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| Brexit: MPs debate Queen's speech as UK awaits EU's extension decision - live news | Brexit: MPs debate Queen's speech as UK awaits EU's extension decision - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| If Johnson does decide to push for an election (again) he could well fail to get parliament to vote for it. There is plenty of opposition to the idea among MPs. | |
| It would take about 175 Labour MPs to block a 2/3 vote for an early election https://t.co/S2ZVLl86qg | |
| If DUP and half of ind Tories vote for early election, Johnson needs 68 Lab MPs to back it https://t.co/LEkLs0J5UK | |
| One nation group “unanimous” in opposition to Grinch election. Message being conveyed to Amanda Milling - DWP chief whip. Spencer in political cabinet. | |
| This is intriguing from Media Guido, reporting that the BBC’s political editor has just gone into Downing Street to conduct an interview with Boris Johnson. Could the prime minister be about to announce that he will push for an election? | |
| Laura K has just gone into Number 10 to conduct a hastily arranged interview with the PM. | |
| Some more MPs – this time Labour ones – have been expressing concerns over the idea there could be an imminent election. | Some more MPs – this time Labour ones – have been expressing concerns over the idea there could be an imminent election. |
| Ex-employment minister Pat McFadden told the BBC: | Ex-employment minister Pat McFadden told the BBC: |
| I don’t think we should have an election now. We are in the middle of a huge decision-making moment for the country. The issue before us is Brexit and has been for several years. I think we have a duty to decide the future of that issue and an election should come after that. | I don’t think we should have an election now. We are in the middle of a huge decision-making moment for the country. The issue before us is Brexit and has been for several years. I think we have a duty to decide the future of that issue and an election should come after that. |
| Former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: | Former culture secretary Ben Bradshaw said: |
| My objection to a general election is one of principle in that with a general election the secret is in the name – it is general. It’s not and shouldn’t be about a single binary issue like Brexit. | My objection to a general election is one of principle in that with a general election the secret is in the name – it is general. It’s not and shouldn’t be about a single binary issue like Brexit. |
| Some light relief – apparently the German word for the withdrawal agreement bill is ... | |
| Austrittsvertragsratifizierungsgesetzentwurf | Austrittsvertragsratifizierungsgesetzentwurf |
| To be super-German-correct, it is even longer: Austrittsvertragsratifizierungsgesetzentwurf https://t.co/muGs4syKJs | To be super-German-correct, it is even longer: Austrittsvertragsratifizierungsgesetzentwurf https://t.co/muGs4syKJs |
| Tory backbenchers have been out speaking to broadcasters this lunchtime. They are divided over whether trying to secure an election is a good idea. | Tory backbenchers have been out speaking to broadcasters this lunchtime. They are divided over whether trying to secure an election is a good idea. |
| Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: | Crispin Blunt, MP for Reigate, told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: |
| What we’ve got isn’t working, it needs sorting. We need to go to the country as soon as possible to put this parliament out of its misery and give the country an administration that can actually work. | |
| David Lidington, the de facto deputy prime minister under Theresa May, said that, given the lack of clarity in legislation regarding the post-Brexit proposals for Northern Ireland, an election could “further put at risk a very fragile political situation in that part of our country”. Damian Green, the former first secretary of state, said: | |
| I very much support the view that it is much better to get Brexit done. There is no reason at all why we can’t have got over this stage of Brexit by mid-November and at that point [Boris Johnson] will say: ‘I have now done what I have promised to do’ and this political paralysis that has affected the country for three years is now over. | |
| Boris Johnson is holding a meeting of his cabinet around about now, amid disagreements as to whether the government should push for an election or try to get its Brexit bill through parliament. | Boris Johnson is holding a meeting of his cabinet around about now, amid disagreements as to whether the government should push for an election or try to get its Brexit bill through parliament. |
| NEW: Northern Ireland Secretary @JulianSmithUK arrives at political cabinet telling me there are “differing views” on whether to have a snap election and they’ll be discussing it to come to a united position. | NEW: Northern Ireland Secretary @JulianSmithUK arrives at political cabinet telling me there are “differing views” on whether to have a snap election and they’ll be discussing it to come to a united position. |
