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| Brexit: Government's no-deal planning operation stood down – as it happened | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| That’s all from us this evening. Here’s a summary of the day’s main events: | |
| Boris Johnson vowed to renew his push for a 12 December general election after being denied it in the Commons. MPs voted by 299 to 70 in favour of holding the election, though that was 135 short of the two-thirds majority required by law. Later, Downing Street said the prime minister would seek to amend the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act to allow an election on that date anyway. | |
| The prime minister’s Brexit deal will not be brought back to this parliament. No 10 pledged to drop it in a bid to convince the SNP and the Lib Dems to support the push for a general election before Christmas. | |
| Boris Johnson formally broke his promise to bring the UK out of the EU on 31 October. The prime minister accepted the bloc’s offer of a three-month extension, though Brexit could still happen before 31 January if MPs vote through a deal to leave. | |
| This parliament has “run its course”, Johnson said as he demanded the pre-Christmas election just a fortnight after insisting on setting out a new legislative programme. No 10 claimed the Commons was to blame for the further delay to Brexit, not the prime minister. | |
| The MP, Keith Vaz, should be suspended for six months, the Commons standards committee recommended. Its report said Vaz had expressed willingness to buy a class A drug. | |
| If you’d like to read yet more, my colleague Rowena Mason has the full story: | |
| Boris Johnson abandons Brexit bill in new push for December election | |
| My colleagues, Rowena Mason and Rajeev Syal, have been looking into what they’ve termed the “meltdown: at the People’s Vote campaign. | My colleagues, Rowena Mason and Rajeev Syal, have been looking into what they’ve termed the “meltdown: at the People’s Vote campaign. |
| It’s embroiled in infighting after the chairman, Roland Rudd, fired two directors by email over the weekend. Today, Peter Mandelson – an Open Britain board member – has said: | It’s embroiled in infighting after the chairman, Roland Rudd, fired two directors by email over the weekend. Today, Peter Mandelson – an Open Britain board member – has said: |
| Roland Rudd is like the captain of the Titanic demanding the passengers show him more respect as the iceberg carves open the hull and water gushes into the bowels of the ship. | Roland Rudd is like the captain of the Titanic demanding the passengers show him more respect as the iceberg carves open the hull and water gushes into the bowels of the ship. |
| People's Vote set for showdown after directors' sacking | People's Vote set for showdown after directors' sacking |
| Operation Yellowhammer, Whitehall’s no-deal Brexit planning effort, has been shelved, the government has confirmed. | Operation Yellowhammer, Whitehall’s no-deal Brexit planning effort, has been shelved, the government has confirmed. |
| While it’s understood that some planning for such an eventuality will continue because the government’s official position is that the possibility of it yet happening remains open, Yellowhammer has been stood down operationally. | While it’s understood that some planning for such an eventuality will continue because the government’s official position is that the possibility of it yet happening remains open, Yellowhammer has been stood down operationally. |
| The government has spent at least roughly £2billion (or £30 per person) on no deal preparations up to now. | The government has spent at least roughly £2billion (or £30 per person) on no deal preparations up to now. |
| In August, my colleague Rowena Mason helpfully set out the findings of a government report on Yellowhammer that set out the probable consequences of a no-deal Brexit. It makes for useful reading this evening: | In August, my colleague Rowena Mason helpfully set out the findings of a government report on Yellowhammer that set out the probable consequences of a no-deal Brexit. It makes for useful reading this evening: |
| No-deal Brexit: key points of Operation Yellowhammer report | No-deal Brexit: key points of Operation Yellowhammer report |
| The SNP will not be “dancing to Boris Johnson’s tune” on his demands to get a general election on 12 December, one of its MPs has said. Kirsty Blackman told Channel 4 News: | The SNP will not be “dancing to Boris Johnson’s tune” on his demands to get a general election on 12 December, one of its MPs has said. Kirsty Blackman told Channel 4 News: |
| We are keen for there to be a general election before the 12th. I don’t trust Boris Johnson. I’m not convinced I trust him to follow through on any promises that he’s likely to make on this. | We are keen for there to be a general election before the 12th. I don’t trust Boris Johnson. I’m not convinced I trust him to follow through on any promises that he’s likely to make on this. |
| We may have conversations with many different people but we will not be dancing to Boris Johnson’s tune on this. | We may have conversations with many different people but we will not be dancing to Boris Johnson’s tune on this. |
| Boris Johnson could have secured a general election by supporting the Lib Dems’ bill for a vote on 9 December, the party’s leader, Jo Swinson, has said. | Boris Johnson could have secured a general election by supporting the Lib Dems’ bill for a vote on 9 December, the party’s leader, Jo Swinson, has said. |
| The prime minister has lost another vote in parliament. This latest attempt to force his bad Brexit bill through parliament has failed because this parliament simply does not trust him. | The prime minister has lost another vote in parliament. This latest attempt to force his bad Brexit bill through parliament has failed because this parliament simply does not trust him. |
