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Brexit: Boris Johnson fails in bid to limit debate as MPs start considering early election bill - live news Brexit: Boris Johnson fails in bid to limit debate as MPs start considering early election bill - live news
(32 minutes later)
Anne Main, a Conservative Brexiter, is currently speaking in the debate at the moment. She has been going on for a while, arguing that the public want to have the Brexit situation resolved.
You will have noticed that I haven’t been giving the speeches minute-by-minute. But you are not missing anything. The whole debate for far has been rambling and rather dull.
From ITV’s Joe Pike
Bumped into Dominic Cummings.Me: Ready for the campaign Mr Cummings?DC: We’re not going to have one.Me: Really?DC: They’ll vote for EU citizens and we’ll have to pull it.#Brexit | GE19
If anyone had any doubt about this, Downing Street has confirmed it will withdraw the general election bill if MPs attach amendments to extend votes to either 16- and 17-year olds, or EU nationals.
Boris Johnson’s spokesman had already said such a move would bring “administrative chaos”, and go against the convention that changes to the franchise are done over time and via consultation, but went no further.
However, a No 10 source confirmed such amendments would be fatal to the bill:
You cannot honestly argue that you are supporting an election on 12 December and vote for a change in the franchise. It’s quite clear a vote to change the franchise would create a six-month delay.
Sam Gyimah, the former Conservative minister who defected to the Liberal Democrats, has used an interview in the Evening Standard to say he will stand for his new party as a candidate in Kensington. It used to be a seat with a decent Tory majority (although not as safe as it was when it was part of the Kensington and Chelsea constituency), but at the 2017 general election Labour’s Emma Dent Coad pulled off a surprise victory, winning with a majority of 20.
The Lib Dems came a poor third in the seat in 2017. Asked why he thought he had a chance, Gyimah told the Standard:
You have the Conservative party pursuing a reckless hard Brexit, which has turned its back on business and is out of touch with modern Britain. Then you have a Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn who is unfit to be the prime minister and stands for an assault on property rights and people’s pensions. What we bring are sensible pragmatic policies and getting things done. Throughout Brexit I’ve shown that I stand for the values that diverse, forward-looking people in Kensington share.
Back in the debate Labour’s Pat McFadden is speaking now. He says if something was a bad idea yesterday, it is still a bad idea today.Back in the debate Labour’s Pat McFadden is speaking now. He says if something was a bad idea yesterday, it is still a bad idea today.
If something was a bad idea yesterday, it might just be a bad idea today.
I don’t believe that the prime minister has been pushing for an election because it is impossible in any way to get his deal through, after all the proposal received its second reading last week.
This is being done because the prime minister wants to avoid proper scrutiny of his proposals before he calls an election, and he has been desperate since the day he took office to run this election.
Boris Johnson has been desperate for an election, he says. And he says there are two reasons why it is a bad idea.Boris Johnson has been desperate for an election, he says. And he says there are two reasons why it is a bad idea.
An election does not take a no-deal Brexit off the table, he says.An election does not take a no-deal Brexit off the table, he says.
And he says Johnson’s Brexit deal is flawed. It would involve two Brexits: one for Northern Ireland, and one for the rest of the UK.And he says Johnson’s Brexit deal is flawed. It would involve two Brexits: one for Northern Ireland, and one for the rest of the UK.
These are from ConservativeHome’s Mark Wallace.These are from ConservativeHome’s Mark Wallace.
Exclusive: @CharlesWalkerMP has resigned from the Party Board, and the Candidates Committee. The reason why is not confirmed, but I know there has been a vocal dispute on the committee about centralised influence over candidate selections https://t.co/O9hWNgXXtFExclusive: @CharlesWalkerMP has resigned from the Party Board, and the Candidates Committee. The reason why is not confirmed, but I know there has been a vocal dispute on the committee about centralised influence over candidate selections https://t.co/O9hWNgXXtF
Here are my reports over the last week on Hertford & Stortford; South Ribble; and Devizes. The candidates list are already furious at the system becoming less open, and concern among associations is rising. With an election coming they need reassurance. https://t.co/iTzZwdhGy9Here are my reports over the last week on Hertford & Stortford; South Ribble; and Devizes. The candidates list are already furious at the system becoming less open, and concern among associations is rising. With an election coming they need reassurance. https://t.co/iTzZwdhGy9
Walker's resignation came a few days ago, I gather - so it's not related to today's news about calling an election. Rather it looks like part of the wider picture of discontent about parts of CCHQ expanding their influence over selections.Walker's resignation came a few days ago, I gather - so it's not related to today's news about calling an election. Rather it looks like part of the wider picture of discontent about parts of CCHQ expanding their influence over selections.
Labour’s Kevan Jones says he will not be voting for an early election. Here is an extract from the statement he has written explaining his position.Labour’s Kevan Jones says he will not be voting for an early election. Here is an extract from the statement he has written explaining his position.
Now that a deal has moved past second reading, and time has been afforded to discuss it, the government is now calling a general election, an entirely unnecessary exercise, instead of allowing scrutiny of its own bill. It remains my belief today that this impasse must be overcome by deliberation and cooperation in parliament.Now that a deal has moved past second reading, and time has been afforded to discuss it, the government is now calling a general election, an entirely unnecessary exercise, instead of allowing scrutiny of its own bill. It remains my belief today that this impasse must be overcome by deliberation and cooperation in parliament.
