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Brexit: MPs pass Cooper's Brexit delay bill with majority of one - live news Brexit: MPs pass Cooper's Brexit delay bill with majority of one - as it happened
(over 1 year later)
I’m going to wrap up now.
Here the latest key developments at a glance:
A bill tabled by Labour MP Yvette Copper has been passed dramatically by a majority of one in the House of Commons. If approved by the Lords, it will enshrine in law that Theresa May has to ask EU leaders for a long extension if she fails to get her deal through parliament by April 12, which would rule out a no-deal Brexit - provided Brussels approves a longer extension of Article 50.
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn met earlier to discuss a possible compromise on the withdrawal agreement. The meeting is said to have been “constructive” and further talks are planned.
Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry wrote a letter to the shadow cabinet ahead of an emergency meeting tonight, telling cabinet members that “not to insist” on a second referendum would constitute a “breach” of Labour’s commitments made at the party conference.
Jeremy Corbyn meanwhile has said that he had raised the “option” of a confirmatory referendum during his meeting with the PM, which some pundits have interpreted as a potential disagreement between the Labour leader and his frontbench.
That’s all from me, goodnight.
The Leave.EU campaign seems to be rather cross:
The "Conservatives" who voted to block Brexit this evening.Are you a Conservative member in one of these constituencies? Sign up to our deselection campaign below and help us oust the Remainers!🙋‍♂️ Support us at https://t.co/iICfFb8qqg
Irish premier Leo Varadkar will hold Brexit talks with German leader Angela Merkel in Dublin on Thursday, the Press Association reports.
The Taoiseach will host Ms Merkel at Farmleigh House in the capital where their discussions are set to focus on the latest developments ahead of the special European Council meeting next week. Prior to their formal sit-down the leaders will take part in round-table discussions with people from Northern Ireland and the border area about their views on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It comes as efforts intensify to find a way through the Brexit impasse. [...]On Tuesday Mr Varadkar held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. Ahead of Ms Merkel’s visit, an Irish government spokesman said the Chancellor had been a “strong and unwavering ally of Ireland” as the country responded to the challenges brought about by Brexit. “Ahead of their formal meeting, the Taoiseach and Chancellor will participate in a round-table discussion with people from Northern Ireland and the border area, who will share their personal experience and perspectives on the impact any return to a hard border would have on border communities and businesses,” the spokesman said. “These are people for whom the border is a very real issue - people from communities along the border, from business, and with direct personal experience of conflict before the Good Friday Agreement. “It is important to hear their voices as we work together to deal with the challenges that Brexit presents. “ The spokesman said the meeting was also an opportunity for the leaders to consider other issues on the EU’s agenda and to reflect on how Ireland and Germany can strengthen “the already excellent relations” between the two countries. Speaking in the Irish parliament on Wednesday, the Taoiseach said he hoped Mr Corbyn would show leadership and come up with a compromise plan with Mrs May.
Sky’s Faisal Islam says the Cooper bill is expected to have good chances to get approved by the Lords.
Expectation though is that after a long time and unlimited number of votes and amendments, there are overwhelming numbers in the Lords to get the Cooper Letwin bill passed “after a very long night”.
Labour and Co-op MP Gareth Thomas on the result:
Just 1 vote in it but tonight @HouseofCommons passed legislation to seek a longer extension to Article 50 to avoid the catastrophic possibility of a no-deal Brexit - an excellent job of work done by many but @YvetteCooperMP deserves particular praise
This from The Sun’s Tom Newton Dunn:
Just these 14 Tory MPs voted for the Cooper Bill. All but one have been long serving ministers, two until only last week. pic.twitter.com/b0EuStfO8w
This from Sky’s Beth Rigby on the passing of the Cooper bill, which, if passed in the House of Lords, will rule out a crashing out of the EU without a deal once and for all, provided the EU would grant May a longer extension if her deal does not pass by April 12.This from Sky’s Beth Rigby on the passing of the Cooper bill, which, if passed in the House of Lords, will rule out a crashing out of the EU without a deal once and for all, provided the EU would grant May a longer extension if her deal does not pass by April 12.
One vote! Now to the Lords. Brexiteers suspect the govt are going to let it sail through... told by one source the whipping arrangements for Con peers tomorrow; “come if convenient” > that’s not *quite* the language of those preparing voting war is it? https://t.co/OndXsySbwROne vote! Now to the Lords. Brexiteers suspect the govt are going to let it sail through... told by one source the whipping arrangements for Con peers tomorrow; “come if convenient” > that’s not *quite* the language of those preparing voting war is it? https://t.co/OndXsySbwR
Conservative MP Nicky Morgan has said on BBC Newsnight that there are “other more qualified candidates” to lead her party, should Theresa May step down as prime minister.Conservative MP Nicky Morgan has said on BBC Newsnight that there are “other more qualified candidates” to lead her party, should Theresa May step down as prime minister.
This also from the Press Association:This also from the Press Association:
Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight, Ms Morgan said Mrs May was the “best person” to lead discussions with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, but said “new national leadership” would be needed to handle future negotiations on the UK’s relationship with the EU. Asked about her own leadership ambitions she said: “It is very nice to be suggested, I think that there are other more qualified candidates, but I look forward to playing a role in shaping those discussions.”Speaking on the BBC’s Newsnight, Ms Morgan said Mrs May was the “best person” to lead discussions with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, but said “new national leadership” would be needed to handle future negotiations on the UK’s relationship with the EU. Asked about her own leadership ambitions she said: “It is very nice to be suggested, I think that there are other more qualified candidates, but I look forward to playing a role in shaping those discussions.”
