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| Brexit: Boost for Boris Johnson as hardline Brexit rebel signals he now wants to back PM's deal – live news | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Boris Johnson received a boost when one of the most hardline Tory Brexiters signalled that he would back his revised plan for an alternative to the Irish backstop. Lee Rowley, one of the 28 so-called Brexiter “Spartans” who voted against Theresa May’s Brexit deal three times, opened the Queen’s speech debate, in his role as the proposer of the loyal address. It is the first time the Commons has sat since it emerged on Thursday that a compromise customs plan could be the basis for a UK-EU Brexit deal. Rowley signalled that he was now minded to back what the government was planning. In his speech he said: | |
| In the last few days there is at least hope that this toxic and crippling fog, which we have created, might just be lifting as the prime minister sketches the outline of a way forward - and I speak as someone who has been robust in my review of previous proposals, but the house must surely see - as I do - that we have debated long enough. | |
| This is a moment for decision and we were elected to make decisions. | |
| If there is light at the end of the tunnel later this week, and heaven knows I hope there will be, we have a fundamental responsibility in this place to try and resolve this most vexed of problems and allow our despairing country to move on. | |
| For the health of our democracy and to restore faith in this most venerable of institutions, in my view we simply must get Brexit done. | |
| The House of Commons library has become the latest Brexit-monitoring body to try its hand at a ‘What happens next?’ flowchart. It’s from this briefing note. | |
| Normally at this point in the proceedings I would post some sort of verdict. But there is no point. | Normally at this point in the proceedings I would post some sort of verdict. But there is no point. |
| Partly that’s because that was almost a news-free occasion. Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson both gave serviceable speeches, but neither of them said anything much that they have not said before. (There were a few very minor lines, that I will post in a moment.) | Partly that’s because that was almost a news-free occasion. Jeremy Corbyn and Boris Johnson both gave serviceable speeches, but neither of them said anything much that they have not said before. (There were a few very minor lines, that I will post in a moment.) |
| But mainly it’s because ITV’s Robert Peston has summed up the problem with the debate so well it is hard to improve on it. | But mainly it’s because ITV’s Robert Peston has summed up the problem with the debate so well it is hard to improve on it. |
| This the maddest, most pointless Queen's Speech debate anyone alive has watched - because it is all displacement activity from the only two questions that matter, namely whether the UK is leaving the EU on 31 October (and if so how) and whether there will be a general... | This the maddest, most pointless Queen's Speech debate anyone alive has watched - because it is all displacement activity from the only two questions that matter, namely whether the UK is leaving the EU on 31 October (and if so how) and whether there will be a general... |
| election before Christmas. As a result it has all the significance and weight of an undergraduate debate on a wet autumn afternoon | election before Christmas. As a result it has all the significance and weight of an undergraduate debate on a wet autumn afternoon |
| Johnson ends saying he believes in a “generous, tolerant, outward-looking and humane society”. | Johnson ends saying he believes in a “generous, tolerant, outward-looking and humane society”. |
| And that’s it. | And that’s it. |
| Johnson says he wants a Britain where “fairness and balance” are at the heart of what we do. | Johnson says he wants a Britain where “fairness and balance” are at the heart of what we do. |
| He says the government should be fighting crime. But he says he agrees with Jeremy Corbyn on the importance of rehabilitation. | He says the government should be fighting crime. But he says he agrees with Jeremy Corbyn on the importance of rehabilitation. |
| Johnson says, after Brexit, the UK will be able to ban the export of live animals. | Johnson says, after Brexit, the UK will be able to ban the export of live animals. |
| That is something the public will welcome, he says. | That is something the public will welcome, he says. |
| Ken Clarke, the veteran Tory (now independent) MP and leader of the Commons, asks Johnson for an assurance that the HS2 review will consider the impact of cancelling the plan on the East Midlands, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. | |
| Johnson says he can give that assurance. | Johnson says he can give that assurance. |
