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Brexit: EU has agreed Brexit 'flextension' until 31 January 2020, Tusk announces – live news Brexit: EU has agreed Brexit 'flextension' until 31 January 2020, Tusk announces – live news
(32 minutes later)
The Democratic Unionist party (DUP) has received a sobering warning that deputy leader Nigel Dodds may lose his seat to Sinn Fein in the next election.
Steve Aiken, the incoming leader of the Ulster Unionist party (UUP), has ruled out a tactical voting pact with the DUP, leaving Dodds vulnerable in his north Belfast constituency.
The prospect will complicate the DUP’s calculations over whether to back efforts to trigger a December election.
The UUP and DUP have cooperated in recent elections to avoid splitting the unionist vote in marginal constituencies, enabling Dodds to fend off Sinn Fein and lead the DUP’s 10 MPs at Westminster.
Over the weekend Aiken, a former submarine commander who is due to take charge of the UUP next month, announced it would contest every seat and not make a pact with a party that had bungled Brexit and “besmirched unionism with its corruption and sleaze”, a reference to the cash-for-scandal.
And more from Jennifer.
EU diplomat on Brexit extension says the “hope is that UK will use its extra time wisely”.The milder version of “do not waste this time”.
This is a reference to what Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, said in April, when the UK’s second and longer Brexit extension was agreed. “Please do not waste this time,” he said. The Conservative party then embarked on a leadership contest, and it was six months before the new PM presented a revised deal to parliament. Tusk may feel his advice was not taken very seriously.
From my colleague Jennifer Rankin
So after Friday’s fuss, EU ambassadors took only 15/20 minutes to rubber stamp the Brexit “flextension”. LibDem-SNP election decision described as a “game changer” for Emmanuel Macron by one EU diplomat.
This is from David Sassoli, president of the European parliament.
Positive EU27 leaders have agreed a flexible #Brexit extension until 31 January 2020. This gives time for the UK to make clear what it wants. In the meantime, the @Europarl_EN will continue to scrutinise the withdrawal agreement.
From ITV’s Robert Peston
People’s Vote has gone full People’s Front of Judea. McGrory and Baldwin are in the PV office in Millbank. Rudd and Heneghan are outside refusing to enter while M and B on premises, and are threatening legal action for trespass. Oh dear.
The announcement that the EU would agree to delay Brexit until 31 January did not come as a surprise to anyone this morning. But it is still a milestone in the Brexit process, and arguably one of the most important moments in Boris Johnson’s premiership. Here are three reasons why.
1 - Boris Johnson has now failed to achieve what he set out as the most important goal of his premiership. Even at the end of last week he was still claiming that Brexit could happen by 31 October, but that dream is now dead. And it is hard to overstate how important this was to the Johnson project. During the Tory leadership campaign the most important issue that separated Johnson from Jeremy Hunt, his challenger, was that Johnson said Brexit would have to happen by 31 October, whereas Hunt said it was more realistic to accept that the deadline might slip. After becoming prime minister Johnson repeatedly said unequivocally Brexit would happen by 31 October, particularly on social media. He said he would rather be “dead in a ditch” than extend Brexit. And then, of course, there were the Tory countdown clocks, one of which was delivered to No 10. Presumably this morning they have been stalled.
Party Chairman @JamesCleverly with the ⏰✍ We will deliver Brexit by October 31st. Back @BorisJohnson's pledge here: https://t.co/ZkcKvLONpm pic.twitter.com/aFF4Kfcav3
But Johnson’s monumental failure in this regard begs a much bigger question ...
2 - Johnson’s political future now depends on whether voters will forgive him for breaking his signature promise. Sometimes politicians can be destroyed by failing to deliver on a high-profile promise (eg George Bush putting up taxes, when Americans remembers “Read my lips, no new taxes”, and Nick Clegg and the Lib Dems putting up tuition fees, when they promised before the 2010 general election to vote against tuition fee increases). But sometimes politicians can get away with it (Tony Blair also broke a tuition fees promise), and so far the polling evidence suggests that Johnson (a politician who has more experience than most at getting away with flouting norms) and his party does not seem to have been damaged much by the expectation (confirmed this morning) that Brexit would be delayed. (See the polling below.) What seems to be working in his favour is the perception that at least he tried. Whether or not opinion turns against him on this later may decide the next election.
