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| Brexit: Johnson's deal's 'far worse' than May's, says Labour - live news | Brexit: Johnson's deal's 'far worse' than May's, says Labour - live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European commission, is speaking now. | |
| He says the agreement protects the rights of citizens. | |
| The EU has always put people first, he says. | |
| He says this agreement would not have been possible without the taoiseach. | |
| He says the political declaration provides for a free trade agreement. | |
| He says he is happy they have reached a deal, but sad Brexit is happening. | |
| Donald Tusk, president of the European council, is speaking at his press conference now. | |
| He says the EU has endorsed the deal and “it looks like we are very close to the final stretch”. | |
| Why has a deal that looked impossible yesterday been approved? First, because it has been positively assessed by Ireland. And, second, it has been positively assessed by the European commission. | |
| He says the main change has been Boris Johnson’s decision to allow customs checks between Britain and Ireland. | |
| Now we are waiting for the vote in parliament. | |
| Tusk says he feels sadness. Personally he is a remainer, and he hopes that if the UK decides to rejoin, the EU’s door will be open. | |
| Tusk says he hopes one day the UK will decide to rejoin the EU. | |
| The division lists for the vote on the Letwin amendment earlier (see 1.49pm) are on the Commons website here. | |
| Only one Tory MP rebelled and supported the amendment, Dame Caroline Spelman. But nine of the 21 Tory MPs who lost the whip over a Brexit rebellion last month and who now sit as independents also voted for the amendment. | |
| Only one DUP MP voted with the government. The other nine did not. We don’t know if that was a protest against the Brexit deal, but if the other nine DUP MPs had voted with the government would have lost by three, not nine. | |
| The EU27 have finished their discussion on Brexit, according to Preben Aamann, a spokesman for Donald Tusk, the president of the European council. A draft of the conclusions was leaked earlier. (See 4.14pm.) | |
| Brexit EU27 EUCO finished. Conclusions adopted. | |
| Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker are due to hold a press conference within the next half an hour. | |
| Here is one take on how the voting could go on Saturday, under various scenarios. | Here is one take on how the voting could go on Saturday, under various scenarios. |
| This @ciceroglobal chart helpfulDUP rebel but ERG + Lab MPs who backed May + indy Cons support: Johnson loses -5DUP+ERG reject but Lab MPs who backed May+indy Cons: Johnson loses -55DUP rebel, ERG support+Leave Lab MPs+Lab MPs 4 deal + indy Cons = Johnson wins +29 pic.twitter.com/RJxsV7978R | This @ciceroglobal chart helpfulDUP rebel but ERG + Lab MPs who backed May + indy Cons support: Johnson loses -5DUP+ERG reject but Lab MPs who backed May+indy Cons: Johnson loses -55DUP rebel, ERG support+Leave Lab MPs+Lab MPs 4 deal + indy Cons = Johnson wins +29 pic.twitter.com/RJxsV7978R |
| From AFP’s Dave Clark | From AFP’s Dave Clark |
| In case there's anyone still arguing what Juncker said or meant or has authority to say or whatever, a EUCO source who was in the room said the leaders' "draft is silent about a extension, it's too soon. If it's voted down on Saturday we're in a different situation." | In case there's anyone still arguing what Juncker said or meant or has authority to say or whatever, a EUCO source who was in the room said the leaders' "draft is silent about a extension, it's too soon. If it's voted down on Saturday we're in a different situation." |
| Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, devotes most of his campaigning energy at the moment to complaining that Brexit has not yet been delivered. | Nigel Farage, the Brexit party leader, devotes most of his campaigning energy at the moment to complaining that Brexit has not yet been delivered. |
| But now that Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, is saying the EU would not allow a further Brexit deal, Farage is complaining that Juncker is overriding the Benn Act, which requires the PM to ask for an extension if his deal does not get approved. | But now that Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European commission, is saying the EU would not allow a further Brexit deal, Farage is complaining that Juncker is overriding the Benn Act, which requires the PM to ask for an extension if his deal does not get approved. |
| So an unelected, retiring bureaucrat says: No extension, take this new treaty or just leave. He is overriding the Benn Act. The EU shows itself to be a thuggocracy - power without accountability. Appalling people. | So an unelected, retiring bureaucrat says: No extension, take this new treaty or just leave. He is overriding the Benn Act. The EU shows itself to be a thuggocracy - power without accountability. Appalling people. |
