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| Brexit: Boris Johnson says parliament has 'run its course' as he opens debate on holding early election – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson has written to Donald Tusk, president of the European council, confirming that the UK is accepting the extension offered by the EU. Under the Benn Act, he had no choice. See 10.13am. Here is his letter (pdf). | |
| In the letter Johnson urges the EU to rule out any further extension beyond 31 January. | |
| Johnson accuses Jeremy Corbyn of wanting to frustrate the wishes of the people. | |
| Corbyn has “run out of excuses”, he says. | |
| He says first Corbyn said the Benn act would have to pass for Labour to back an election. | |
| Then Corbyn said the Benn act would have to be implemented, Johnson says. | |
| And now Corbyn is coming up with more extreme excuses, he says. He says Corbyn now wants the government to rule out a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020. | |
| He says Corbyn should agree to an election so, if he wins, he can rule out a no-deal Brexit himself. | |
| He says Corbyn’s allies, like the Lib Dems and the SNP, are deserting him. | |
| The DUP MP Ian Paisley intervenes. If Boris Johnson wins the election, will he implement the Brexit deal he negotiated? Or will he try and renegotiate the provisions for Northern Ireland. | |
| Johnson says he will be campaigning to implement the “excellent deal” he negotiated. | |
| Boris Johnson is opening the debate on his motion calling for an early election. It is the third time he has asked MPs to vote on this. After both previous debates Johnson won the vote - but not with the two-thirds majority required under the Fixed-term Parliaments Act for the vote to count. | |
| He starts by saying that MPs do not want an early election. | |
| But there is a widespread view that this parliament has “run its course”, he says. He says it is not capable of delivering on the priorities of the people. | |
| This is from the Conservative Brexiter MP Craig Mackinlay. | |
| Looks like disgraceful Benn/#SurrenderAct has delivered what the #Brexit blockers intended -a foul & unwanted extension. So be it; gives us the time that wasn’t available to the #PM to reopen the #WA and get changes to #NIProtocol to the satisfaction of @duponline. #Silverlining | |
| Steve Baker, the Tory MP who chairs the European Research Group, which represents hardline Brexiters, thinks his colleague has a point. | |
| It’s a good point worth exploring. https://t.co/aNt2rjLcMP | |
| The Scottish parliament’s information centre has produced a 39-page briefing (pdf) on what the withdrawal agreement bill means for Scotland. | |
| According to a snap YouGov poll, only around a quarter of people think the UK will leave the EU by 31 January – the new deadline set by the EU. | |
| 23% of Brits expect the UK to leave the EU on, or before the new deadline agreed today. 23% think we will leave after, and 22% don't think we will leave at allhttps://t.co/2rNEhvWFUk pic.twitter.com/0KX7UpLLPS | 23% of Brits expect the UK to leave the EU on, or before the new deadline agreed today. 23% think we will leave after, and 22% don't think we will leave at allhttps://t.co/2rNEhvWFUk pic.twitter.com/0KX7UpLLPS |
| The Times has been serialising the new book about Theresa May’s premiership by Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell, but May probably wishes they weren’t. Saturday’s excerpts (paywall) focused on how bad she was as a campaigner. Today’s (paywall) include comments from insiders arguing that she was pretty hopeless at managing cabinet too. Here is an excerpt. | The Times has been serialising the new book about Theresa May’s premiership by Anthony Seldon and Raymond Newell, but May probably wishes they weren’t. Saturday’s excerpts (paywall) focused on how bad she was as a campaigner. Today’s (paywall) include comments from insiders arguing that she was pretty hopeless at managing cabinet too. Here is an excerpt. |
| Prime ministers earn authority and respect from ministers in part on how effectively they conduct themselves in cabinet, just as respect from MPs is earned by their conduct in the house. One official in attendance at cabinet comments: “She didn’t enjoy chairing cabinet. Nor did she enjoy the company of cabinet colleagues. I began to think she thought cabinet was a waste of her time. Her initial ambition was of a ‘return to cabinet government’, similar to Gordon Brown when he became prime minister. But it was not true. She had neither the time, nor patience, nor inclination to discuss important matters in cabinet and cabinet committees. Someone said she was a good poker player. But I don’t think that’s true, because she wasn’t that subtle and didn’t think deeply enough. On most prime ministerial issues, other than those she had dealt with at the Home Office, she didn’t have a view at all. She had neither political friends nor any idea that they were important to a prime minister. | Prime ministers earn authority and respect from ministers in part on how effectively they conduct themselves in cabinet, just as respect from MPs is earned by their conduct in the house. One official in attendance at cabinet comments: “She didn’t enjoy chairing cabinet. Nor did she enjoy the company of cabinet colleagues. I began to think she thought cabinet was a waste of her time. Her initial ambition was of a ‘return to cabinet government’, similar to Gordon Brown when he became prime minister. But it was not true. She had neither the time, nor patience, nor inclination to discuss important matters in cabinet and cabinet committees. Someone said she was a good poker player. But I don’t think that’s true, because she wasn’t that subtle and didn’t think deeply enough. On most prime ministerial issues, other than those she had dealt with at the Home Office, she didn’t have a view at all. She had neither political friends nor any idea that they were important to a prime minister. |
