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Brexit: Boris Johnson to ask for general election on 12 December - live news Brexit: Boris Johnson seeks general election on 12 December - live news
(32 minutes later)
MPs have voted for the Queen’s speech – 310 to 294.
MPs have voted 310 to 294 to approve the #QueensSpeech. pic.twitter.com/Dkb1o0R8M6
A few minutes ago, before the vote on the SNP amendment, MPs voted on a Labour amendment to the Queen’s speech. They voted against it by 311 to 293.
MPs are now voting on Amendment (g) to the #QueensSpeech motion.The amendment, in the name of Leader of the Opposition, @jeremycorbyn, relates to rebuilding the economy pic.twitter.com/wIiO2RokCq
MPs have voted against Amendment (g) by 311 to 293.
MPs are now voting on the main motion on the Queen’s speech. The result is due in about five minutes.
The SNP’s amendment to the Queen’s speech has been voted down by 310 votes to 64.
The prime minister has written to the Labour leader setting out his proposals for a general election. He says he is “extremely sceptical that this habit [of voting to delay Brexit] will change and many will doubt that this parliament will do anything other than waste more time”.
I have written to Jeremy Corbyn: this Parliament must get Brexit done now or a NEW Parliament must get Brexit done so the country can move on pic.twitter.com/PekfFRsR9F
MPs are now voting on amendments to the motion to approve the Queen’s speech, before they vote on the whole thing.
They are currently voting on an SNP amendment that says “the house regrets the UK government’s intention to use the immigration bill to end freedom of movement within Europe”.
Here are Johnson’s comments in a bit more detail.
Speaking to the BBC’s political editor, he said:
If this parliament is anything to go by, that delay could go on for a very long time because it looks as though our EU friends will respond to parliament’s request by having an extension, which I really don’t want at all.
The way to get Brexit done is, I think, to be reasonable with parliament and say if they genuinely want more time to study this excellent deal, they can have it, but they have to agree to a general election on 12 December.
He added: “It’s time, frankly, that the opposition summoned up the nerve to submit themselves to the judgment of our collective boss, which is the people of the UK.”
Johnson said his proposal would give MPs “all the time they want” to scrutinise the bill before 6 November. He says that’s more than many of them had been asking for.
The prime minister said it would be “absolutely morally incredible” if the Labour party refused to back an election.
Boris Johnson has announced he will push for a general election on 12 December.Boris Johnson has announced he will push for a general election on 12 December.
He said parliament voted to delay Brexit and “that delay could go on for a very long time” because the EU would respond to parliament’s request and agree an extension.He said parliament voted to delay Brexit and “that delay could go on for a very long time” because the EU would respond to parliament’s request and agree an extension.
The prime minister said he wanted “to be reasonable with parliament” and say they could have more time to scrutinise the legislation if they submitted to a general election on 12 December.The prime minister said he wanted “to be reasonable with parliament” and say they could have more time to scrutinise the legislation if they submitted to a general election on 12 December.
Sky News’s Beth Rigby says Johnson will table a motion for a general election on Monday.Sky News’s Beth Rigby says Johnson will table a motion for a general election on Monday.
Govt to table a motion for GE MondayGovt to table a motion for GE Monday
But remember, the government would still need the support of two-thirds of MPs to hold an election. And Labour has said it will not back an election until the EU has given the UK a Brexit extension.But remember, the government would still need the support of two-thirds of MPs to hold an election. And Labour has said it will not back an election until the EU has given the UK a Brexit extension.
Fixed Term Parliaments Act Maths (need 2/3s for an election)Cons=288Assuming other smaller remain parties vote for itSNP=35LD= 19Plaid=4That's 346. So you'd only need 86 Labour MPs to vote for it too. Assuming Corbyn says yes, find it v unlikely that won't happen. https://t.co/3f6QwkqqMyFixed Term Parliaments Act Maths (need 2/3s for an election)Cons=288Assuming other smaller remain parties vote for itSNP=35LD= 19Plaid=4That's 346. So you'd only need 86 Labour MPs to vote for it too. Assuming Corbyn says yes, find it v unlikely that won't happen. https://t.co/3f6QwkqqMy
The Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna says it looks increasingly unlikely that there will be the numbers in parliament for a second referendum because of lack of support from Labour. He says the best way forward is an election.The Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna says it looks increasingly unlikely that there will be the numbers in parliament for a second referendum because of lack of support from Labour. He says the best way forward is an election.
Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna says it is looking "increasingly unlikely" there are enough MPs currently in support of a second referendum, adding an election may be the "best way of getting a people's vote or stopping Brexit" https://t.co/R37gFtWEL8 pic.twitter.com/5vsuNUr4V8Lib Dem MP Chuka Umunna says it is looking "increasingly unlikely" there are enough MPs currently in support of a second referendum, adding an election may be the "best way of getting a people's vote or stopping Brexit" https://t.co/R37gFtWEL8 pic.twitter.com/5vsuNUr4V8
This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. The vote on the Queen’s speech could come at 5.45pm, followed by an address by Johnson calling on MPs to back an election.This is from ITV’s Paul Brand. The vote on the Queen’s speech could come at 5.45pm, followed by an address by Johnson calling on MPs to back an election.
Shadow cabinet members have said Labour would back an election after the EU granted the UK a Brexit extension. (See Long-Bailey this morning and Burgon yesterday morning.)Shadow cabinet members have said Labour would back an election after the EU granted the UK a Brexit extension. (See Long-Bailey this morning and Burgon yesterday morning.)
BREAKING: Asked whether PM is about to call a snap election, Jacob Rees-Mogg leaving Downing Street saying "we'll have to wait and see!"That sounds like a 'yes' to me.BREAKING: Asked whether PM is about to call a snap election, Jacob Rees-Mogg leaving Downing Street saying "we'll have to wait and see!"That sounds like a 'yes' to me.
Potential timings this afternoon...1500-1600ish - political cabinet1745ish - vote on Queen's Speech1800ish - PM could address the Commons to call again for a general electionIt could be an eventful evening.Potential timings this afternoon...1500-1600ish - political cabinet1745ish - vote on Queen's Speech1800ish - PM could address the Commons to call again for a general electionIt could be an eventful evening.
This from the Sun’s political editor. There are mounting reports that Johnson could announce his intention to push for an election this evening.This from the Sun’s political editor. There are mounting reports that Johnson could announce his intention to push for an election this evening.
There is a good chance now the PM will address the Commons after the Queen’s Speech. If the Cabinet agree it, this will be to tell the House he is tabling a motion on Monday to hold a general election.There is a good chance now the PM will address the Commons after the Queen’s Speech. If the Cabinet agree it, this will be to tell the House he is tabling a motion on Monday to hold a general election.
Oh goody ...
Several government sources now advising against making plans for this evening.
The vote on the Queen’s speech is expected after 5pm. The vote will be tight and if it is voted down it will be the first time since 1924 that a government has lost a Queen’s speech vote. (That was when Stanley Baldwin’s minority government was defeated. The opposition went on to form a new government.)
In less bizarre times you would expect this to result in an election being called, but – since the introduction of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 – this would require the backing of two-thirds of MPs.
We could find ourselves in the strange situation of having a government that cannot pass its legislative programme but also cannot secure a general election.
Downing Street has said Johnson would not resign if he loses a vote on his Queen’s speech.
This is a good Queen’s speech explainer from the Institute for Government.
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.
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.
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.
Some light relief – apparently the German word for the withdrawal agreement bill is ...
Austrittsvertragsratifizierungsgesetzentwurf
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.
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.
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...
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 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.
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.
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.
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