| EU ministers are starting to query Jean-Claude Juncker’s claim that the EU would not allow a further Brexit extension. (See 2.37pm.) | EU ministers are starting to query Jean-Claude Juncker’s claim that the EU would not allow a further Brexit extension. (See 2.37pm.) |
| This is from the BBC’s Nick Eardley, quoting the Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen. | This is from the BBC’s Nick Eardley, quoting the Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen. |
| Danish PM: “Denmark is ready accept another Brexit delay if the new Brexit deal does not get trough the House of Commons" via @GavinLeeBBC | Danish PM: “Denmark is ready accept another Brexit delay if the new Brexit deal does not get trough the House of Commons" via @GavinLeeBBC |
| And this is from the BBC’s Faisal Islam, quoting Paschal Donohoe, the Irish finance minister. | And this is from the BBC’s Faisal Islam, quoting Paschal Donohoe, the Irish finance minister. |
| NEW: Just spoken to Irish finance min @Paschald in DC - “agreement provides best environment within which to protect trade and protect GFA”... I ask about Juncker & extension - UK will decide whether or not it wants one then “it’s a matter for the European Council” (ie not JCJ) pic.twitter.com/iNY4x6nur1 | NEW: Just spoken to Irish finance min @Paschald in DC - “agreement provides best environment within which to protect trade and protect GFA”... I ask about Juncker & extension - UK will decide whether or not it wants one then “it’s a matter for the European Council” (ie not JCJ) pic.twitter.com/iNY4x6nur1 |
| And these are from Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, who has been studying the revised political declaration (see 12.17pm) in detail. | And these are from Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, who has been studying the revised political declaration (see 12.17pm) in detail. |
| Excuse the long thread, but I have looked carefully at the #BrexitDeal negotiated by Boris Johnson. Here is my analysis: 1/ | Excuse the long thread, but I have looked carefully at the #BrexitDeal negotiated by Boris Johnson. Here is my analysis: 1/ |
| Labour’s concerns with Theresa May’s deal were not principally about the backstop. They were about the Political Declaration and our future relationship with the EU after Brexit. 2/ | Labour’s concerns with Theresa May’s deal were not principally about the backstop. They were about the Political Declaration and our future relationship with the EU after Brexit. 2/ |
| Having reviewed what has been agreed, it is clear that the Johnson deal is a far worse deal than Theresa May’s deal. It paves the way for a decade of deregulation. It gives Johnson licence to slash workers’ rights, environmental standards and consumer protections. 3/ | Having reviewed what has been agreed, it is clear that the Johnson deal is a far worse deal than Theresa May’s deal. It paves the way for a decade of deregulation. It gives Johnson licence to slash workers’ rights, environmental standards and consumer protections. 3/ |
| Rather than strengthening the Political Declaration (PD) along the lines Labour argued, the political direction of travel under Johnson is to a distant economic relationship with the EU. It rules out a new Customs Union and a close future relationship with the Single Market. 4/ | Rather than strengthening the Political Declaration (PD) along the lines Labour argued, the political direction of travel under Johnson is to a distant economic relationship with the EU. It rules out a new Customs Union and a close future relationship with the Single Market. 4/ |
| This inevitably means there will be new trade barriers with the EU and additional checks at borders. The PD is explicit about this. And the Johnson deal makes it easier for a Tory Government to cut rights and standards. 5/ | This inevitably means there will be new trade barriers with the EU and additional checks at borders. The PD is explicit about this. And the Johnson deal makes it easier for a Tory Government to cut rights and standards. 5/ |
| On services, the PD offers nothing beyond the weak provisions in the Theresa May deal. Nor has there been any progress on the question of agencies and our future security relationship. 6/ | On services, the PD offers nothing beyond the weak provisions in the Theresa May deal. Nor has there been any progress on the question of agencies and our future security relationship. 6/ |