| Another official adds: “She was the least collegiate prime minister I ever worked with, worse even than Gordon Brown because she was not as bright and lacked his intelligence and vision. She was very insular and couldn’t communicate. She shared one trait with Brown, though: neither trusted people, and both were very tribal.” | Another official adds: “She was the least collegiate prime minister I ever worked with, worse even than Gordon Brown because she was not as bright and lacked his intelligence and vision. She was very insular and couldn’t communicate. She shared one trait with Brown, though: neither trusted people, and both were very tribal.” |
| There is also a perceptive essay on May in the new book from Steve Richards, The Prime Ministers. He says that, although May was often described as weak, that does not explain her flaws as a PM. | There is also a perceptive essay on May in the new book from Steve Richards, The Prime Ministers. He says that, although May was often described as weak, that does not explain her flaws as a PM. |
| May was often described as ‘weak’. The term is close to useless in casting light on a leader, but as far as it means anything, it points us in the wrong direction here. Politically she was in a much weaker position, but as a personality she remained the most stubborn prime minister to occupy No 10 for many decades – arguably more so than Margaret Thatcher. Often Thatcher was more expedient than she seemed. May was a wilful leader in a weak position: an explosive combination. | May was often described as ‘weak’. The term is close to useless in casting light on a leader, but as far as it means anything, it points us in the wrong direction here. Politically she was in a much weaker position, but as a personality she remained the most stubborn prime minister to occupy No 10 for many decades – arguably more so than Margaret Thatcher. Often Thatcher was more expedient than she seemed. May was a wilful leader in a weak position: an explosive combination. |
| The Prime Ministers is superb, one of those rare books that can change the way you think about politics, and I would recommend it strongly. It covers every PM from Harold Wilson to May, focusing not so much on what they did as on what their premierships reveal about leadership, and about what works and what doesn’t. This is a subject often not fully addressed by biographers, and almost never as well as by Richards here. | The Prime Ministers is superb, one of those rare books that can change the way you think about politics, and I would recommend it strongly. It covers every PM from Harold Wilson to May, focusing not so much on what they did as on what their premierships reveal about leadership, and about what works and what doesn’t. This is a subject often not fully addressed by biographers, and almost never as well as by Richards here. |
| The Sun’s Matt Dathan has more on today’s shadow cabinet. | The Sun’s Matt Dathan has more on today’s shadow cabinet. |
| At today's meeting of the Shadow Cabinet Diane Abbott tore into Labour MPs opposed to an election, saying the PLP can "go f*** themselves". | At today's meeting of the Shadow Cabinet Diane Abbott tore into Labour MPs opposed to an election, saying the PLP can "go f*** themselves". |
| That full Diane Abbott quote at Shadow Cabinet according to one in the room was: “The PLP were in the tea room and my office crying about an election saying Jeremy should stand down in 2017. So frankly the PLP can go fuck themselves." | That full Diane Abbott quote at Shadow Cabinet according to one in the room was: “The PLP were in the tea room and my office crying about an election saying Jeremy should stand down in 2017. So frankly the PLP can go fuck themselves." |
| In the Commons Priti Patel, the home secretary, has just delivered a statement about the 39 people who were found dead in the back of a lorry in Essex. As well as updating MPs on the fact that a lorry driver has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, she said that those who died were the victims of “brutal and unscrupulous criminal gangs” and a reminder of the evils of people trafficking. | In the Commons Priti Patel, the home secretary, has just delivered a statement about the 39 people who were found dead in the back of a lorry in Essex. As well as updating MPs on the fact that a lorry driver has been charged with 39 counts of manslaughter, she said that those who died were the victims of “brutal and unscrupulous criminal gangs” and a reminder of the evils of people trafficking. |
| She said that the nationality of the 39 people who died has still not been confirmed, and that the investigation would be long and meticulous. | She said that the nationality of the 39 people who died has still not been confirmed, and that the investigation would be long and meticulous. |
| She also said the Border Force was increasing its presence at Purfleet and that Belgium was allowing the UK to deploy more border officials in Zeebrugge. | She also said the Border Force was increasing its presence at Purfleet and that Belgium was allowing the UK to deploy more border officials in Zeebrugge. |
| From the Financial Times’s Sebastian Payne | From the Financial Times’s Sebastian Payne |
| Chatter in Downing Street that the government might "split the difference" on an election date with the Liberal Democrats/SNP in their election bill.Opposition wants December 9, govt wants December 12. "We could meet them half way," hints one insider. https://t.co/effGlT6HIF | Chatter in Downing Street that the government might "split the difference" on an election date with the Liberal Democrats/SNP in their election bill.Opposition wants December 9, govt wants December 12. "We could meet them half way," hints one insider. https://t.co/effGlT6HIF |
