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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/oct/24/brexit-general-election-boris-johnson-labour-eu-extension-live-news
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| Brexit: Labour will only support election if no deal 'off the table' - as it happened | |
| (about 1 year later) | |
| That’s all from us for this evening. Here’s a summary of the day’s events: | |
| The prime minister dropped his key “do or die” promise to bring the UK out of the European Union on 31 October. Boris Johnson demanded a general election on 12 December, offering MPs more time to scrutinise his Brexit legislation if they agreed. | |
| It was unclear whether he would get his wish after Labour indicated it would not back an election unless a no-deal Brexit was ruled out altogether. Boris Johnson needs Labour’s support to call an election and, while the party’s leader Jeremy Corbyn said he wanted one, he would not back it until a hard Brexit was taken off the table. | |
| MPs backed the government’s legislative programme. The Commons voted through the Queen’s speech motion by a majority of 16. | |
| Johnson is likely to 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. | |
| The Liberal Democrat leader wrote to Jeremy Corbyn urging Labour to support her party’s amendment to the Queen’s speech, which would ensure a second Brexit referendum. Jo Swinson tweeted a copy of the letter, which read: “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 was not included in the Commons business for next week. The Commons leader, Jacob Rees-Mogg, told MPs the business would include the second reading of the environment bill on Monday, among other matters. | |
| The DUP angrily chastised the Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, with one of the party’s MPs saying unionists had been the ‘sacrificial lambs’ of the Brexit deal. Barclay was presented with the prime minister’s earlier promise there would be no checks between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. “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,” he responded. | |
| If you’d like to read yet more, my colleagues Heather Stewart and Daniel Boffey have the full story: | |
| Johnson seeks 12 December election after shelving 'do or die' Brexit pledge | |
| France’s Europe minister insisted on Thursday night that Paris had no intention of giving ultimatums or confrontations over a Brexit extension – but London must provide clear, precise, organised reasons for an extension. | |
| Amélie de Montchalin said the EU simply giving more time would solve nothing unless there was concrete action in place in the UK. She told RTL radio: | |
| Our position is that simply giving more time – without political change, without ratification, without an election - would be useless. | |
| The French position is to give more time if it is justified, if we understand why more time is needed. That could be more time to ratify, because there’s a deal on the table. Or it could be because they say want to hold elections. Then we’ll look at that. | |
| But it’s one thing to say we’d like to maybe have elections and another thing to say elections have been organised. | |
| She denied France wanted to give Britain an ultimatum. | |
| We’re partners. We live 50km from each other. We’ll stay strong partners and neighbours, we’ll have a future relationship. So this is not about an ultimatum, it’s about getting clarity. | |
| We need clarity ... so our work is not about giving ultimatums, nor confrontation. But we do need to know why we would be giving more time. Simply giving more time alone leads to getting stuck in a rut. | |
| If there’s a clear scenario that will change things, for example a ratification or elections – not just suggested but organised – then we can take decisions. But we ask Britain for facts – we’re not in fictional politics, we need facts to make decisions. | |
| Decisions will be taken in the next hours and days in terms of what the UK parliament says and what has really been actioned [in the UK]. | |
| Labour will only support the prime minister’s push for a general election if a no-deal Brexit is taken “off the table”, Jeremy Corbyn has said. | |
| He declined to say whether or not Labour will back moves for an election if the Commons votes on the matter on Monday. In an interview this evening, he has said: | |
| Take no deal off the table and we will absolutely support an election. I’ve been calling [for] an election ever since the last one because this country needs one in order to deal with all the social injustices but no deal must be taken off the table. | |
| Asked what he would do in the event of a vote on Monday on whether or not to hold elections, he said: | |
| Tomorrow, the European Union will decide whether there’s going to be an extension granted or not that extension will obviously encompass whether there’s a no deal or not. Let’s find that out tomorrow. | |
| Pressed on the matter, he refused to elaborate. Asked what course of action he would define as having taken no deal off the table, he said: | |
| No deal is a threat that Boris Johnson has been using all along, and indeed it’s included in his legislation that’s before parliament at the moment; the legislation that he’s paused. I want us to not crash out of the EU because of all the damage it will do to jobs across this country. | |
| He said he was unable to say whether the granting of a Brexit extension until the end of next January would satisfy him in that regard. | |
| The Press Association is quoting an unnamed N0 10 source as saying the government would pull the withdrawal agreement bill if MPs refused their timetable and instead “campaign at every stage and at every opportunity for a general election”. | |
