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| Brexit: UK set for December general election as Corbyn lifts Labour opposition to bill - live news | Brexit: UK set for December general election as Corbyn lifts Labour opposition to bill - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street has set out its red lines ahead of the debate on calling a December election. In brief – the government seems open to a 10 or 11 December date, but is dead set against amendments extending the vote to 16- and 17-year-olds or EU nationals. | |
| On the date, while the Lib Dem hope for a 9 December poll, Boris Johnson’s spokesman said this would require parliament to dissolve at the start of Friday this week, so as to allow the necessary 25 working days between dissolution and polling. | |
| This would make it “very difficult” for both the election bill and a separate bill on budgets for the suspended Northern Ireland assembly to pass through the Commons and Lords and receive royal assent in time, the spokesman said. | |
| Also, 9 December is a Monday, meaning election preparations would take place of the preceding weekend, which would be logistically difficult and costly, he added. | |
| However, it seems the government could compromise on 10 or 11 December. | |
| In contrast, there seems no possibility of compromise on adding younger voters or EU nationals, with Johnson’s spokesman saying that longstanding convention dictates that changes to the franchise only happen after extensive consultation. He said: | |
| The election law on the franchise should not be changed days before the calling of a general election. The Electoral Commission warns against changing electoral laws less than six months before an election. | |
| Adding 16- and 17-year-olds would be “administratively impossible to deliver in the time available”, he said, warning also that adding EU nationals would bring “administrative chaos”. | |
| The latter point seems less certain given that EU nationals can already vote in local elections, and so many are registered. | |
| But the No 10 spokesman added: “It would also mean EU nationals in the UK enjoying wider voting rights than UK nationals in any other country other than Ireland.” | |
| These are from the Labour MP Barry Sheerman. | These are from the Labour MP Barry Sheerman. |
| Sheer madness to hold a General Election in December & on Boris Johnson’s agenda! | Sheer madness to hold a General Election in December & on Boris Johnson’s agenda! |
| I hear Labour frontbenchers & whips resigning over decision to vote for December election. | I hear Labour frontbenchers & whips resigning over decision to vote for December election. |
| A clear majority of our Shadow cabinet were against a December election yesterday but Jeremy Corbyn has been persuaded to override them after interventions from Seamus Milne & Karie Murphy! | A clear majority of our Shadow cabinet were against a December election yesterday but Jeremy Corbyn has been persuaded to override them after interventions from Seamus Milne & Karie Murphy! |
| I’ve asked Labour if it can confirm or deny what Sheerman is saying about resignations, but have not had a reply yet. | I’ve asked Labour if it can confirm or deny what Sheerman is saying about resignations, but have not had a reply yet. |
| Heidi Allen, the former Conservative MP who defected to Change UK and then ended up a Liberal Democrat, has announced that she won’t be standing again in her South Cambridgeshire constituency. | Heidi Allen, the former Conservative MP who defected to Change UK and then ended up a Liberal Democrat, has announced that she won’t be standing again in her South Cambridgeshire constituency. |
| Letter to my constituents explaining why, what ever the outcome tonight, I won't be standing again to be the MP for South Cambridgeshire. https://t.co/g8zxjZD5j4 | Letter to my constituents explaining why, what ever the outcome tonight, I won't be standing again to be the MP for South Cambridgeshire. https://t.co/g8zxjZD5j4 |
| In an open letter to her constituents, she says she is “exhausted by the invasion into my privacy and the nastiness and intimidation that has become commonplace”. | In an open letter to her constituents, she says she is “exhausted by the invasion into my privacy and the nastiness and intimidation that has become commonplace”. |
| The Financial Times is running its own poll tracker (a chart that incorporates the results of all published polls). It has the Conservatives 11 points ahead of Labour. | The Financial Times is running its own poll tracker (a chart that incorporates the results of all published polls). It has the Conservatives 11 points ahead of Labour. |
| The state of the polls: @FinancialTimes tracker has Tories 11pts ahead of Labour https://t.co/effGlT6HIF pic.twitter.com/tApRbMWDEf | The state of the polls: @FinancialTimes tracker has Tories 11pts ahead of Labour https://t.co/effGlT6HIF pic.twitter.com/tApRbMWDEf |
| Most general elections get described as the most important the country has faced for a generation or so. Here is the academic Matthew Goodwin making a case for why this might be true this time around. | Most general elections get described as the most important the country has faced for a generation or so. Here is the academic Matthew Goodwin making a case for why this might be true this time around. |
| Britain looks set for the most consequential election in its entire postwar history. Brexit, a 2nd referendum, Johnson's embryonic premiership & Corbyn's Labour hang in the balance. As Nixon once said: "There's nothing wrong with this country which a good election can't fix!" | Britain looks set for the most consequential election in its entire postwar history. Brexit, a 2nd referendum, Johnson's embryonic premiership & Corbyn's Labour hang in the balance. As Nixon once said: "There's nothing wrong with this country which a good election can't fix!" |
| Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has confirmed that she will not take up her new post at an international communications firm while she continues to sit in the Scottish parliament. | Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has confirmed that she will not take up her new post at an international communications firm while she continues to sit in the Scottish parliament. |