Here's how the polls have changed since last week:CON: 35.1% (+0.3)LAB: 25.4% (-)LDEM: 18.1% (-0.1)BREX: 11.3% (-0.1)GRN: 4.0% (-0.2)via Britain Elects poll trackerMore: https://t.co/spVpGNV8oG pic.twitter.com/dCH4dacG8Z
3 - The EU decision will make it harder for Labour to justify opposing an early election. At one point Jeremy Corbyn was saying that, as soon as the Benn Act became law, Labour would be ready to vote for an election. With the party split internally about the wisdom of an early election, Corbyn has now setting new hurdles for what might be needed before his party would be willing to back an early poll. Yesterday the party said Johnson would have to rule out a no-deal Brexit in all circumstances before Labour would agree to an election. But this argument is starting to sound tenuous (at other times the party has said assurances from Johnson cannot be believed), and so it is conceivable that Corbyn could lift his opposition to an early poll.
From PoliticsHome’s Kevin SchofieldFrom PoliticsHome’s Kevin Schofield
People's Vote staff have just staged a walkout after new chief executive Patrick Heneghan told them Roland Rudd would not address them.People's Vote staff have just staged a walkout after new chief executive Patrick Heneghan told them Roland Rudd would not address them.
People's Vote source adds: "The fact Rudd was on Sky at the time but refusing to speak to staff did not help the mood."People's Vote source adds: "The fact Rudd was on Sky at the time but refusing to speak to staff did not help the mood."
We have not had a response from No 10 yet to the EU Brexit extension decision. But under the terms of the Benn act (the law that was passed requiring Boris Johnson to request an extension), he has to accept the offer. This is what it says in section 3(1):We have not had a response from No 10 yet to the EU Brexit extension decision. But under the terms of the Benn act (the law that was passed requiring Boris Johnson to request an extension), he has to accept the offer. This is what it says in section 3(1):
If the European council decides to agree an extension of the period in article 50(3) of the treaty on European Union ending at 11.00pm on 31 October 2019 to the period ending at 11.00pm on 31 January 2020, the prime minister must, immediately after such a decision is made, notify the president of the European council that the United Kingdom agrees to the proposed extension.If the European council decides to agree an extension of the period in article 50(3) of the treaty on European Union ending at 11.00pm on 31 October 2019 to the period ending at 11.00pm on 31 January 2020, the prime minister must, immediately after such a decision is made, notify the president of the European council that the United Kingdom agrees to the proposed extension.
Here is our main story from Daniel Boffey and Jon Henley about the EU offering a Brexit “flextension” until 31 January.Here is our main story from Daniel Boffey and Jon Henley about the EU offering a Brexit “flextension” until 31 January.
EU agrees Brexit extension to 31 JanuaryEU agrees Brexit extension to 31 January
From the French journalist Quentin AriesFrom the French journalist Quentin Aries
EU source "Tusk will launch the written procedure among EU27 with a deadline of 24h."Meaning: the formal decision of the Brexit delay is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.#BrexitEU source "Tusk will launch the written procedure among EU27 with a deadline of 24h."Meaning: the formal decision of the Brexit delay is expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.#Brexit
From Sky NewsFrom Sky News
EU chief Brexit negotiator @MichelBarnier says he is 'content' that the EU has agreed to a '#flextension' until January 2020.Read the latest on #Brexit: https://t.co/R8Bh7frtRV pic.twitter.com/Sy24XCd8zkEU chief Brexit negotiator @MichelBarnier says he is 'content' that the EU has agreed to a '#flextension' until January 2020.Read the latest on #Brexit: https://t.co/R8Bh7frtRV pic.twitter.com/Sy24XCd8zk
Bloomberg’s Nikos Chrysoloras has a helpful summary of the “flextension” proposal from the EU.Bloomberg’s Nikos Chrysoloras has a helpful summary of the “flextension” proposal from the EU.
So what's in the Brexit flextension agreement? Key points: pic.twitter.com/tDu5fBuyIQSo what's in the Brexit flextension agreement? Key points: pic.twitter.com/tDu5fBuyIQ
One of the reasons by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are pushing for an election now is because they have given up hope of MPs voting for a second referendum in this parliament. This is how Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, explained it on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday. She said:One of the reasons by the Liberal Democrats and the SNP are pushing for an election now is because they have given up hope of MPs voting for a second referendum in this parliament. This is how Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, explained it on the Andrew Marr Show yesterday. She said:
I have worked hard in parliament to try to secure a majority for a people’s vote. It hasn’t been forthcoming. Even this week we tabled an amendment. We have tabled amendments for a people’s vote 17 times and Labour have not backed them in sufficient numbers. In contrast, 19 Labour MPs voted for Boris Johnson’s deal.I have worked hard in parliament to try to secure a majority for a people’s vote. It hasn’t been forthcoming. Even this week we tabled an amendment. We have tabled amendments for a people’s vote 17 times and Labour have not backed them in sufficient numbers. In contrast, 19 Labour MPs voted for Boris Johnson’s deal.