| Anna Soubry, the Independent Group for Change MP, says there was no mention of HS2 in the budget. | Anna Soubry, the Independent Group for Change MP, says there was no mention of HS2 in the budget. |
| Johnson says the government is committed to infrastructure spending. On HS2, he says there will be more on this in the budget. | Johnson says the government is committed to infrastructure spending. On HS2, he says there will be more on this in the budget. |
| Johnson says it is time to get Brexit done. | Johnson says it is time to get Brexit done. |
| He says Brexit will allow the UK to get life-saving medicines to market more quickly and more cheaply. | He says Brexit will allow the UK to get life-saving medicines to market more quickly and more cheaply. |
| (This is not normally a point Johnson makes when itemising the supposed benefits of Brexit. Is it motivated by the need to match Labour’s plan to reduce the cost of medicines?) | (This is not normally a point Johnson makes when itemising the supposed benefits of Brexit. Is it motivated by the need to match Labour’s plan to reduce the cost of medicines?) |
| Johnson says the destruction that Labour would do to business is the biggest threat this country faces – far bigger than the threat posed by a no-deal Brexit. | Johnson says the destruction that Labour would do to business is the biggest threat this country faces – far bigger than the threat posed by a no-deal Brexit. |
| Johnson says the government wants the economy to flourish because so many solutions to our problems are provided by the free market and capitalism. | Johnson says the government wants the economy to flourish because so many solutions to our problems are provided by the free market and capitalism. |
| That is how the UK will become carbon neutral by 2050, he says. | That is how the UK will become carbon neutral by 2050, he says. |
| He says this is understood even by his “crusty” relatives like his father, Stanley, who backed the Extinction Rebellion protests. | He says this is understood even by his “crusty” relatives like his father, Stanley, who backed the Extinction Rebellion protests. |
| Tom Brake, the Lib Dem Brexit spokesman, asks about the impact of Johnson’s Brexit deal on manufacturing. | Tom Brake, the Lib Dem Brexit spokesman, asks about the impact of Johnson’s Brexit deal on manufacturing. |
| Johnson says that is why the Lib Dems should vote for a deal. | Johnson says that is why the Lib Dems should vote for a deal. |
| And he accuses Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, of going to Brussels for a meeting with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, and asking him to rule out any deal. | And he accuses Jo Swinson, the Lib Dem leader, of going to Brussels for a meeting with Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, and asking him to rule out any deal. |
| Johnson says Labour’s plan to scrap Ofsted is “insane”. | Johnson says Labour’s plan to scrap Ofsted is “insane”. |
| He says that one nation Conservatives like himself support Ofsted because they believe in standards. | He says that one nation Conservatives like himself support Ofsted because they believe in standards. |
| Back in the debate Labour’s Angela Eagle says Merseyside has lost 1,120 police officers. Why is it only being allowed to recruit 200 more. | Back in the debate Labour’s Angela Eagle says Merseyside has lost 1,120 police officers. Why is it only being allowed to recruit 200 more. |
| Johnson says this is just the first wave of recruitment. | Johnson says this is just the first wave of recruitment. |
| From the Independent’s John Rentoul | From the Independent’s John Rentoul |
| Good speech by PM, but no response to John McDonnell heckling, “5m children in poverty” and other Lab MPs, “food banks” | Good speech by PM, but no response to John McDonnell heckling, “5m children in poverty” and other Lab MPs, “food banks” |
| Johnson says he wants to level up investment across the nation. | Johnson says he wants to level up investment across the nation. |
| He claims decisions now will lead to 40 new hospitals. | He claims decisions now will lead to 40 new hospitals. |
| (Actually, as this Full Fact briefing explains, six would be a more accurate figure.) | (Actually, as this Full Fact briefing explains, six would be a more accurate figure.) |
| Turning back to the issue of the prosecution of military veterans, Johnson says the government will legislate to ensure there is no unfair prosecution when no new evidence has been produced. | Turning back to the issue of the prosecution of military veterans, Johnson says the government will legislate to ensure there is no unfair prosecution when no new evidence has been produced. |
| The DUP’s Sammy Wilson asks Johnson to assure him that he will not let the Northern Ireland Office include the IRA in any provisions. | The DUP’s Sammy Wilson asks Johnson to assure him that he will not let the Northern Ireland Office include the IRA in any provisions. |
| Johnson repeats the point he made originally. | Johnson repeats the point he made originally. |