This from the Press Association on the wafer-thin majority in this last vote of today that just rocked the House of Commons:This from the Press Association on the wafer-thin majority in this last vote of today that just rocked the House of Commons:
Proposals to further delay the date of Brexit have moved closer to becoming law after they squeaked through the Commons by one vote. MPs supported the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill at third reading by 313 votes to 312. The draft legislation tabled by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper requires Prime Minister Theresa May to table a motion seeking MPs’ approval for an extension to the Article 50 process beyond April 12 to a date of her choosing. It is part of a parliamentary bid to prevent a no-deal departure from the EU. Tory Brexiteers strongly opposed the measures and, shortly before the final vote, they expressed their frustration at the Bill clearing all stages in the Commons in a matter of hours. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) urged Speaker John Bercow to “make this farce stop” and prevent further votes. The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date, potentially as early as Thursday.Proposals to further delay the date of Brexit have moved closer to becoming law after they squeaked through the Commons by one vote. MPs supported the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Bill at third reading by 313 votes to 312. The draft legislation tabled by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper requires Prime Minister Theresa May to table a motion seeking MPs’ approval for an extension to the Article 50 process beyond April 12 to a date of her choosing. It is part of a parliamentary bid to prevent a no-deal departure from the EU. Tory Brexiteers strongly opposed the measures and, shortly before the final vote, they expressed their frustration at the Bill clearing all stages in the Commons in a matter of hours. Peter Bone (Wellingborough) urged Speaker John Bercow to “make this farce stop” and prevent further votes. The Bill will undergo further scrutiny in the Lords at a later date, potentially as early as Thursday.
The Cooper bill has passed its third reading with a majority of only one vote, 313:312The Cooper bill has passed its third reading with a majority of only one vote, 313:312
Another Peston moment:Another Peston moment:
.@tom_watson says Labour’s position is still to seek a confirmatory referendum on whatever Brexit deal Corbyn and May cook up. “It’s the only way the country is going to come back together”. #peston.@tom_watson says Labour’s position is still to seek a confirmatory referendum on whatever Brexit deal Corbyn and May cook up. “It’s the only way the country is going to come back together”. #peston
Chancellor Philip Hammond told Peston that he hopes the cross-party talks with Labour would be able to discover whether there was a “landing zone” where both sides could meet on a deal, the Press Association reports.Chancellor Philip Hammond told Peston that he hopes the cross-party talks with Labour would be able to discover whether there was a “landing zone” where both sides could meet on a deal, the Press Association reports.
“We are going to have further discussions tomorrow. I think both sides need to understand where each other are.But I would hope we can get, very quickly, to an understanding of whether there is a cross-party deal to be done,” Hammond said.“We are going to have further discussions tomorrow. I think both sides need to understand where each other are.But I would hope we can get, very quickly, to an understanding of whether there is a cross-party deal to be done,” Hammond said.
Now amendment 1 – which would limit any extension to 22 May – has been defeated by a whopping 488 to 123.
The government has suffered another defeat and had its own amendment crushed by a majority of 180. Amendment 22 “ensured the bill does not limit the power of the Brexit secretary in seeking an article 50 extension”.
Huge Govt defeat on their own Amdt. 400 to 220 a majority of 180 https://t.co/b6w2yQDT4a
Until MPs will vote on the Cooper bill, they will be voting on a series of amendments. Final vote expected around midnight.
I just made an error: the vote hasn’t failed, an amendment by the former minister George Eustice was just defeated by 304 ayes to 313 noes.
The amendment would have prevented the government from being forced to hold a vote if the European Council proposes an extension date different than that requested by parliament.
Profuse apologies. The previous post has been deleted.
This just in from The Telegraph’s Anna Mikhailova:
New: Senior Labour source telling me today's talks did not go as well as initially thought:'May offered nothing today. Unless tomorrow's talks change the narrative it seems to be a waste of time.'
MPs are now voting on the Cooper bill amendments.
MPs were debating the Cooper bill at Committee stage until just a few minutes ago. In the eyes of the government, the bill represents “a dangerous and perhaps unintended constitutional precedent” that would “constrain” the PM’s authority in negotiations. “This bill actually increases the likelihood of an accidental no-deal,” says Robin Walker, Exiting the EU minister.
The government has tabled an amendment to the Cooper bill aimed at allowing the PM to agree a new deadline with the EU if necessary.
This from the ITV’s Paul Brand:
Amidst all the Brexit chaos, worth remembering it’s the Newport West by-election tomorrow following the death of the Labour MP Paul Flynn. An interesting test of how the parties are perceived to be faring. Labour sources tell me they do not expect a major upset.
Nick Boles MP, who resigned from the Tory whip yesterday, just tweeted this:
I am no longer a member of the Conservative Party. So I can be blunt where previously I might have been discreet. The PM’s head of communications Robbie Gibb is a hard Brexiter who wants to destroy the PM’s new search for a cross party compromise.
By the way, German magazine Der Spiegel published an interview with speaker John Bercow on Monday, in which he talks beheadings, Theresa May being “courteous” and his power in parliament.
A good, entertaining read.
Here an excerpt:
DER SPIEGEL: Would you agree that you are one of the most powerful people in Britain today?
Bercow: It’s amazingly generous of you to confer this sobriquet on me, but I’m not sure it is warranted. Of course, I do have a role, not grabbed by me, but conferred upon me, to select amendments for debate and to keep order. And yes, I won’t be disingenuous. It is true that, in this context, the role of the speaker is more center stage than it would be if we were purely conducting a debate about child support policy. We’re having a debate about a matter which has consumed the political world and dominated the media for the best part of three years. And in this current context, there is a particular significance attached to that. My approach is to try to facilitate perhaps by enabling the fullest and fairest expression of views and the range of views that exists.