| Rumour doing the rounds that govt will table an emergency business statement after political cabinet re election motion on Monday.Not sure why given govt said they're waiting for EU... but I suppose there must be a reason of political cabinet today... | Rumour doing the rounds that govt will table an emergency business statement after political cabinet re election motion on Monday.Not sure why given govt said they're waiting for EU... but I suppose there must be a reason of political cabinet today... |
| Here’s a full write-up – by the Guardian’s Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll – of this morning’s urgent question on the implications of the deal for Northern Ireland. | Here’s a full write-up – by the Guardian’s Brexit correspondent Lisa O’Carroll – of this morning’s urgent question on the implications of the deal for Northern Ireland. |
| The government has been urged to heed the warnings of the risk of civil disorder by loyalists in Northern Ireland because of the sense of betrayal they feel over Brexit. | The government has been urged to heed the warnings of the risk of civil disorder by loyalists in Northern Ireland because of the sense of betrayal they feel over Brexit. |
| The deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist party, Nigel Dodds, urged the government not to shrug off the impact of the Brexit deal on the unionist community. | The deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist party, Nigel Dodds, urged the government not to shrug off the impact of the Brexit deal on the unionist community. |
| “You are really in danger here of causing real problems with the Belfast agreement, the St Andrew’s agreement, the political institutions and political stability in Northern Ireland by what you are doing to the unionist community,” he told the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, during an hour-long exchange in the House of Commons over the Northern Ireland protocol of the deal. “Please wake up and realise what is happening here,” he said. | “You are really in danger here of causing real problems with the Belfast agreement, the St Andrew’s agreement, the political institutions and political stability in Northern Ireland by what you are doing to the unionist community,” he told the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, during an hour-long exchange in the House of Commons over the Northern Ireland protocol of the deal. “Please wake up and realise what is happening here,” he said. |
| DUP warns of civil disorder in Northern Ireland over Brexit | DUP warns of civil disorder in Northern Ireland over Brexit |
| BuzzFeed’s Alberto Nardelli and Alex Wickham are reporting that Boris Johnson personally raised the issue of businesses having to fill in export forms on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a phone call with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, on the morning the Brexit deal was agreed. | BuzzFeed’s Alberto Nardelli and Alex Wickham are reporting that Boris Johnson personally raised the issue of businesses having to fill in export forms on goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in a phone call with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European commission president, on the morning the Brexit deal was agreed. |
| Juncker insisted that the matter could not be renegotiated. Shortly afterwards, in a follow-up call, Johnson agreed the deal, thereby accepting the need for the forms. | Juncker insisted that the matter could not be renegotiated. Shortly afterwards, in a follow-up call, Johnson agreed the deal, thereby accepting the need for the forms. |
| This shows the PM knew the issue would be problematic, but signed it off anyway. | This shows the PM knew the issue would be problematic, but signed it off anyway. |
| NEW: Boris Johnson raised the issue of export forms in Northern Ireland directly with Jean-Claude Juncker. And then agreed to them 90 minutes later. https://t.co/QrfCv7F6jx | NEW: Boris Johnson raised the issue of export forms in Northern Ireland directly with Jean-Claude Juncker. And then agreed to them 90 minutes later. https://t.co/QrfCv7F6jx |
| Tony Lloyd, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has issued a statement on the confusion surrounding the Northern Ireland/Ireland protocol. | Tony Lloyd, the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, has issued a statement on the confusion surrounding the Northern Ireland/Ireland protocol. |
| The government is in complete disarray about the impact of its sell-out Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. | The government is in complete disarray about the impact of its sell-out Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. |