But this morning Tom Baldwin, communications director for the People’s Vote campaign, insisted that there was a majority in the current House of Commons for a second referendum. He told the Today programme:But this morning Tom Baldwin, communications director for the People’s Vote campaign, insisted that there was a majority in the current House of Commons for a second referendum. He told the Today programme:
The more people look at Boris Johnson’s deal, the more they realise this is perhaps not quite what was promised. And if we can expose Boris Johnson’s deal for what it is, I believe there is a majority in the current House of Commons for a confirmatory referendum.The more people look at Boris Johnson’s deal, the more they realise this is perhaps not quite what was promised. And if we can expose Boris Johnson’s deal for what it is, I believe there is a majority in the current House of Commons for a confirmatory referendum.
When challenged on this, he repeated the point about the majority being there for a second referendum once the flaws in Johnson’s deal were obvious. He explained:When challenged on this, he repeated the point about the majority being there for a second referendum once the flaws in Johnson’s deal were obvious. He explained:
[The majority is there] when you have exposed Boris Johnson’s deal for what it is. What I have said all the way through is that our strategy is to be the last thing standing. We are not an option in this crisis. We are a solution to it.[The majority is there] when you have exposed Boris Johnson’s deal for what it is. What I have said all the way through is that our strategy is to be the last thing standing. We are not an option in this crisis. We are a solution to it.
I described Baldwin as the communications director of the People’s Vote campaign but that is a moot point because Baldwin was on the programme to discuss the reports that emerged last night that he had been sacked. Here is our overnight story about the row.I described Baldwin as the communications director of the People’s Vote campaign but that is a moot point because Baldwin was on the programme to discuss the reports that emerged last night that he had been sacked. Here is our overnight story about the row.
People's Vote senior figures forced outPeople's Vote senior figures forced out
Baldwin told the Today programme that he did not actually work for Roland Rudd, one of the People’s Vote campaign figureheads and the person who supposedly sacked him, and that he would be going into work as normal today.Baldwin told the Today programme that he did not actually work for Roland Rudd, one of the People’s Vote campaign figureheads and the person who supposedly sacked him, and that he would be going into work as normal today.
In a subsequent interview Rudd said that Baldwin had not been fired, but that he was being offered “an opportunity for a different type of role”.In a subsequent interview Rudd said that Baldwin had not been fired, but that he was being offered “an opportunity for a different type of role”.
Rudd also said he thought there was “a real opportunity” this week to get MPs to vote for a confirmatory referendum. “We’ve got more MPs supporting us than ever before and I think we have every chance to be able to get that prize, which is being able to put it back to the people,” he said.Rudd also said he thought there was “a real opportunity” this week to get MPs to vote for a confirmatory referendum. “We’ve got more MPs supporting us than ever before and I think we have every chance to be able to get that prize, which is being able to put it back to the people,” he said.
As Michael Savage explained in this Observer article at the weekend, the row at the People’s Vote campaign is largely about strategy, and the extent to which it should transform into an overt remain campaign. But, as with most feuds in smallish political organisation, personality clashes are thought to have been a factor too.As Michael Savage explained in this Observer article at the weekend, the row at the People’s Vote campaign is largely about strategy, and the extent to which it should transform into an overt remain campaign. But, as with most feuds in smallish political organisation, personality clashes are thought to have been a factor too.
People’s Vote supporters can take comfort from the fact that something very similar happened to the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. Dominic Cummings, its campaign director, came close to being ousted in a boardroom coup, but survived. Vote Leave went on to win.People’s Vote supporters can take comfort from the fact that something very similar happened to the Vote Leave campaign in 2016. Dominic Cummings, its campaign director, came close to being ousted in a boardroom coup, but survived. Vote Leave went on to win.
From Sky’s Michelle Clifford
EU’s chief Brexit negotiator @MichelBarnier says he’s always happy when decisions are taken after EU27 agree to give UK Brexit “flextension” until Jan 31st. UK can leave earlier if deal ratified
This is from Donald Tusk, the president of the European council.
The EU27 has agreed that it will accept the UK's request for a #Brexit flextension until 31 January 2020. The decision is expected to be formalised through a written procedure.
