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Johnson's majority slashed to 24 as Tory rebels fire warning shot over Huawei's involvement in 5G - live news Johnson's majority slashed as 38 Tory rebels fire warning shot over Huawei's involvement in 5G - live news
(32 minutes later)
MPs vote down Iain Duncan Smith’s amendment by 306 votes to 282, cutting Boris Johnson’s working majority of 87MPs vote down Iain Duncan Smith’s amendment by 306 votes to 282, cutting Boris Johnson’s working majority of 87
The official division list for the Huawei vote is now up.
Some 38 Tory MPs actively rebelled - two serving as tellers, and 36 voting against the government. That is 10 more than the number of Conservatives who signed the Iain Duncan Smith amendment that was put to the vote.
There were also 22 Tory MPs who did not vote. Most of those were probably authorised absences, but the list may include some MPs who were actively abstaining rather than supporting the government. There were 17 Labour MPs who did not vote.
Boris Johnson also had the support of the DUP in this vote, but only partially. Five of the DUP’s eight MPs voted with the government; the other three did not vote.
Last year the House of Commons became very good at releasing division lists quickly after votes took place. They were often available within 15 minutes or so. But today they have been hopeless - they’re “a bit rusty”, an official told me - and they are still not available on the Commons website.
But the New Statesman’s Stephen Bush has done us all a favour and compiled a list of the 38 Tory rebels. Here it is.
Yesterday Rory Stewart, the former Tory international development secretary, made a dramatic intervention in the coronavirus debate, calling for all schools to be closed now. Stewart says his views were shaped by what happened with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which led him to conclude that early action was vital in these circumstances, but there were also suspicions that his desire to say something hard-hitting may have been influenced by the fact that he is standing as an independent candidate for London mayor, and not making much of an impact in the race so far.Yesterday Rory Stewart, the former Tory international development secretary, made a dramatic intervention in the coronavirus debate, calling for all schools to be closed now. Stewart says his views were shaped by what happened with Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which led him to conclude that early action was vital in these circumstances, but there were also suspicions that his desire to say something hard-hitting may have been influenced by the fact that he is standing as an independent candidate for London mayor, and not making much of an impact in the race so far.
Stewart’s weakness as a candidate has been highlighted by new polling today for the Evening Standard showing his support on just 13%. He is in third place. Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor, is miles ahead, on 49%, with a 25-point lead over his Conservative rival, Shaun Bailey.Stewart’s weakness as a candidate has been highlighted by new polling today for the Evening Standard showing his support on just 13%. He is in third place. Sadiq Khan, the Labour mayor, is miles ahead, on 49%, with a 25-point lead over his Conservative rival, Shaun Bailey.
Philip Cowley, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, has an analysis of the results here. Here is an excerpt.Philip Cowley, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, has an analysis of the results here. Here is an excerpt.
As well as a rebellion on Huawei, earlier today the government faced some – so far mild and very polite – objections to another area of policy from Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary and rival to Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership.As well as a rebellion on Huawei, earlier today the government faced some – so far mild and very polite – objections to another area of policy from Jeremy Hunt, the former health secretary and rival to Boris Johnson for the Tory leadership.
At health questions in the Commons, Hunt, who has so far been pointedly loyal since returning to the backbenches, asked about post-Brexit plans for immigration, and how a preferential system for health workers does not apply for social care staff – something the sector is deeply worried about.At health questions in the Commons, Hunt, who has so far been pointedly loyal since returning to the backbenches, asked about post-Brexit plans for immigration, and how a preferential system for health workers does not apply for social care staff – something the sector is deeply worried about.
Addressing the new junior health and social care minister, Helen Whateley, Hunt said:Addressing the new junior health and social care minister, Helen Whateley, Hunt said:
Whateley replied that she was “well aware” of concerns in the social care sector, but indicated the government was not about to shift. She said:Whateley replied that she was “well aware” of concerns in the social care sector, but indicated the government was not about to shift. She said:
This is a row which could run.This is a row which could run.
Here is the Labour MP Toby Perkins on the Tory rebels.Here is the Labour MP Toby Perkins on the Tory rebels.
This is from the Tory MP Tim Loughton, explaining why he voted against the government.This is from the Tory MP Tim Loughton, explaining why he voted against the government.
From the BBC’s Vicki YoungFrom the BBC’s Vicki Young
And this is from Bob Seely, who is one of the Tory rebels.And this is from Bob Seely, who is one of the Tory rebels.
The Conservative MP Steve Baker, who is something of an expert in organising Tory backbench rebellions, but who did back the government over Huawei this afternoon, says he thinks the government will have to include a firm deadline for the exclusion of Huawei from 5G when it introduces its telecommunications security bill later this year.The Conservative MP Steve Baker, who is something of an expert in organising Tory backbench rebellions, but who did back the government over Huawei this afternoon, says he thinks the government will have to include a firm deadline for the exclusion of Huawei from 5G when it introduces its telecommunications security bill later this year.
As City AM’s Cat Neilan points out, the result means that, if another 12 Tory MPs were to change sides, then Boris Johnson would see his majority disappear completely.As City AM’s Cat Neilan points out, the result means that, if another 12 Tory MPs were to change sides, then Boris Johnson would see his majority disappear completely.
The government has won the vote, but it has seen its majority slashed. MPs voted down Sir Iain Duncan Smith’s amendment by 306 votes to 282 - a majority of 24. Allowing for the non-appearance of Sinn Fein, and deputy speakers not voting, Boris Johnson should have a working majority of 87.
This is from Labour’s Lucy Powell, who is missing the vote because her train has been held up.
Earlier during the debate Liam Fox, the Conservative former international trade secretary, made a speech attacking government policy on Huawei. He said he had not accept the government argument that it had to use Huawei to develop 5G. He explained:
Sir Iain Duncan Smith moves his amendment, amendment 1.
MPs are now voting.
The government has won the first vote, defeating a Labour amendment, by 343 to 242 - a majority of 101.
According to the Times’ Steven Swinford, Iain Duncan Smith will put his amendment to a vote.
The debate is now over, and MPs are voting on a technical Labour amendment that has nothing to do with Huawei. Voting will take about 15 minutes, and the government will almost certainly win.
Once that is over, Sir Iain Duncan Smith will get the chance to move his amendment. It is still not clear yet whether or not he will, but some of his colleagues certainly want him to. (See 3.09pm and 3.26pm.) They think the Oliver Dowden assurances did not go far enough.
Owen Paterson, the Tory former cabinet minister and one of the supporters of the Iain Duncan Smith amendment, is speaking now.
He says last week the government said it eventually wanted no Huawei involvement in 5G.
But today, he says, MPs wanted to hear how it would get there.
He says they needed to hear that there would be a point where there would be no high-risk vendors in the network. But he says the government is just talking about being able to get to a point where nobody “has to use” Huawei.
He says nobody has to use Huawei; they can always use other suppliers.
What is needed is a commitment to a date at which point there will be no high-risk vendors in the system, he says.
From my colleague Dan Sabbagh
Seely says, if MPs want to know what GCHQ thinks about Huawei, they should read what the Huawei oversight board says about the company. He quotes from the board saying it cannot give assurances about the safety of the company.