As such, I will not vote for an early general election today.As such, I will not vote for an early general election today.
Updated Statement on an Early General Election https://t.co/NCEk8H6r3DUpdated Statement on an Early General Election https://t.co/NCEk8H6r3D
And the Labour MP Anna Turley says she won’t vote for an early election either.And the Labour MP Anna Turley says she won’t vote for an early election either.
Nor will INor will I
From ITV’s Carl DinnenFrom ITV’s Carl Dinnen
Will the 21 Whip free Tories be allowed to stand at the election?A Tory Party spokesman says the Chief Whip will decide soon and "there has been a ladder for them to climb. Some have climbed it, some have not"#GE2019Will the 21 Whip free Tories be allowed to stand at the election?A Tory Party spokesman says the Chief Whip will decide soon and "there has been a ladder for them to climb. Some have climbed it, some have not"#GE2019
The Tory MP Bob Seely is speaking now. He criticises Labour for obstructing Brexit, saying Jeremy Corbyn is someone who can neither oppose nor lead. But Labour’s Kevan Jones says Labour offered to sit down with the government to negotiate a new programme motion, to allow the withdrawal agreement bill to go ahead, but with MPs getting sufficient time to debate it.The Tory MP Bob Seely is speaking now. He criticises Labour for obstructing Brexit, saying Jeremy Corbyn is someone who can neither oppose nor lead. But Labour’s Kevan Jones says Labour offered to sit down with the government to negotiate a new programme motion, to allow the withdrawal agreement bill to go ahead, but with MPs getting sufficient time to debate it.
Seely does not accept the point. But Jones repeatedly says Labour made this offer. Jones says it was Boris Johnson who decided not to press ahead with the withdrawal agreement bill, not Labour.Seely does not accept the point. But Jones repeatedly says Labour made this offer. Jones says it was Boris Johnson who decided not to press ahead with the withdrawal agreement bill, not Labour.
The Labour MP Paul Farrelly told the Commons he would not vote for an early election. Intervening earlier in the debate, Farrelly said:The Labour MP Paul Farrelly told the Commons he would not vote for an early election. Intervening earlier in the debate, Farrelly said:
[I’d] encourage as many of my colleagues as possible to defy the threats and blandishments to do so because the reality is that the uncertainty of an outcome of a general election certainly does not take no-deal off the table.[I’d] encourage as many of my colleagues as possible to defy the threats and blandishments to do so because the reality is that the uncertainty of an outcome of a general election certainly does not take no-deal off the table.
Swinson says she would always vote to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote.
Anyone sceptical about this should look at what happens in Scotland. She says in Scotland you see sixth-formers leaving school in the afternoon and going to the polling station. It is “a sight to see”, she says.
Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, is speaking now.
She says Boris Johnson “had a cheek” talking about the whole UK in his opening speech. Johnson has not been acting in the interests of the whole of the UK. He has let Northern Ireland down. He said no Conservative PM would accept a border in the Irish Sea. But that is exactly what he has done, she says.
I’ve beefed up some of the earlier posts from the opening of the debate with direct quotes from speeches, including from Boris Johnson’s. (See 2.41pm.) To get the updates to show, you may need to refresh the page.
Blackford is still speaking. He says the government should extend the franchise to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote, and EU nationals to vote in general elections.
He says EU nationals are on the electoral register already.
At the end of his speech Blackford receives applause from SNP MPs.
The full text of the bill is now here (pdf), on the UK parliament website.
And the explanatory notes are here (pdf).
Amendments to the bill would normally be on this page too, but they are not, because the bill was only published today and the amendments are only going in now.
The Labour MP Stephen Doughty says he has tabled an amendment to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to vote.
I have now tabled my simple and straightforward #VotesAt16 Amendment. Thanks to all colleagues who have signed. The Government have unfortunately tried to make it as difficult to table, select and vote on amendments as possible. pic.twitter.com/xzxkKoDv6n
Reminder: just because an amendment has been tabled, that does not mean it will be put to a vote.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, is speaking now.
He says the SNP has been accused of trying to obstruct Brexit. “Guilty as charged,” he says.
Corbyn is wrapping up now. He says Labour is ready for this election. He wants to give people hope. He will go out there and give that message, whenever the election takes place.
Whatever date the house decides the election will be, I’m ready for it, we’re ready for it.
Because we want to be able to say to the people of this country there is an alternative to austerity. There is an alternative to inequality. There is an alternative to sweetheart trade deals with Donald Trump.
There is an alternative of a government that invests in all parts of the country, a government that’s determined to end injustice in our society.
And a government that is determined to give our young people a sense of hope in their society rather than the prospects of indebtedness and insecure employment in the future, which is sadly all the Conservative government and their coalition with the Lib Dems ever brought.
I’m very ready to go out there and give that message in any election, whenever it comes.
If Sky’s Kate McCann is right, Labour backing for votes from the age 16 and votes for EU nationals (see 2.46pm) will not make any difference because the amendments will not be called.
Three Labour-backed amendments set to be tabled (although other MPs will table more) 1. Changing election date to 9 December 2. Votes for EU nationals 3. Votes for 16/17 year olds. The last two are not expected to be ruled in order even though they have support.
Corbyn says Labour will be supporting votes for people aged 16 and 17, and also supporting the right of EU nationals to vote in the general election. He says, if EU nationals have made their future in this country, they should have the right to vote here too.