| Davidson faced a storm of criticism after the announcement last Thursday that she intended to take up an appointment as a senior adviser to Tulchan Communications – their managing partner is the former Conservative party chair Andrew Feldman, a close ally of David Cameron – before stepping down as an MSP in 2021. It was reported that Davidson would be paid £50,000 for 24 days’ work a year. | Davidson faced a storm of criticism after the announcement last Thursday that she intended to take up an appointment as a senior adviser to Tulchan Communications – their managing partner is the former Conservative party chair Andrew Feldman, a close ally of David Cameron – before stepping down as an MSP in 2021. It was reported that Davidson would be paid £50,000 for 24 days’ work a year. |
| In a statement released on Tuesday morning, as the Holyrood parliament returns after its autumn recess, Davidson said: | In a statement released on Tuesday morning, as the Holyrood parliament returns after its autumn recess, Davidson said: |
| The debate in Scotland about my taking an advisory role with Tulchan Communications has become increasingly contentious. I, and Tulchan, have therefore agreed not to proceed with the appointment. | The debate in Scotland about my taking an advisory role with Tulchan Communications has become increasingly contentious. I, and Tulchan, have therefore agreed not to proceed with the appointment. |
| She continues to insist that she does not believe the role amounted to a conflict of interest, continuing: | She continues to insist that she does not believe the role amounted to a conflict of interest, continuing: |
| I sat down with Scottish parliamentary officials in advance to go through the code of conduct, in detail, in order to avoid any conflict and to ensure I would be working within the rules at all times. The role reflected this. | I sat down with Scottish parliamentary officials in advance to go through the code of conduct, in detail, in order to avoid any conflict and to ensure I would be working within the rules at all times. The role reflected this. |
| The consensus view from political opponents and commentators is that working to improve businesses’ understanding of the cares and concerns of people is somehow incompatible with my role as an MSP. So if I am asked to choose between Holyrood and this role, then I choose the parliament I have dedicated the last nine years to, eight as party leader, a decision Tulchan supports. | The consensus view from political opponents and commentators is that working to improve businesses’ understanding of the cares and concerns of people is somehow incompatible with my role as an MSP. So if I am asked to choose between Holyrood and this role, then I choose the parliament I have dedicated the last nine years to, eight as party leader, a decision Tulchan supports. |
| Jeremy Corbyn has just delivered a clip for broadcasters confirming Labour’s decision to back an early election and saying the party is “totally determined” to win it. He was surrounded by members of his shadow cabinet, most (but not all) of whom looked happy about the decision. | Jeremy Corbyn has just delivered a clip for broadcasters confirming Labour’s decision to back an early election and saying the party is “totally determined” to win it. He was surrounded by members of his shadow cabinet, most (but not all) of whom looked happy about the decision. |
| Repeating the points he made in the statement released earlier (see 10.52am), Corbyn said the party would not back an early election until a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table. But following the confirmation from the EU that there will be an extension, the party was now ready to back one, he said. | Repeating the points he made in the statement released earlier (see 10.52am), Corbyn said the party would not back an early election until a no-deal Brexit had been taken off the table. But following the confirmation from the EU that there will be an extension, the party was now ready to back one, he said. |
| (This marks a discreet climbdown from Sunday, when the party was saying that a Brexit extension on its own would not be enough to persuade it that no deal had been taken off the table.) | (This marks a discreet climbdown from Sunday, when the party was saying that a Brexit extension on its own would not be enough to persuade it that no deal had been taken off the table.) |
| Corbyn said Labour would fight its biggest campaign ever. He said: | Corbyn said Labour would fight its biggest campaign ever. He said: |
| So we are going to go out there, with the biggest campaign this party has ever mounted – totally united, totally determined - and I’m absolutely looking forward to going to every part of the country with my wonderful shadow cabinet team here and all the fantastic Labour activists to give message of hope where there isn’t one with this government. | So we are going to go out there, with the biggest campaign this party has ever mounted – totally united, totally determined - and I’m absolutely looking forward to going to every part of the country with my wonderful shadow cabinet team here and all the fantastic Labour activists to give message of hope where there isn’t one with this government. |
| He sidestepped a question about whether the party would insist on any conditions before it backed the government bill, implying it wouldn’t, and instead said he could not wait for the campaign to start. | He sidestepped a question about whether the party would insist on any conditions before it backed the government bill, implying it wouldn’t, and instead said he could not wait for the campaign to start. |
| I can’t wait to get out there on the streets. In every town and village in this country, Labour will be there, giving a message of real hope where this government offers nothing. | I can’t wait to get out there on the streets. In every town and village in this country, Labour will be there, giving a message of real hope where this government offers nothing. |
| And when asked if any of his team had doubts about the decision, he replied: | And when asked if any of his team had doubts about the decision, he replied: |