| The level playing field commitments are significantly weaker: no longer building on the measures in the old Withdrawal Agreement, which provided for dynamic alignment in certain areas. 7/ | The level playing field commitments are significantly weaker: no longer building on the measures in the old Withdrawal Agreement, which provided for dynamic alignment in certain areas. 7/ |
| Instead, the level playing field provisions only last until the end of transition with a warning shot from the EU about the impact this will have on (reduced) access to EU markets. 8/ | Instead, the level playing field provisions only last until the end of transition with a warning shot from the EU about the impact this will have on (reduced) access to EU markets. 8/ |
| Labour will not support a flawed Brexit deal that harms jobs, rights and living standards. This deal will unquestionably do that. 9/ | Labour will not support a flawed Brexit deal that harms jobs, rights and living standards. This deal will unquestionably do that. 9/ |
| Labour cannot support this deal. If Boris Johnson has confidence in his deal, he should put it back to the people in a public vote against remain - and that is an argument we will be making on Saturday. 10/ | Labour cannot support this deal. If Boris Johnson has confidence in his deal, he should put it back to the people in a public vote against remain - and that is an argument we will be making on Saturday. 10/ |
| These are from my colleague Rowena Mason. | These are from my colleague Rowena Mason. |
| People’s Vote MPs pulling back from having any second ref vote on Saturday - say it’s now not the time, better to wait (they don’t have numbers among former Tory MPs) | People’s Vote MPs pulling back from having any second ref vote on Saturday - say it’s now not the time, better to wait (they don’t have numbers among former Tory MPs) |
| They claim it’s not because the Labour leadership isn’t supportive of second ref amendment but.... Jeremy Corbyn didn’t totally sound keen on it earlier | They claim it’s not because the Labour leadership isn’t supportive of second ref amendment but.... Jeremy Corbyn didn’t totally sound keen on it earlier |
| Could a non core PV MP table a second ref amendment though, thinking that support is worth testing? | Could a non core PV MP table a second ref amendment though, thinking that support is worth testing? |
| Politico Europe’s Jacopo Barigazzi has posted on Twitter a copy of a draft of the summit conclusions on Brexit. It does not say anything about whether the EU would or would not approve an extension if MPs were to vote down the deal. Instead it just invites the European commission, parliament and council “to take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on 1 November 2019, so as to provide for an orderly withdrawal”. | Politico Europe’s Jacopo Barigazzi has posted on Twitter a copy of a draft of the summit conclusions on Brexit. It does not say anything about whether the EU would or would not approve an extension if MPs were to vote down the deal. Instead it just invites the European commission, parliament and council “to take the necessary steps to ensure that the agreement can enter into force on 1 November 2019, so as to provide for an orderly withdrawal”. |
| Draft of #Euco Conclusions on Brexit that don’t talk about #Brexit #extension pic.twitter.com/cmFKROeKGo | Draft of #Euco Conclusions on Brexit that don’t talk about #Brexit #extension pic.twitter.com/cmFKROeKGo |
| Here is the latest story from the summit from my colleagues Daniel Boffey, Jennifer Rankin and Heather Stewart, focusing on Jean-Claude Juncker’s comments. | Here is the latest story from the summit from my colleagues Daniel Boffey, Jennifer Rankin and Heather Stewart, focusing on Jean-Claude Juncker’s comments. |
| Juncker seeks to sell Brexit deal by 'ruling out' further delay | Juncker seeks to sell Brexit deal by 'ruling out' further delay |
| And this is how it starts. | And this is how it starts. |
| Jean-Claude Juncker has tried to help sell the new Brexit deal in the face of opposition from the Democratic Unionist party by pouring doubt on a further Brexit extension in the event of it being rejected. | Jean-Claude Juncker has tried to help sell the new Brexit deal in the face of opposition from the Democratic Unionist party by pouring doubt on a further Brexit extension in the event of it being rejected. |
| With Boris Johnson facing an uphill struggle to secure a majority in the Commons when it sits on Saturday, the European commission president piled pressure on MPs who fear a no-deal Brexit into giving their support. | With Boris Johnson facing an uphill struggle to secure a majority in the Commons when it sits on Saturday, the European commission president piled pressure on MPs who fear a no-deal Brexit into giving their support. |