“Flextension” means flexible extension. If MPs approve the Brexit deal sooner, the UK could leave the EU before 31 January. Under the draft plan being considered by EU ambassadors this morning, 1 December or 1 January would also be possible dates for Brexit in the event of the deal passing.
Here are the main items on the agenda for the day. We will be focusing mostly on Brexit-related news, and so I have only included the Brexit-related items.
9am (UK time): EU ambassadors meet in Brussels to discuss the proposed Brexit extension. As Daniel Boffey and Jon Henley report, the EU is expected to agree an extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified.
11am: Downing Street lobby briefing.
2.30pm: Priti Patel, the home secretary, takes questions in the Commons.
After 3.30pm: MPs debate the government motion calling for an early election. The debate will last 90 minutes, with voting immediately afterwards. If there are urgent questions or statements, the debate will start not at 3.30pm but later.
Late afternoon: MPs start the debate on the second reading of the environment bill.
Good morning. I’m Andrew Sparrow, taking over from Damien Gayle, and back from a particularly ill-timed half-term holiday. I’ve missed some intense parliamentary drama, although, as is usual with Brexit, deadlock and uncertainty still prevail.
Or perhaps not. Today Boris Johnson is staging a third vote on an early election – which, again, he is expected to win, but not by the two-thirds majority required under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act for it to actually happen.
But this morning we have had fresh evidence that the government is gearing up to support the Liberal Democrat/Scottish National party proposal to bypass the FTPA by using legislation to schedule an early poll. After the plan was revealed in the Observer, James Cleverly, the Conservative chairman, yesterday dismissed it as “a gimmick”. But later No 10 sources would not rule out the idea, and this morning Gavin Williamson, the education secretary and former chief whip who has been doing a media round, strongly hinted that the government might back the plan if, as expected, it doesn’t get enough votes this afternoon.
From the government’s point of view, the main advantage of the Lib Dem/SNP plan is that passing legislation to amend the FTPA just requires a majority of one, which means the Labour party would not have a veto. There are drawbacks too, because legislation could be amended, but the Lib Dem/SNP proposal does offer a route to a pre-Christmas election.
These are from Sky’s Tamara Cohen and the BBC’s Chris Mason, covering what Williamson has been saying.
Gavin Williamson does not repeat yesterday's line that Lib Dem/ SNP election plan is a "stunt" when questioned by @KayBurley. He says: "We’ve made it clear there’s an ability to put different options" but that doing it via legislation (not FTPA) is "always complex".
Will the govt take a look at the Lib Dem/SNP election idea if their plan fails tonight? @gavinwilliamson tells @mrdanwalker @bbcbreakfast: "the government will always look at every single option."
The Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, who together with the SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, has put forward a tightly drafted bill that would grant an election on 9 December, have said their plan is “still alive”.
Swinson and Blackford have put forward a bill that would grant an election on 9 December – three days earlier than the PM’s suggested polling date – as long as the European Union grants an extension until 31 January.
She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme:
It certainly, it seems to me a sensible way forward. We also understand from our contacts in the EU that putting forward this bill and sending the letter that we did has helped out EU friends have confidence that if they offer the extension that they’re discussing today that that will be time well spent.
One of their big concerns was that they offered an extension earlier this year, said ‘don’t waste time’, and then we had a Conservative leadership election and Boris Johnson mucked about not trying to get a deal, shutting down parliament, and you know, the very master class in time-wasting so, understandably, they had a degree of reluctance, I think evidenced by the fact they didn’t grant the extension on Friday when many thought they would.
So I’m hopeful that as a result of what we’ve done we will see that extension granted today because otherwise we’re still in the very real risk of crashing out without a deal on Thursday.
Boris Johnson and his cabinet hope the election of a new Speaker will help force a general election, the Times reports this morning. John Bercow, a bête noire of the Tory right, retires on Thursday and the government apparently thinks his successor will be much more amenable.
“The government believes his successor will be much less likely to allow backbenchers to seize control of the order paper again to pass legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit,” writes the Times’ deputy political editor, Steven Swinford.
Bercow has repeatedly allowed MPs to seize control of Commons business and push through legislation against the wishes of the government, including the so-called Benn act that forced Johnson to go cap in hand to Brussels to ask for a Brexit extension.
Johnson might not get what he is looking for, however. Among contenders for Bercow’s job is Harriet Harman.
Harriet Harman features in G2 today, speaking to Gaby Hinsliff about her campaign to become the new Speaker and her listening tour of the country, asking people what they think of parliament.