| Here’s the latest on the shadow cabinet discussions over the prime minister’s general election offer: | |
| Hearing Jeremy Corbyn is still in a meeting with key allies about whether to back the PM's plea for a general election on Monday - while several of his shadow cabinet believe a decision has already been made to reject it. | |
| LATEST: Labour will reject Boris Johnson's election offer by officially abstaining on Monday's motion. This is what has been sent around to all Labour MPs: https://t.co/6ha6YRAqTB pic.twitter.com/jbuQsacdWx | |
| There are unconfirmed reports around that the government has pulled it plans for a budget on 6 November. | |
| Govt cancels the Budget —— Treasury source says: "Parliament has voted for a delay. We're calling for an election, so we won't be delivering the Budget on November 6." | |
| NEW: Treasury source: “Parliament has voted for a delay. We're calling for an election, so we won't be delivering the Budget on November 6.” | |
| Announcing the plans for a budget last Monday, the chancellor, Sajid Javid, had said: | |
| This will be the first budget after leaving the EU. I will be setting out our plan to shape the economy for the future and triggering the start of our infrastructure revolution. This is the right and responsible thing to do – we must get on with governing. | |
| The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has accused the prime minister of “trying to distract from his government’s failure” in announcing his preferred general election date. | |
| He has missed his do-or-die deadline and is now demanding that parliament give him a general election and the time to ram through his bill without proper scrutiny. | |
| The Liberal Democrats will not support any election until it is clear that we can avoid crashing out with no deal, and that needs an extension from the EU. | |
| The Liberal Democrats have consistently campaigned for a people’s vote as we believe that is the best way to end the Brexit impasse. The failure of Jeremy Corbyn to back us on a people’s vote today means we have missed the chance to deliver it so far in this parliament. | |
| Labour MPs are reacting on Twitter to this pretty astonishing piece of research by Cardiff University and the University of Edinburgh, which suggests that a majority of voters in England, Wales and Scotland believe that violence against MPs is a “price worth paying” in order to get their way on Brexit. | |
| Well this is a cheery read. https://t.co/2yHWRvTjAI | |
| The nicest end to the nicest week | |
| Most voters believe violence against MPs 'is price worth paying' over Brexit | |
| The BBC’s Europe editor is reporting that a “two tier” extension could be available, where the first extension would be provided to allow MPs to approve the Brexit bill. If the bill did not pass, the EU could then allow a further extension until 31 January. | |
| Whispers in EU now of how possible 2tier extension could get everyone (all 27 member states) onboard /1 | |
| Idea would be to have “short extension” till mid November to encourage MPs to debate and (EU hopes) ratify the new #Brexit deal /2 | |
| This, it is thought here, would appeal to the French who are pretty much the only EU country opposing granting the 3 month extension mentioned in PMs extension request letter. It would provide them with a ladder to climb down while .. /3 | |
| In case deal did not pass by midNov in UK, the second tier of extension lasting till 31 Jan would kick in, allowing time/cover for general election. There’s talk of backchannel chat today between Macron and the PM /4 | |
| EU would keep to its ‘flextension’ idea, so the UK could and would leave as soon as Brexit deal was ratified by UK Parliament and European Parliament BUT /5 | |
| EU leaders are already half-thinking -should an election prove inconclusive/return a hung parliament then they may be asked for yet another #Brexit extension come January /6 | |
| And from the chancellor of the exchequer: | |
| This Parliament has run its course. We must have an election as soon as possible to break this deadlock and decide the future for our country. 1/3 | |
| Labour demanded more time to pass the deal. They have two more weeks - more than enough to pass this deal. And then we can get on with an election on Dec 12th. 2/3 | |
| As I said in Parliament today, the choice before our country is clear: - a Conservative Party that will deliver Brexit and back the people's priorities - or a Labour Party that brings more dither, delay and reckless spending. 3/3 | |
| This from the Scottish first minister: | |
| So Johnson appears to be saying to MPs ‘if you vote for an election, I’ll bring back my bad Brexit bill and try to drag us out of the EU before we go to the polls’. Elections should be exercises in letting voters decide, not devices for charlatans to get their own way. | |
| Some more reaction from MPs. | |
| Govt wins the vote on its Queens Speech and immediately demands a General Election 🤨 They are playing games instead of sorting out #BrexitCrisis The only way forward is a confirmatory referendum @peoplesvote_uk | |
| Another dead cat for the weekend papers for Johnson. | |
| Exactly. (And see earlier tweet re election) but his “election offer” is a shallow threat to cover for his own dither and delay about bringing the Withdrawl Bill back before Parliament . He clearly doesn’t actually want an election or to get Brexit though Parliament. https://t.co/szA68VBhhX | |
| Another reason to oppose Election:Risk of No Deal remains as long as trapdoor in Withdrawal Bill remains - until it’s amended, we can still crash out with No Deal if no future relationship negotiated by end of transition in Dec 2020.MPs mustn’t allow this No Deal by stealth | |
