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/23/boris-johnsons-brexit-bill-in-limbo-as-eu-leaders-mull-extension-request-politics-live
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Boris Johnson's Brexit bill in limbo as EU leaders mull extension request – Politics live | Boris Johnson's Brexit bill in limbo as EU leaders mull extension request – Politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| An unpleasant start to the day for Lisa Nandy, Labour MP for Wigan. | |
| Morning! pic.twitter.com/MJOtjDY2u9 | |
| Peter Walker has this extremely helpful Q&A in which he answers some key questions. The full article is here and a selection of answers are below: | |
| So what just happened? | |
| In brief: the bill seeking to put into law Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal was passed by MPs on its second reading, the initial opportunity that MPs have to vote on a bill. It passed by 329 votes to 299, the first time the Commons has formally approved a Brexit plan. However, only 20 minutes later, MPs rejected the government’s so-called programme motion, which set out the accelerated timetable for the bill, by 308 votes in favour to 322 against. | |
| So what happens now? | |
| Under a backbench-instigated law intended to ward off a no-deal Brexit, Johnson wrote to the EU on Saturday to formally request a delay to departure until 31 January, despite the PM not wanting this to happen. Responding in the Commons, Johnson said he would “pause this legislation” and await information from the EU on a possible delay. In the interim, he said, no-deal preparations would be ramped up. For now, the bill is “in limbo”, Speaker John Bercow said, using what he said was the technical term. | |
| Is the bill getting pulled? | |
| Downing Street had strongly hinted this would be the response to losing the programme motion. However, this seems to have been a lever to pressure MPs into backing the motion. Speaking during the debate ahead of the votes, Johnson pledged he would pull the bill and seek an election in the event of a delay until January or longer. But he did not promise to do this in any circumstances, holding open the possibility of a brief delay being acceptable. After the vote, Johnson was similarly equivocal, saying: “One way or another, we will leave the EU with this deal.” | |
| Does all this make a general election more likely? | |
| Probably. If the EU insists on a lengthy delay, which is put in place, Johnson could push for an election. Crucially, if an imminent no-deal Brexit was now averted, Labour would be expected to now back an election, making it happen. However, for all his protestations against a longer delay, the 30-vote majority for his Brexit deal could tempt Johnson into trying to push the bill through parliament before an election, allowing him to stand as the prime minister who delivered departure. | |
| What will MPs do for the rest of this week? | |
| On Wednesday and Thursday, when they should have been finishing off the stages of the WAB, they will instead return to debating the Queen’s speech. Remember that? The government’s planned legislative programme was presented on Monday last week, but the scheduled five-day debate was suspended for the WAB debate. It now comes back. | |
| What just happened in the Commons – and what's next for Brexit? | |
| But it’s hard to beat the Sun’s front page today. | But it’s hard to beat the Sun’s front page today. |
| Tomorrow's front page: MPs finally backed Boris Johnson's #Brexit deal - then wrecked it within minutes by rejecting his three-day timetable to push it through Parliament https://t.co/HDF8fUegpy pic.twitter.com/XSehkDKrJ1 | Tomorrow's front page: MPs finally backed Boris Johnson's #Brexit deal - then wrecked it within minutes by rejecting his three-day timetable to push it through Parliament https://t.co/HDF8fUegpy pic.twitter.com/XSehkDKrJ1 |
| Most of today’s papers – whose fronts pages we round up here – blame Parliament for the latest sting in the Brexit tale. Here is a selection: | Most of today’s papers – whose fronts pages we round up here – blame Parliament for the latest sting in the Brexit tale. Here is a selection: |
| The Guardian front page, Wednesday 23 October 2019: Parliament puts brakes on Johnson's race for Brexit pic.twitter.com/vl3sFN8Mtg | The Guardian front page, Wednesday 23 October 2019: Parliament puts brakes on Johnson's race for Brexit pic.twitter.com/vl3sFN8Mtg |
| Tomorrow's front page: PM's Brexit horror #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/Trnv17lX9k pic.twitter.com/NDeqY8Uxb2 | Tomorrow's front page: PM's Brexit horror #TomorrowsPapersToday https://t.co/Trnv17lX9k pic.twitter.com/NDeqY8Uxb2 |
| Wednesday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/yRzZHAM86q | Wednesday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/yRzZHAM86q |
| Wednesday's front page: Boris Johnson's Halloween Brexit in tatters #tomorrowspaperstoday #skypapers #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/YUdbIWlBbv | Wednesday's front page: Boris Johnson's Halloween Brexit in tatters #tomorrowspaperstoday #skypapers #bbcpapers pic.twitter.com/YUdbIWlBbv |
| This from the Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament | This from the Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament |
| You’re all thinking: another extension. I am thinking: another three weeks listening to Farage pic.twitter.com/Cob2wPmghP | You’re all thinking: another extension. I am thinking: another three weeks listening to Farage pic.twitter.com/Cob2wPmghP |
| Hello and welcome to the politics blog, bringing you the latest out of Westminster and Brussels in the wake of Tuesday night’s partial victory in the Commons for Boris Johnson. | Hello and welcome to the politics blog, bringing you the latest out of Westminster and Brussels in the wake of Tuesday night’s partial victory in the Commons for Boris Johnson. |
| Here’s a very brief summary of events to get you started: | Here’s a very brief summary of events to get you started: |
| Donald Tusk has said he will recommend the EU 27 leaders accept Johnson’s somewhat reluctant request for a Brexit extension. He made the request as soon as MPs rejected the PM’s three-day timetable to push through his deal. | Donald Tusk has said he will recommend the EU 27 leaders accept Johnson’s somewhat reluctant request for a Brexit extension. He made the request as soon as MPs rejected the PM’s three-day timetable to push through his deal. |
| Downing Street will have to decide whether to carry through with the PM’s threat to abandon the bill and call for a general election in the event of a lengthy extension. Here is a video of his speech. Note: he dropped the threat after losing the second vote, but No 10 is still making noises about it in the event of an extension until January. | Downing Street will have to decide whether to carry through with the PM’s threat to abandon the bill and call for a general election in the event of a lengthy extension. Here is a video of his speech. Note: he dropped the threat after losing the second vote, but No 10 is still making noises about it in the event of an extension until January. |
| However, an EU source said that if the bloc was to think again on the length of the extension then Johnson would need to make a second formal request for a shorter delay. | However, an EU source said that if the bloc was to think again on the length of the extension then Johnson would need to make a second formal request for a shorter delay. |
| Jeremy Corbyn has urged the government to agree to an alternative timetable, to allow the legislation to continue to be debated. | Jeremy Corbyn has urged the government to agree to an alternative timetable, to allow the legislation to continue to be debated. |
| I’ll be gently steering us through these choppy news waters during the early hours before handing over to my esteemed and highly entertaining colleagues. As always, you can get in touch via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com) or Twitter. | I’ll be gently steering us through these choppy news waters during the early hours before handing over to my esteemed and highly entertaining colleagues. As always, you can get in touch via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com) or Twitter. |
| Thanks for reading along, let’s do this. | Thanks for reading along, let’s do this. |