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| Boris Johnson's election vote looms as EU decides on Brexit delay – Politics live | Boris Johnson's election vote looms as EU decides on Brexit delay – Politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| 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.” | “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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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' | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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. | 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 | 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”. | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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). | 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. | Thanks for reading. |