| The Brexit secretary says there will be border checks, the prime minister claims there won’t be, and the home secretary cannot say for sure one way or the other. | The Brexit secretary says there will be border checks, the prime minister claims there won’t be, and the home secretary cannot say for sure one way or the other. |
| Boris Johnson should come to parliament at the earliest opportunity to clarify the government’s position and apologise for misleading MPs about the consequences of his Brexit deal on trade within the UK. | Boris Johnson should come to parliament at the earliest opportunity to clarify the government’s position and apologise for misleading MPs about the consequences of his Brexit deal on trade within the UK. |
| Earlier today the DUP’s Nigel Dodds criticised the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, for describing the checks envisaged on exports between Northern Ireland and Great Britain as “administrative processes”, when in reality they were export declarations that would have to be checked. | Earlier today the DUP’s Nigel Dodds criticised the Brexit secretary, Stephen Barclay, for describing the checks envisaged on exports between Northern Ireland and Great Britain as “administrative processes”, when in reality they were export declarations that would have to be checked. |
| The next president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said Boris Johnson will need to nominate a candidate for EU commissioner to serve in Brussels if Brexit is delayed beyond 31 October. | The next president of the European commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has said Boris Johnson will need to nominate a candidate for EU commissioner to serve in Brussels if Brexit is delayed beyond 31 October. |
| “There might be an extension and the UK will still be in the EU. Then of course I would ask the UK to send a commissioner,” Von der Leyen told reporters when asked about the repercussions of the UK staying in the EU beyond the end of the month. | “There might be an extension and the UK will still be in the EU. Then of course I would ask the UK to send a commissioner,” Von der Leyen told reporters when asked about the repercussions of the UK staying in the EU beyond the end of the month. |
| The prime minister has refused to pick a replacement for Sir Julian King, a Briton who is Jean-Claude Juncker’s security commissioner. The home secretary Priti Patel has admitted this week to a select committee that she had yet to meet or talk to King. | The prime minister has refused to pick a replacement for Sir Julian King, a Briton who is Jean-Claude Juncker’s security commissioner. The home secretary Priti Patel has admitted this week to a select committee that she had yet to meet or talk to King. |
| Should Johnson fail to nominate a commissioner, the UK would be in infringement of EU law. | Should Johnson fail to nominate a commissioner, the UK would be in infringement of EU law. |
| Article 17 (5) TEU of the Lisbon treaty removed the obligation for each member state to be represented in the commission. It stated that any commission must have members from at least two thirds of EU countries. But before the treaty came into force the member states reverted to insisting that any commission must have a member from every EU country. This was made legally binding in 2013. | Article 17 (5) TEU of the Lisbon treaty removed the obligation for each member state to be represented in the commission. It stated that any commission must have members from at least two thirds of EU countries. But before the treaty came into force the member states reverted to insisting that any commission must have a member from every EU country. This was made legally binding in 2013. |
| A derogation for the UK could be given under Article 17 (5) TEU. This would require the consent of all 28 member states, including the UK. | A derogation for the UK could be given under Article 17 (5) TEU. This would require the consent of all 28 member states, including the UK. |
| The Guardian’s political editor, Heather Stewart, has this useful guide to what the prime minister’s options are now. | The Guardian’s political editor, Heather Stewart, has this useful guide to what the prime minister’s options are now. |
| Brexit 'do or die': what are Boris Johnson's options now? | Brexit 'do or die': what are Boris Johnson's options now? |
| And here’s a quick guide – by our political correspondent Kate Proctor – to how Boris Johnson could get a general election before January. | And here’s a quick guide – by our political correspondent Kate Proctor – to how Boris Johnson could get a general election before January. |