Leafing through her notes from the mini listening tour she has undertaken, asking people around the country what they think of parliament, underlines how difficult that has become. Westminster politics is seen as aggressive, entitled, phoney and unprofessional, a braying bear pit hopelessly out of step with modern workplaces, where respect and empathy are increasingly valued.
“One woman said: ‘I’m a trade union negotiator. I’d get nowhere if I walked into a negotiation and behaved like that,’” Harman recalls. “One of the things that’s been very striking is that people think the anger that’s displayed in parliament is an artefact, that it’s basically fake, playing up to the cameras. So if anybody’s under the impression that their anger is regarded as inspiring by people outside – people don’t buy it.” And that hints at something more complicated than the crude “people v parliament” narrative pushed by Downing Street, pitting furious leave voters against a supposedly obstructive elite.
Harman’s research suggests the angry, uncompromising stances that many Brexiters (and, arguably, parts of the left) see as connoting passion or ideological purity don’t always come across that way to voters, many of whom see squabbling and division merely as proof of impotence. Resorting to shouting is seen as “the ultimate failure of an institution”, says Harman. “In the outside world, people disagree about Brexit but they get along.” If she’s right, then politicians who believe they are channelling the public mood by ratcheting up their language may be in for a shock come a general election.
Harriet Harman on political survival: 'If you've been an outsider, you never forget'
PA Media reports that the government is going ahead with its preparations for a no-deal Brexit by activating measures to manage traffic on Kent’s motorways despite the EU considering an extension.
Operation Brock will come into force at 6am on Monday – three days before the UK is due to withdraw from the EU and the day parliament votes on whether to hold a snap general election.
It comes amid signs the EU is set to grant a fresh Brexit delay until the end of January after Boris Johnson was forced – under the terms of the so-called Benn act – to request a further extension.
The traffic measures are designed to keep the M20 open in both directions in case there is a disruption to services across the English Channel.
Lorries heading for Europe will face a 30mph limit on a 13-mile stretch of the coast-bound carriage of the M20. All other traffic on the motorway – including lorries carrying out UK deliveries – must use a 50mph contraflow of two lanes in each direction on the London-bound side of the road.
Several holding areas to park lorries are also available to be activated if required, including at Manston airfield. Hauliers must be ready to show they have the correct paperwork before reaching the border or face being turned back.
Motorists have been warned to allow for extra travel time and to make sure they have food and water in their vehicles in case of delays.
Nicola Bell, the Highways England south-east operations director, said Operation Brock was part of a set of measures in place to allow the M20 and the rest of Kent to keep moving in the event of cross-channel disruption.
“We have worked extensively with our partners in Kent to ensure that the county is as prepared as possible for any disruption to cross-channel services,” she said in a statement.
Operation Brock was initially deployed on 25 March, four days ahead of the first planned Brexit date.
It was deactivated about three weeks later following the delay to the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, but the steel barriers for the contraflow system and 50mph speed limit remain in place.
How the papers covered it
There’s a mix of stories on the front pages today, including the killing of Islamic State leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. But some papers splash on politics, including the Guardian, with our exclusive story “EU read to give UK three-month Brexit extension, leak reveals”.
GUARDIAN: EU ready to give UK three month Brexit extension, leak reveals #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/TIGKy3ccMM
TELEGRAPH: Lib Dems offer PM route to an election #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/84NtvPXg93
I: December election looms as Johnson hints at deal #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/kn8Zds6aAf
THE NATIONAL: Indyref 2020 ‘at the heart of election campaign’ #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/DIQzreRW8q
Good morning and welcome to Politics Live on this Monday morning.
The government has tabled a motion under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act (FTPA) for a general election to be held on 12 December. But, in reality, this is not likely to get over the line. The FTPA requires that two-thirds of MPs need to vote to trigger an early election and Labour looks like it will not play ball on this one.
However, we may still get an early election, but by a different means, as both the remain-backing Lib Dems and the government have proposed amending the FTPA to pass a separate one-line bill specifying that there will be an election on a certain date. The advantage of this route is that, as a traditional bill, it requires only a straightforward majority to pass the Commons.
It is in the Lib Dems’ interest to get an election on the table before a Brexit deal has been locked in and decided, because it is thought their appeal could diminish if people believe the argument has been settled.
Meanwhile, according to a leaked draft seen by the Guardian, the EU is preparing to sign off on a Brexit extension to 31 January 2020 with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified, suggesting the EU will agree to the UK’s request for a further delay.
As usual, you can get in touch with me while I have the blog in the early hours, on Twitter or via email (kate.lyons@theguardian.com).
Thanks for reading.