| Do you know what, the Labour party loves a debate. But they also love the end of a debate. And this is the end of the debate, and we are going out there to win. | Do you know what, the Labour party loves a debate. But they also love the end of a debate. And this is the end of the debate, and we are going out there to win. |
| There is one urgent question today. | There is one urgent question today. |
| One UQ at 1230 to @LauraPidcockMP to ask @andrealeadsom to make a statement on the Government’s plans for workers’ rights after the UK leaves the EU.No Statements. | One UQ at 1230 to @LauraPidcockMP to ask @andrealeadsom to make a statement on the Government’s plans for workers’ rights after the UK leaves the EU.No Statements. |
| The Labour decision to back an early election means Boris Johnson is going to get his way, and the bill calling for a poll in December is going to pass. Labour is still planning to push various amendments, but it has agreed to an early election in principle and none of these amendments are being described as red lines. | The Labour decision to back an early election means Boris Johnson is going to get his way, and the bill calling for a poll in December is going to pass. Labour is still planning to push various amendments, but it has agreed to an early election in principle and none of these amendments are being described as red lines. |
| But MPs will still have to debate the bill. A complicated business motion (pages 6 to 9 on the order paper) has been tabled, saying the whole process should take six hours, with the second-reading vote coming four hours after the start of proceedings. | But MPs will still have to debate the bill. A complicated business motion (pages 6 to 9 on the order paper) has been tabled, saying the whole process should take six hours, with the second-reading vote coming four hours after the start of proceedings. |
| Unusually, the business motion limits the ability of MPs to amend the bill by saying that that there should be a limit on the number of votes allowed by the Speaker and that amendments moved by ministers should take priority. | Unusually, the business motion limits the ability of MPs to amend the bill by saying that that there should be a limit on the number of votes allowed by the Speaker and that amendments moved by ministers should take priority. |
| The Labour MP Stella Creasy has tabled her own amendment to the business motion that would open up the process and allow amendments to be voted on as usual. | The Labour MP Stella Creasy has tabled her own amendment to the business motion that would open up the process and allow amendments to be voted on as usual. |
| Government trying to stop amendments to their bill ramming through changes to how elections called - they want it all done in one day with no option for any changes from anyone and have tried to amend the basic rules of parliamentary process accordingly. Shameful. Just shameful. | Government trying to stop amendments to their bill ramming through changes to how elections called - they want it all done in one day with no option for any changes from anyone and have tried to amend the basic rules of parliamentary process accordingly. Shameful. Just shameful. |
| This means the opening of the proceedings will be dominated by a row about process, because the business motion has to be agreed before the second-reading debate can start. | This means the opening of the proceedings will be dominated by a row about process, because the business motion has to be agreed before the second-reading debate can start. |
| These are from Sky’s Lewis Goodall. | These are from Sky’s Lewis Goodall. |
| Understand Labour are to whip for a general election. Not confirmed from leadership yet though. | Understand Labour are to whip for a general election. Not confirmed from leadership yet though. |
| Understand that the whip is to vote for an election for *any* of the dates proposed. | Understand that the whip is to vote for an election for *any* of the dates proposed. |
| Here is the whip Labour MPs have received: “Colleagues need to be on the estate by midday. We are on HEAVY RUNNING THREE-LINE WHIP. There may be votes throughout the day with the possibility of a late finish. All must remain until conclusion of business.” | Here is the whip Labour MPs have received: “Colleagues need to be on the estate by midday. We are on HEAVY RUNNING THREE-LINE WHIP. There may be votes throughout the day with the possibility of a late finish. All must remain until conclusion of business.” |
| From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg | From the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg |
| Labour might still back an amendment to hold the election on the 9th, but the bigger principle decision has been made, they are backing a December election | Labour might still back an amendment to hold the election on the 9th, but the bigger principle decision has been made, they are backing a December election |
| Labour has just released this statement from Jeremy Corbyn. This is what he told the shadow cabinet this morning. | Labour has just released this statement from Jeremy Corbyn. This is what he told the shadow cabinet this morning. |
| I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to no-deal Brexit being off the table. | I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to no-deal Brexit being off the table. |
| We have now heard from the EU that the extension of article 50 to 31 January has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking no deal off the table has now been met. | We have now heard from the EU that the extension of article 50 to 31 January has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking no deal off the table has now been met. |
| We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen. | We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen. |
| In this statement Corbyn is not saying anything about the conditions he flagged up yesterday for Labour supporting an early election. That implies the party is not insisting on firm red lines, and that it will support the bill – meaning the early election is definitely on. | In this statement Corbyn is not saying anything about the conditions he flagged up yesterday for Labour supporting an early election. That implies the party is not insisting on firm red lines, and that it will support the bill – meaning the early election is definitely on. |