| Boris Johnson has three options to try and call a general election. Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, an election may be called if it is agreed by two-thirds of the total number of MPs. Johnson presented motions for an election on 4 and 9 September and failed on both occasions when the majority of Labour MPs abstained. Johnson could try this again and potentially secure Labour backing, because the Benn act has removed the imminent possibility of a no-deal Brexit. | Boris Johnson has three options to try and call a general election. Under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011, an election may be called if it is agreed by two-thirds of the total number of MPs. Johnson presented motions for an election on 4 and 9 September and failed on both occasions when the majority of Labour MPs abstained. Johnson could try this again and potentially secure Labour backing, because the Benn act has removed the imminent possibility of a no-deal Brexit. |
| This lowers the threshold of MPs needed to trigger a general election because it requires a simple majority to pass. This could work in Johnson’s favour. However, it is amendable, which can involve the moving of an election date to a time that works for the opposition. | This lowers the threshold of MPs needed to trigger a general election because it requires a simple majority to pass. This could work in Johnson’s favour. However, it is amendable, which can involve the moving of an election date to a time that works for the opposition. |
| The leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, can call a no-confidence motion in the prime minister. This needs a simple majority to pass. He has been urged to do this by Johnson several times as a way of triggering an election, but Corbyn has resisted. It begins a 14-day period in which either the prime minister or someone else can try to form a new government. While Johnson could potentially lose this, and therefore his place as prime minister, to another Conservative, Corbyn could also struggle to get enough MPs to rally around him to form a government. The Scottish National party has said it would back him, but the Liberal Democrats have been extremely vocal in saying they would not support him. An election is triggered if, at the end of the two-week period, no alternative government has been formed. | The leader of the opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, can call a no-confidence motion in the prime minister. This needs a simple majority to pass. He has been urged to do this by Johnson several times as a way of triggering an election, but Corbyn has resisted. It begins a 14-day period in which either the prime minister or someone else can try to form a new government. While Johnson could potentially lose this, and therefore his place as prime minister, to another Conservative, Corbyn could also struggle to get enough MPs to rally around him to form a government. The Scottish National party has said it would back him, but the Liberal Democrats have been extremely vocal in saying they would not support him. An election is triggered if, at the end of the two-week period, no alternative government has been formed. |
| Kate Proctor Political correspondent | Kate Proctor Political correspondent |
| The Queen’s speech debate is ongoing. The speaker selected two amendments for debate. See below. | The Queen’s speech debate is ongoing. The speaker selected two amendments for debate. See below. |
| The Speaker has selected two amendments to the Queen's Speech: Amendment (g) in the name of @jeremycorbyn and Amendment (h) in the name of @IanBlackfordMP. For more information see today's Order Paper: https://t.co/zELIj8rNiy pic.twitter.com/p9pnorxvFb | The Speaker has selected two amendments to the Queen's Speech: Amendment (g) in the name of @jeremycorbyn and Amendment (h) in the name of @IanBlackfordMP. For more information see today's Order Paper: https://t.co/zELIj8rNiy pic.twitter.com/p9pnorxvFb |
| He did not select the Lib Dem amendment that called for a second EU referendum. | He did not select the Lib Dem amendment that called for a second EU referendum. |
| Speaker has not selected the People’s Vote amendment https://t.co/SSxhlsZoBu | Speaker has not selected the People’s Vote amendment https://t.co/SSxhlsZoBu |
| From the BBC’s Adam Fleming: | From the BBC’s Adam Fleming: |
| EU27 ambassadors meeting to discuss #Brexit extension pencilled in for 1000 Brussels time tomorrow. | EU27 ambassadors meeting to discuss #Brexit extension pencilled in for 1000 Brussels time tomorrow. |
| And from ITV’s Paul Brand: | And from ITV’s Paul Brand: |
| Understand no further meetings planned today between Labour and No 10. Labour source says No 10 has to make its mind up about what it’s doing first. | Understand no further meetings planned today between Labour and No 10. Labour source says No 10 has to make its mind up about what it’s doing first. |
| A meeting of the political cabinet – without civil servants – will take place at 3pm on Thursday. | A meeting of the political cabinet – without civil servants – will take place at 3pm on Thursday. |
| Political Cabinet confirmed for 3pm. This means a discussion at least about trying to force a general election, and possibly a decision to do it/not do it yet. | Political Cabinet confirmed for 3pm. This means a discussion at least about trying to force a general election, and possibly a decision to do it/not do it yet. |