| Let’s just take a moment to think about Boris Johnson’s “do or die” promise that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October. | Let’s just take a moment to think about Boris Johnson’s “do or die” promise that the UK would leave the EU on 31 October. |
| This evening’s call for a general election on 12 December is his first admission that he will not deliver on the pledge he said he’d rather “be dead in a ditch” than break. | This evening’s call for a general election on 12 December is his first admission that he will not deliver on the pledge he said he’d rather “be dead in a ditch” than break. |
| Here’s a little reminder: | Here’s a little reminder: |
| It’s looking less and less likely that Johnson will get his election proposal agreed by parliament ... | It’s looking less and less likely that Johnson will get his election proposal agreed by parliament ... |
| Lib Dems against an election. Greens against. Unity holding. Labour MPs saying they’ll vote against. So this election attempt presumably a gambit to convince the EU to offer a shorter extension and embarrass Labour. | Lib Dems against an election. Greens against. Unity holding. Labour MPs saying they’ll vote against. So this election attempt presumably a gambit to convince the EU to offer a shorter extension and embarrass Labour. |
| SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford tells me his party will not dance to Boris Johnson’s tune on election. He says yes to early election but does not like 12 December date coupled with return of brexit legislation @IanBlackfordMP | SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford tells me his party will not dance to Boris Johnson’s tune on election. He says yes to early election but does not like 12 December date coupled with return of brexit legislation @IanBlackfordMP |
| Ian Blackford tells me he is trying to convene meeting with opposition leaders to remove Boris Johnson. Sounds like SNP wants no confidence vote | Ian Blackford tells me he is trying to convene meeting with opposition leaders to remove Boris Johnson. Sounds like SNP wants no confidence vote |
| It is very clear to me that Labour and other opposition parties will block @BorisJohnson’s 12 December election. So goodness knows what happens. “Taking back control” is what one senior opposition figure just said to me | It is very clear to me that Labour and other opposition parties will block @BorisJohnson’s 12 December election. So goodness knows what happens. “Taking back control” is what one senior opposition figure just said to me |
| .@CommonsLeader has announced that on Monday 28 October there will be a debate and vote on an early general election.Watch the statement here:https://t.co/Oovp5pJPch | .@CommonsLeader has announced that on Monday 28 October there will be a debate and vote on an early general election.Watch the statement here:https://t.co/Oovp5pJPch |
| On the question of whether the speaker John Bercow will stay on any longer now the 31 October Brexit deadline has been scrapped, Jacob Rees-Mogg says the timetable is set. Bercow will leave next Thursday and tributes will be paid to him in the house. | |
| Some reaction from MPs to the prime minister’s decision to push for an election on 12 December. | Some reaction from MPs to the prime minister’s decision to push for an election on 12 December. |
| This is crazy. Johnson’s timetable failed because his Brexit plan needed serious scrutiny, not rubber-stamping. Now he expects ‘usual channels’ to carve-up Brexit in “wash-up” period before an election! This is no way to make a momentous decision affecting generations to come. https://t.co/HdQpitUA0d | This is crazy. Johnson’s timetable failed because his Brexit plan needed serious scrutiny, not rubber-stamping. Now he expects ‘usual channels’ to carve-up Brexit in “wash-up” period before an election! This is no way to make a momentous decision affecting generations to come. https://t.co/HdQpitUA0d |
| The Tories are pushing for a General Election because they want a ‘no deal’ option available. York will be the eighth worst hit place in the U.K. from no deal. Reckless. | The Tories are pushing for a General Election because they want a ‘no deal’ option available. York will be the eighth worst hit place in the U.K. from no deal. Reckless. |
| We are ready for a General Election. It is entirely wrong to hold the British people hostage in this way. https://t.co/DwGRh5NXF5 | We are ready for a General Election. It is entirely wrong to hold the British people hostage in this way. https://t.co/DwGRh5NXF5 |
| I look forward to voting for an election on Monday. | I look forward to voting for an election on Monday. |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, stands up to say that next Monday MPs will be given the opportunity to “debate and approve a motion relating to an early general election”. The business for the rest of next week remains as he announced earlier. | Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the Commons, stands up to say that next Monday MPs will be given the opportunity to “debate and approve a motion relating to an early general election”. The business for the rest of next week remains as he announced earlier. |
| Valerie Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, says we will find out tomorrow what extension has been granted by the EU. | Valerie Vaz, the shadow leader of the Commons, says we will find out tomorrow what extension has been granted by the EU. |
| She says the Labour party will back an election once a no-deal Brexit is ruled out and if the extension allows. | She says the Labour party will back an election once a no-deal Brexit is ruled out and if the extension allows. |
| MPs have voted for the Queen’s speech – 310 to 294. | 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 | MPs have voted 310 to 294 to approve the #QueensSpeech. pic.twitter.com/Dkb1o0R8M6 |