one of the Labour MPs who would support the withdrawal agreement bill (WAB) at second reading, but it seems fairly certain that it will be opposed by her party. The Guardian’s deputy political editor, Rowena Mason, tweets:
Not picking up any sense that Labour will abstain on second reading of WAB - all signs they are going to vote against, no way they can be seen even tacitly to accept a Johnson Brexit
To recap, the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill is likely to be held tomorrow if it is introduced later today.
The second reading will be the first occasion that members of parliament can vote on the proposed legislation.
News out of Brussels, though probably not of the type that will be welcomed by Brexit supporters hoping that they might have seen the last of Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator for the past number of years. He’s not going away, reports Politico.
Michel Barnier will lead a "U.K. Task Force" in the next European Commission, effectively continuing his work as EU Brexit negotiator into the next phase of talks on a future trading arrangement, report @maiadelabaume and @jacopobarigazzi. https://t.co/6RNY8z6A31
The first ministers for Wales and Scotland, Mark Drakeford and Nicola Sturgeon, have written to the prime minister urging the UK government to secure an extension from the European council that respects devolution and “allows our legislatures to carry out their proper constitutional and democratic functions”.
Part of their letter states:
This bill will be among the most important piece of legislation ever considered by the UK parliament, the Scottish parliament and national assembly for Wales with far-reaching implications for the whole of the United Kingdom and our future well-being.
Both our governments believe the deal you have negotiated with the EU will be even more damaging to Wales, Scotland and the United Kingdom than the previous unacceptable agreement made by your predecessor.
We therefore wish to state in the clearest possible terms that we and our legislatures need time to analyse and consider the draft bill.
We share the view which lay behind the amendment passed by a clear majority of the House of Commons that the time between now and 31 October provides insufficient opportunity to undertake this essential scrutiny
Scottish judges have delayed a final ruling on whether Boris Johnson is in contempt of court to ensure he agrees to an extension to Brexit.
Lord Carloway, the country’s most senior judge, said they needed to be sure the prime minister did not try to block or sabotage the application he was forced to make on Saturday night for an extension to Brexit until 31 January.
The court’s decision, issued after a short hearing at the court of session in Edinburgh, means Johnson faces being held in contempt if judges rule he has failed to honour pledges made to court not to frustrate the extension process.
Johnson sent an unsigned letter seeking the extension after the Commons voted narrowly in favour of postponing a vote on the government’s revised deal to leave the UK.
The legislation, the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 2) Act, known as the Benn act, also requires the prime minister to accept an extension if it is offered by Brussels and the 27 other EU member states.