| There are five MPs in the Independent Group for Change (aka continuity Change UK). They will not be voting for an early election, Sky’s Lewis Goodall reports. | There are five MPs in the Independent Group for Change (aka continuity Change UK). They will not be voting for an early election, Sky’s Lewis Goodall reports. |
| In a shock bombshell, Anna Soubry confirms that the Independent Group for Change will not be voting for a general election. pic.twitter.com/uY6U6o0L84 | In a shock bombshell, Anna Soubry confirms that the Independent Group for Change will not be voting for a general election. pic.twitter.com/uY6U6o0L84 |
| “Shock bombshell” is sarcasm (not always obvious on Twitter) because it is widely assumed that the IGC MPs will all lose their seats at the election. | “Shock bombshell” is sarcasm (not always obvious on Twitter) because it is widely assumed that the IGC MPs will all lose their seats at the election. |
| Second paragraph contains one of the most bizarre arguments I hear. “A GE will resolve nothing. Indeed it runs a risk of Boris Johnson winning a majority for his disastrous Brexit deal.”Or in other words “we can’t have an election! They might vote for something we don’t like!” pic.twitter.com/Xc0RfdUGH0 | Second paragraph contains one of the most bizarre arguments I hear. “A GE will resolve nothing. Indeed it runs a risk of Boris Johnson winning a majority for his disastrous Brexit deal.”Or in other words “we can’t have an election! They might vote for something we don’t like!” pic.twitter.com/Xc0RfdUGH0 |
| From the Spectator’s James Forsyth | From the Spectator’s James Forsyth |
| Still a lot of Tory nervousness about a December election. As one minister put it to me late last week, ‘Who jumps out of bed on a cold December morning to vote for the government?’ | Still a lot of Tory nervousness about a December election. As one minister put it to me late last week, ‘Who jumps out of bed on a cold December morning to vote for the government?’ |
| ITV’s Joe Pike has more on John Mann. | ITV’s Joe Pike has more on John Mann. |
| Mann is the first member of the Commons to move directly to the Lords since 1892.He is already Baron Mann of Holbeck Moor, but will be introduced into the Lords tomorrow. Former Chief Rabbi @rabbisacks will be one of his supporters. | Mann is the first member of the Commons to move directly to the Lords since 1892.He is already Baron Mann of Holbeck Moor, but will be introduced into the Lords tomorrow. Former Chief Rabbi @rabbisacks will be one of his supporters. |
| Mann will sit as a non-affiliated peer due to his role as the govt's Independent Adviser on Anti-semitism.But he will remain a member of the Labour Party.He will not vote Labour (for @SallyGimson) in the general election because as a member of Lords he can't vote. | Mann will sit as a non-affiliated peer due to his role as the govt's Independent Adviser on Anti-semitism.But he will remain a member of the Labour Party.He will not vote Labour (for @SallyGimson) in the general election because as a member of Lords he can't vote. |
| The Treasury has confirmed that Labour’s John Mann has been appointed steward and bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds - the archaic process that means he is no longer an MP. He is going to the House of Lords to take up a post as an independent government adviser on antisemitism. | The Treasury has confirmed that Labour’s John Mann has been appointed steward and bailiff of the Chiltern Hundreds - the archaic process that means he is no longer an MP. He is going to the House of Lords to take up a post as an independent government adviser on antisemitism. |
| Mann voted leave in 2016 and was one of the 19 Labour MPs who voted to give Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement bill a second reading last week. | Mann voted leave in 2016 and was one of the 19 Labour MPs who voted to give Boris Johnson’s withdrawal agreement bill a second reading last week. |
| The shadow cabinet seems to have wrapped up. | The shadow cabinet seems to have wrapped up. |
| This is from my colleague Rowena Mason. | This is from my colleague Rowena Mason. |
| Labour still planning to abstain on the PM's motion on general election this afternoon. Time to see if No 10 serious about the Lib Dem plan for an election without having another push at the WAB - or whether it was a bluff to put pressure on Labour | Labour still planning to abstain on the PM's motion on general election this afternoon. Time to see if No 10 serious about the Lib Dem plan for an election without having another push at the WAB - or whether it was a bluff to put pressure on Labour |
| This is from the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar. | This is from the Daily Mirror’s Pippa Crerar. |
| NEW: I'm told that Labour's shadow cabinet:- agreed to ABSTAIN on election vote under FTPA tonight - recognise a single line bill is likely to PASS anyway with Tory/ SNP/ LD support- believe Labour MPs "aren't in a good place" on GE and will refuse to vote for it. | NEW: I'm told that Labour's shadow cabinet:- agreed to ABSTAIN on election vote under FTPA tonight - recognise a single line bill is likely to PASS anyway with Tory/ SNP/ LD support- believe Labour MPs "aren't in a good place" on GE and will refuse to vote for it. |
| And this is from the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn. | And this is from the Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn. |
| No chance of Labour changing its vote today, as its MPs are all on a 1 line whip and wouldn't get to London in time. But I hear Shadow Cabinet is now giving serious thought to backing a general election tomorrow. Source: "We're pretty snookered". | No chance of Labour changing its vote today, as its MPs are all on a 1 line whip and wouldn't get to London in time. But I hear Shadow Cabinet is now giving serious thought to backing a general election tomorrow. Source: "We're pretty snookered". |