| It’s Frances Perraudin here, taking over from Ben Quinn for the afternoon. | It’s Frances Perraudin here, taking over from Ben Quinn for the afternoon. |
| • Boris Johnson’s cabinet is divided over how to proceed with Brexit as the prime minister faces the choice of pressing ahead with his deal or gambling his premiership on a pre-Christmas general election.After an inconclusive meeting with Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday morning to try to agree an acceptable timetable for parliament to consider the bill, the prime minister told MPs at Wednesday’s PMQs that he was awaiting the decision of the EU27 over whether to grant an extension before settling his next move. The EU’s decision is unlikely to come before Friday. | • Boris Johnson’s cabinet is divided over how to proceed with Brexit as the prime minister faces the choice of pressing ahead with his deal or gambling his premiership on a pre-Christmas general election.After an inconclusive meeting with Jeremy Corbyn on Wednesday morning to try to agree an acceptable timetable for parliament to consider the bill, the prime minister told MPs at Wednesday’s PMQs that he was awaiting the decision of the EU27 over whether to grant an extension before settling his next move. The EU’s decision is unlikely to come before Friday. |
| • Johnson will be left waiting for the EU’s terms for a further Brexit extension until Friday, with signs of momentum building behind Donald Tusk’s plan for a delay up to 31 January.The French government has privately voiced its concerns about taking the pressure off MPs to vote for the deal, which they believe could be ratified in 15 days, but EU sources said the bloc was seeking a “solution that works for all” and avoids a no-deal exit.Tusk, the president of the European council, told Johnson in a phone call on Wednesday his reasons for “recommending the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension”. | • Johnson will be left waiting for the EU’s terms for a further Brexit extension until Friday, with signs of momentum building behind Donald Tusk’s plan for a delay up to 31 January.The French government has privately voiced its concerns about taking the pressure off MPs to vote for the deal, which they believe could be ratified in 15 days, but EU sources said the bloc was seeking a “solution that works for all” and avoids a no-deal exit.Tusk, the president of the European council, told Johnson in a phone call on Wednesday his reasons for “recommending the EU27 accept the UK request for an extension”. |
| • The Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, has written to Jeremy Corbyn urging Labour to support her party’s amendment to the Queen’s speech which would ensure a second Brexit referendum. Swinson tweeted a copy of the letter, which stated: “I believe we cannot afford to wait any longer if we are going to get a people’s vote in this parliament.” | • The Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, has written to Jeremy Corbyn urging Labour to support her party’s amendment to the Queen’s speech which would ensure a second Brexit referendum. Swinson tweeted a copy of the letter, which stated: “I believe we cannot afford to wait any longer if we are going to get a people’s vote in this parliament.” |
| • Key Brexit legislation has not been included in the Commons business for next week. The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, told MPs the business will include the second reading of the environment bill on Monday, the second reading of the animal welfare (sentencing) bill on Tuesday, a general debate on the Grenfell Tower fire on Wednesday, and tributes to the Speaker’s chaplain followed by a general debate on children’s services spending on Thursday. The Commons will not sit on Friday 1 November, he added. | • Key Brexit legislation has not been included in the Commons business for next week. The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, told MPs the business will include the second reading of the environment bill on Monday, the second reading of the animal welfare (sentencing) bill on Tuesday, a general debate on the Grenfell Tower fire on Wednesday, and tributes to the Speaker’s chaplain followed by a general debate on children’s services spending on Thursday. The Commons will not sit on Friday 1 November, he added. |
| • The DUP has angrily chastised the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, in the House of Commons, where one of the party’s MPs said unionists had been the ‘sacrificial lambs’ of the deal between the EU and the UK.Barclay also referred to comments made by the prime minister on Wednesday when he said there would be no checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Responding to this, Barclay said: “It is the case the prime minister was distinguishing between the paperwork that is required, which will be done digitally and is a single form, rather than actually introducing physicals checks.” | • The DUP has angrily chastised the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, in the House of Commons, where one of the party’s MPs said unionists had been the ‘sacrificial lambs’ of the deal between the EU and the UK.Barclay also referred to comments made by the prime minister on Wednesday when he said there would be no checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. Responding to this, Barclay said: “It is the case the prime minister was distinguishing between the paperwork that is required, which will be done digitally and is a single form, rather than actually introducing physicals checks.” |
