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Brexit: MPs vote for general election on 12 December - live news Brexit: MPs vote for general election on 12 December - live news
(32 minutes later)
Owen Smith, who challenged Jeremy Corbyn for the Labour leadership in 2016, will not seek reelection, he has announced:
For political and personal reasons, I have written tonight to @jeremycorbyn informing him of my decision not to stand at the coming General Election. It has been a great honour and a privilege to serve the people of the Pontypridd Constituency. pic.twitter.com/mIxz8spZte
Dave Ward, the general secretary of the Communication Workers Union (CWU), has tweeted:
Lots of people asking if postal workers would take strike action during a general election. To be clear - we will do whatever it takes to defend our members.
Earlier this month, CWU members working for Royal Mail backed strikes by 97% in a huge turnout of almost 76%, raising the threat of industrial action in the run-up to Christmas.
The former cabinet minister, John Whittingdale, has said the prime minister told the meeting that, while it would be a “tough election”, the Tories have “everything to play for”. Whittingdale added:The former cabinet minister, John Whittingdale, has said the prime minister told the meeting that, while it would be a “tough election”, the Tories have “everything to play for”. Whittingdale added:
He said it wasn’t because we were ahead in the polls or the because of the horror of Corbyn but because we had no alternative; that parliament is deadlocked and the only way to solve that is to have a general election.He said it wasn’t because we were ahead in the polls or the because of the horror of Corbyn but because we had no alternative; that parliament is deadlocked and the only way to solve that is to have a general election.
(He said) we would be taking the deal which he negotiated – and which defied all expectation in that it got all that we wanted – and we will be campaigning to ratify that deal and then get on with tackling the big agenda.(He said) we would be taking the deal which he negotiated – and which defied all expectation in that it got all that we wanted – and we will be campaigning to ratify that deal and then get on with tackling the big agenda.
The senior Tory MP, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said the prime minister was “pretty upbeat” about the Conservatives’ chances at an election.
Alistair Burt welcomed being one of the 10 Tory rebels readmitted to the parliamentary party. After leaving the 1922 Committee, he told reporters:
Back in the fold. It’s a big family and it’s very nice to have them back and I’m very appreciative. [Boris Johnson] is a born campaigner, no doubt about that.
Boris Johnson has told reporters it’s time for the country to “come together to get Brexit done” as he left the Conservative backbench MPs’ meeting.Boris Johnson has told reporters it’s time for the country to “come together to get Brexit done” as he left the Conservative backbench MPs’ meeting.
Here’s a little more detail from HuffPost UK:Here’s a little more detail from HuffPost UK:
PM leaving tells reporters as he leaves meeting: “It’s going to be a tough election but we will do the best we can.” Curious that he tries play down the Tories’ chancePM leaving tells reporters as he leaves meeting: “It’s going to be a tough election but we will do the best we can.” Curious that he tries play down the Tories’ chance
It is worth noting that Rees-Mogg has again declined to explicitly address whether or not the election of a new Commons speaker will go ahead before parliament is dissolved next Wednesday. It is worth noting that Rees-Mogg has again declined to explicitly address whether or not the election of a new Commons speaker would go ahead before parliament is dissolved next Wednesday.
Asked about the matter for a second time in the Commons, he said he had nothing to add to his previous answer, which we summarised just a few moments ago.Asked about the matter for a second time in the Commons, he said he had nothing to add to his previous answer, which we summarised just a few moments ago.
The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has said:The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has said:
This election is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country and take on the vested interests holding people back.This election is a once-in-a-generation chance to transform our country and take on the vested interests holding people back.
The choice at this election could not be clearer: A Labour government will be on your side; while Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, who think they’re born to rule, will only look after the privileged few.The choice at this election could not be clearer: A Labour government will be on your side; while Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, who think they’re born to rule, will only look after the privileged few.
We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change that our country has ever seen. This is our chance to build a country for the many not the few and fit for the next generation.We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change that our country has ever seen. This is our chance to build a country for the many not the few and fit for the next generation.
Responding to the vote in parliament for a general election, the Lib Dem leader, Jo Swinson, has said: Responding to the vote in parliament for a general election, the Liberal Democrat leader, Jo Swinson, has said:
This general election will decide the future of our country for generations. It is our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit.This general election will decide the future of our country for generations. It is our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit.
The Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain and will be standing on a manifesto to stop Brexit by revoking article 50.The Liberal Democrats are the strongest party of Remain and will be standing on a manifesto to stop Brexit by revoking article 50.
This country deserves better than Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn and I am excited to take our positive, pro-European, liberal vision to the country as the Liberal Democrat candidate for prime minister.This country deserves better than Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn and I am excited to take our positive, pro-European, liberal vision to the country as the Liberal Democrat candidate for prime minister.