| Boris Johnson claims he wants a general election, but he also claimed he wouldn’t prorogue parliament or put a border down the Irish sea. | Boris Johnson claims he wants a general election, but he also claimed he wouldn’t prorogue parliament or put a border down the Irish sea. |
| If Boris Johnson wants a general election, then he could have supported our bill for a general election on 9 December. Instead, he has chosen to stick to his original plan for 12 December, which we have already rejected. | If Boris Johnson wants a general election, then he could have supported our bill for a general election on 9 December. Instead, he has chosen to stick to his original plan for 12 December, which we have already rejected. |
| Labour made suggestions it was poised to reject Johnson’s latest bid to get a pre-Christmas general election. | Labour made suggestions it was poised to reject Johnson’s latest bid to get a pre-Christmas general election. |
| The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said the proposed 12 December vote would “disenfranchise” voters including students and cause voters “immense” difficulties getting to the polls. Asked if Labour would rule out a winter general election, he told Sky News: | The shadow transport secretary, Andy McDonald, said the proposed 12 December vote would “disenfranchise” voters including students and cause voters “immense” difficulties getting to the polls. Asked if Labour would rule out a winter general election, he told Sky News: |
| I think it’s very unwise to be having a general election in the run-up to Christmas. If it comes, it comes. We will get on with it and we will take our proposals to the people. I doubt the wisdom of holding it at this time of year; it’s not a wise choice. | I think it’s very unwise to be having a general election in the run-up to Christmas. If it comes, it comes. We will get on with it and we will take our proposals to the people. I doubt the wisdom of holding it at this time of year; it’s not a wise choice. |
| MPs will be asked to vote for the general election under the one-clause motion on Tuesday, the Press Association understands. | MPs will be asked to vote for the general election under the one-clause motion on Tuesday, the Press Association understands. |
| A one-clause motion to amend the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) to call for a general election with the specific date of 12 December will be laid tonight, an unnamed Downing Street source has told the Press Association. | A one-clause motion to amend the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act (FTPA) to call for a general election with the specific date of 12 December will be laid tonight, an unnamed Downing Street source has told the Press Association. |
| The source is also quoted as saying that the withdrawal agreement bill to implement Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal – referred to as the WAB – will not be put back to MPs. | The source is also quoted as saying that the withdrawal agreement bill to implement Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal – referred to as the WAB – will not be put back to MPs. |
| Tonight we are laying a one-clause motion to amend the FTPA and call an election with the named day of 12 December. The bill is very similar to the LD/SNP bill. The WAB will not be put back. This is the way to get Brexit done so the country can move on. | Tonight we are laying a one-clause motion to amend the FTPA and call an election with the named day of 12 December. The bill is very similar to the LD/SNP bill. The WAB will not be put back. This is the way to get Brexit done so the country can move on. |
| Only one Labour MP voted with the prime minister for a general election this evening: Kate Hoey. Johnson had the support of 280 of his Tory colleagues and 18 independents. | Only one Labour MP voted with the prime minister for a general election this evening: Kate Hoey. Johnson had the support of 280 of his Tory colleagues and 18 independents. |
| No Conservative MP voted against, though Ken Clarke – formerly of the party and now sitting as an independent – did vote ‘no’. | No Conservative MP voted against, though Ken Clarke – formerly of the party and now sitting as an independent – did vote ‘no’. |
| The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, told the Commons his party would support the prime minister’s new plan for a 12 December election if he gave a “cast-iron guarantee” he would not bring back the withdrawal agreement bill. | The SNP’s Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, told the Commons his party would support the prime minister’s new plan for a 12 December election if he gave a “cast-iron guarantee” he would not bring back the withdrawal agreement bill. |
| It is clear that there is a desire on the opposition benches to bring forward a bill that can give us an election. But we don’t trust this prime minister and we don’t trust this prime minister for good reason. | It is clear that there is a desire on the opposition benches to bring forward a bill that can give us an election. But we don’t trust this prime minister and we don’t trust this prime minister for good reason. |
| So, the prime minister, if he is going to bring forward a bill, must give an absolute cast-iron assurance that, up until the passage of that bill and the rising of parliament, that there will be no attempt to bring forward the withdrawal agreement bill. | So, the prime minister, if he is going to bring forward a bill, must give an absolute cast-iron assurance that, up until the passage of that bill and the rising of parliament, that there will be no attempt to bring forward the withdrawal agreement bill. |
| Raising his point of order after belatedly entering the Commons, Corbyn told MPs: | Raising his point of order after belatedly entering the Commons, Corbyn told MPs: |
| I apologise to you and to the prime minister for not being here at the point when he raised his point of order, I was detained outside the chamber, I’m now back here. | I apologise to you and to the prime minister for not being here at the point when he raised his point of order, I was detained outside the chamber, I’m now back here. |