| The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, is speaking in the debate on the Queen’s speech, which he describes as little more than a crude election stunt. | The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, is speaking in the debate on the Queen’s speech, which he describes as little more than a crude election stunt. |
| He says the reality is that after almost a decade of harsh and brutal austerity, a few cynical attempts to paper over the cracks in the NHS and elsewhere go nowhere near making a difference. | He says the reality is that after almost a decade of harsh and brutal austerity, a few cynical attempts to paper over the cracks in the NHS and elsewhere go nowhere near making a difference. |
| On Brexit, the FT’s Jim Pickard tweets: | On Brexit, the FT’s Jim Pickard tweets: |
| McDonnell in Commons:“Both main parties committed in their last manifestos to respecting the outcome of the referendum. And we do. And we will. “However as it made clear on Tuesday, this House will not be bounced into an unrealistic and unfeasible timetable for...legislation” | McDonnell in Commons:“Both main parties committed in their last manifestos to respecting the outcome of the referendum. And we do. And we will. “However as it made clear on Tuesday, this House will not be bounced into an unrealistic and unfeasible timetable for...legislation” |
| Much hilarity and some outrage has ensued as a result of reported comments from Jeremy Corbyn’s chief of staff, Karie Murphy, at a town hall meeting of Labour staff that, “anyone who knows Jeremy knows he loves to go on the train to obscure places like the south-west or Orkney”. | Much hilarity and some outrage has ensued as a result of reported comments from Jeremy Corbyn’s chief of staff, Karie Murphy, at a town hall meeting of Labour staff that, “anyone who knows Jeremy knows he loves to go on the train to obscure places like the south-west or Orkney”. |
| ScotRail, more used to getting pelters on Twitter because of late-running, overcrowded trains, is now enjoying much praise for maintaining a secret under-sea train line to the Orkney Islands, 10 miles from the Scottish mainland, apparently only for use by the Labour leader. | ScotRail, more used to getting pelters on Twitter because of late-running, overcrowded trains, is now enjoying much praise for maintaining a secret under-sea train line to the Orkney Islands, 10 miles from the Scottish mainland, apparently only for use by the Labour leader. |
| At least he’ll get a seat. | At least he’ll get a seat. |
| Residents of the south-west, which has a population of more than 5 million people, were likewise surprised to learn that they were considered obscure. Geography, it’s a tricky subject. | Residents of the south-west, which has a population of more than 5 million people, were likewise surprised to learn that they were considered obscure. Geography, it’s a tricky subject. |
| that tunnel is supposed to be secret! | that tunnel is supposed to be secret! |
| The Labour backbencher, Lucy Powell, has said that it would be better to put the Brexit bill through parliament before an election, but if MPs “can’t resolve” it, then there should be an election. | The Labour backbencher, Lucy Powell, has said that it would be better to put the Brexit bill through parliament before an election, but if MPs “can’t resolve” it, then there should be an election. |
| Speaking on Politics Live, she also hit out at the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, who has written to Jeremy Corbyn to seek Labour support for a second referendum amendment. | Speaking on Politics Live, she also hit out at the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, who has written to Jeremy Corbyn to seek Labour support for a second referendum amendment. |
| Labour MP Lucy Powell calls Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson's call for a second Brexit referendum amendment to the Queen's Speech "pathetic political posturing ahead of a potential general election" https://t.co/VmWn6WSdVe #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/DpwTZe7XBD | Labour MP Lucy Powell calls Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson's call for a second Brexit referendum amendment to the Queen's Speech "pathetic political posturing ahead of a potential general election" https://t.co/VmWn6WSdVe #PoliticsLive pic.twitter.com/DpwTZe7XBD |