Boris Johnson received a rapturous reception as he arrived at a meeting of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee after his bid for an early general election cleared the Commons. Conservative MPs cheered and banged the table as he arrived for the meeting in parliament.Boris Johnson received a rapturous reception as he arrived at a meeting of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee after his bid for an early general election cleared the Commons. Conservative MPs cheered and banged the table as he arrived for the meeting in parliament.
Asked whether the Commons will be electing a new speaker before it dissolves, Rees-Mogg says the dissolution date is Wednesday, so the Commons may be sitting on Monday and Tuesday.Asked whether the Commons will be electing a new speaker before it dissolves, Rees-Mogg says the dissolution date is Wednesday, so the Commons may be sitting on Monday and Tuesday.
The leader of the Commons, Jacob-Rees-Mogg, says he’ll set out tomorrow how the government intends to proceed for the rest of the week.The leader of the Commons, Jacob-Rees-Mogg, says he’ll set out tomorrow how the government intends to proceed for the rest of the week.
Also tomorrow, he says, the prime minister will address the Commons on the Grenfell inquiry’s report and MPs will discuss the Northern Ireland budget bill.Also tomorrow, he says, the prime minister will address the Commons on the Grenfell inquiry’s report and MPs will discuss the Northern Ireland budget bill.
My colleague, Rowena Mason, has just published this on the vote for a general election on 12 December:
UK general election confirmed for 12 December after Brexit stalemate
Boris Johnson’s wish for a general election on 12 December looks set to be granted after MPs voted in favour of it by 438 to 20; a majority of 418.
The prime minister had already defeated an attempt to change the date to 9 December (see: 8.01pm) – the only serious opposition remaining to his proposal – and the bill that seeks to implement a 12 December general election will now pass to the Lords, who are expected to wave it through.
MPs will soon vote on whether or not to hold the early general election, with the date – assuming they back it – having now been set as 12 December.
Dec 12 looks like the election date, if MPs vote for it shortly. Amendment on Dec 9 date defeated.
The Independent Group for Change MP, Chris Leslie, tried to move an unexpected amendment but he’s been denied by the deputy speaker, Eleanor Laing. She then makes way for the Speaker, John Bercow, who calls for MPs to vote on a third and final reading.
The Commons has rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s proposal to hold an early general on 9 December, rather than the government’s plan to do so three days later.
MPs voted against amendment 2 by 315 votes to 295; a majority of 20.
Just before MPs went off to vote, the Tory backbench MP Steve Baker warned that, if the Lords amended the early parliamentary general election bill, they would be “playing with their own futures”. Baker, the chairman of the hard Brexit-supporting European Research Group, told the Commons:
On a serious note, this bill of course has to go through [the Lords] and I think if the other place were to put in amendments to this simple and straightforward bill, which sought to produce a particular outcome, I think we would have to say they have no right whatever to do that.
That it would be quite unconstitutional and I think they would be playing fire and indeed they would be playing with their own futures in that House were they to seek to amend this bill to produce a particular outcome.
If MPs vote for an election on 9th December Parliament will be dissolved Thursday night. Result in about 5 minutes. #election
MPs are now voting on amendment 2, which would change the date of the election from Thursday 12 December to Monday 9 December.
Here’s a little more on Labour’s preparations for the likely December election: It’s understood that trigger ballots are to be halted and that Labour MPs will now be automatically reselected – subject to NEC approval and assuming they haven’t decided to retire.
Any selection meetings in key marginals that were scheduled for this week will still go ahead. In those constituencies where no such meeting was planned, the selection will now be handled by panels staffed by NEC members and regional and constituency party representatives.
A Labour spokesman said:
After the 2017 snap general election, we immediately began democratic selections to ensure Labour members would be able to choose their candidates. Members have selected candidates in almost 200 seats.
We’re more prepared than we’ve ever been at this stage in the parliamentary cycle, ready to launch the most ambitious, radical campaign for real change that this country has ever seen.
Here’s a little more on the news that the Tory party has welcomed back 10 rebel MPs. The prime minister was said to have told them he always wanted to find a way for them to rejoin the party and the 10 MPs accepted his offer to be readmitted. A party spokesman said:
They have had the whip offered back to them, they have accepted the whip: they are Conservative Members of Parliament with the Tory whip.
He said the decision was not a comment on those who have not had the whip restored. The former Tory chancellors, Philip Hammond and Ken Clarke, along with former justice secretary, David Gauke, are among those not to have been welcomed back.
Their number also includes Sir Oliver Letwin, Justine Greening and Dominic Grieve, as well as Rory Stewart, Guto Bebb, Anne Milton and Antoinette Sandbach. Each of them remains an independent MP, while Sam Gyimah joined the Lib Dems.
The Tory MP Andrew Percy has called for a “more civil campaign” during the next general election. The Brigg and Goole MP said:
The 2017 election was an appalling campaign for many of us to go through and the abuse and threats and damage to property, damage to constituents’ property perpetrated, in some cases, by people in the name of the leader of the opposition.
So I hope the campaign next time in December is a more civil campaign on all sides, because this is not a matter that one side owns particularly.