| I understand a bill will be tabled tomorrow. We will obviously look [at] and scrutinise that bill and we look forward to a clear, definitive decision that no deal is absolutely off the table and there is no danger of this prime minister not sticking to his word – because he has some form on these matters – and taking this country out of the EU without any deal whatsoever, knowing the damage it will do to jobs and industries all across this country. | I understand a bill will be tabled tomorrow. We will obviously look [at] and scrutinise that bill and we look forward to a clear, definitive decision that no deal is absolutely off the table and there is no danger of this prime minister not sticking to his word – because he has some form on these matters – and taking this country out of the EU without any deal whatsoever, knowing the damage it will do to jobs and industries all across this country. |
| The Labour MP Stephen Doughty says he was wrong when he suggested earlier that there were rumours that Boris Johnson could stand as a candidate in East Yorkshire, not in his current constituency, Uxbridge and South Ruislip. (See 5.42pm.) He says the Tory MP for East Yorkshire, Sir Greg Knight, has been readopted as a candidate. Doughty says he muddled the constituency up with another one. | The Labour MP Stephen Doughty says he was wrong when he suggested earlier that there were rumours that Boris Johnson could stand as a candidate in East Yorkshire, not in his current constituency, Uxbridge and South Ruislip. (See 5.42pm.) He says the Tory MP for East Yorkshire, Sir Greg Knight, has been readopted as a candidate. Doughty says he muddled the constituency up with another one. |
| That’s all from me for tonight. | That’s all from me for tonight. |
| My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. | My colleague Kevin Rawlinson is now taking over. |
| Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will look at the bill and scrutinise it. He says Labour wants a definite statement about no deal being off the table. He says this must be clear, because the PM has “some form” for not keeping his word. | Jeremy Corbyn says Labour will look at the bill and scrutinise it. He says Labour wants a definite statement about no deal being off the table. He says this must be clear, because the PM has “some form” for not keeping his word. |
| Boris Johnson makes a point of order. | Boris Johnson makes a point of order. |
| People will find Jeremy Corbyn’s stance “bewildering”. | People will find Jeremy Corbyn’s stance “bewildering”. |
| Johnson says tonight the government will give notice of its plans for a short bill for a general election on Thursday 12 December. | Johnson says tonight the government will give notice of its plans for a short bill for a general election on Thursday 12 December. |
| Johnson says he will legislate for an early election. A bill will not be subject to a super-majority, and with the Lib Dems and the SNP potentially supporting the government (although they want a different date), Johnson has a good chance of winning. | Johnson says he will legislate for an early election. A bill will not be subject to a super-majority, and with the Lib Dems and the SNP potentially supporting the government (although they want a different date), Johnson has a good chance of winning. |
| MPs have backed the motion by 299 votes to 70 - leaving Boris Johnson 135 votes short of the votes he needed for this division to have force. | MPs have backed the motion by 299 votes to 70 - leaving Boris Johnson 135 votes short of the votes he needed for this division to have force. |
| Reading out the result, John Bercow says this technically means “the noes have it”. | Reading out the result, John Bercow says this technically means “the noes have it”. |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg |
| Sounds like govt will put bill down straight away if they lose the vote happening at the moment, and will stick to their date of having an election on December 12th - opposition parties will want to look at that 'near identical' wording v v carefully before pledging support | Sounds like govt will put bill down straight away if they lose the vote happening at the moment, and will stick to their date of having an election on December 12th - opposition parties will want to look at that 'near identical' wording v v carefully before pledging support |
| Boris Johnson’s first attempt to call an early election using the Fixed-term Parliaments Act super-majority procedure was on 4 September. The motion was passed by 298 votes to 56 - leaving Johnson 136 votes short of the target he needed. | Boris Johnson’s first attempt to call an early election using the Fixed-term Parliaments Act super-majority procedure was on 4 September. The motion was passed by 298 votes to 56 - leaving Johnson 136 votes short of the target he needed. |
| And the second attempt was on 9 September. That motion was passed by 293 votes to 46 - leaving Johnson 141 votes short. | And the second attempt was on 9 September. That motion was passed by 293 votes to 46 - leaving Johnson 141 votes short. |
| MPs are now voting. Here is the text of the motion: | MPs are now voting. Here is the text of the motion: |
| That there shall be an early parliamentary general election. | That there shall be an early parliamentary general election. |
| For the motion to pass and have effect, it needs to be backed by two-thirds or more of all MPs – 434. No one expects it to clear that hurdle. | For the motion to pass and have effect, it needs to be backed by two-thirds or more of all MPs – 434. No one expects it to clear that hurdle. |
| What we are really waiting for is not the result, but what Boris Johnson says once it is over. He is expected to use a point of order to make an announcement about what the government will do next. | What we are really waiting for is not the result, but what Boris Johnson says once it is over. He is expected to use a point of order to make an announcement about what the government will do next. |