| Juncker said he was “ruling out” a prolongation, although the issue is solely the remit of the heads of state and government. “If we have a deal, we have a deal and there is no need for prolongation,” he added. | Juncker said he was “ruling out” a prolongation, although the issue is solely the remit of the heads of state and government. “If we have a deal, we have a deal and there is no need for prolongation,” he added. |
| The claim was not repeated by any EU leaders. Donald Tusk, the European council president, confined himself to saying that “a deal is always better than a no deal”. Sources in Brussels suggested that previous comments from Juncker in which he had said the bloc would never choose a no-deal Brexit were a “better reflection” of the EU’s position. | The claim was not repeated by any EU leaders. Donald Tusk, the European council president, confined himself to saying that “a deal is always better than a no deal”. Sources in Brussels suggested that previous comments from Juncker in which he had said the bloc would never choose a no-deal Brexit were a “better reflection” of the EU’s position. |
| Campaigning anti-Brexit QC Jolyon Maugham has now lodged his petition at the court of session in Edinburgh, which essentially tries to ban parliament from debating the new Brexit deal, on the basis that it is illegal, and which he anticipates will be heard tomorrow. | Campaigning anti-Brexit QC Jolyon Maugham has now lodged his petition at the court of session in Edinburgh, which essentially tries to ban parliament from debating the new Brexit deal, on the basis that it is illegal, and which he anticipates will be heard tomorrow. |
| Maugham believes that the deal contravenes s55 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, which states that it is “unlawful for Her Majesty’s government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain”. | Maugham believes that the deal contravenes s55 of the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, which states that it is “unlawful for Her Majesty’s government to enter into arrangements under which Northern Ireland forms part of a separate customs territory to Great Britain”. |
| With the detail of Boris Johnson’s new deal still emerging, lawyers insist that s55 is “crystal clear” and that any form of differentiated deal for Northern Ireland will contravene it. | With the detail of Boris Johnson’s new deal still emerging, lawyers insist that s55 is “crystal clear” and that any form of differentiated deal for Northern Ireland will contravene it. |
| So buckle up for a weekend of constitutional hijinks in Edinburgh. Remember that if Johnson refuses to sign an extension letter to the EU (should he fail to get the deal through on Saturday AND provided the court doesn’t blow the whole debate out of the water) then Maugham will be back in court on Monday ... this time with his fellow petitioners, Joanna Cherry, Dale Vince, who are notably absent from today’s petition. | So buckle up for a weekend of constitutional hijinks in Edinburgh. Remember that if Johnson refuses to sign an extension letter to the EU (should he fail to get the deal through on Saturday AND provided the court doesn’t blow the whole debate out of the water) then Maugham will be back in court on Monday ... this time with his fellow petitioners, Joanna Cherry, Dale Vince, who are notably absent from today’s petition. |
| Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, has already cleared time for an emergency hearing in the court of session at noon on Monday 21 October, where he could issue court orders forcing Johnson to send a letter to the EU asking for an extension to article 50 until 31 January as per the Benn act. | Lord Carloway, Scotland’s most senior judge, has already cleared time for an emergency hearing in the court of session at noon on Monday 21 October, where he could issue court orders forcing Johnson to send a letter to the EU asking for an extension to article 50 until 31 January as per the Benn act. |
| This is from Sir Craig Oliver, David Cameron’s former communications chief. | This is from Sir Craig Oliver, David Cameron’s former communications chief. |
| I suspect @BorisJohnson and his team think they have the numbers to pass the deal without the DUP - but even if they don’t, they get to run a populist election campaign, which should be enough. But it’s so volatile a change of just a few points could be disastrous. | I suspect @BorisJohnson and his team think they have the numbers to pass the deal without the DUP - but even if they don’t, they get to run a populist election campaign, which should be enough. But it’s so volatile a change of just a few points could be disastrous. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, welcomed the Brexit deal as he arrived at the EU summit earlier, but stressed that it still had to get through the UK and EU parliaments. “Based on past experience we have to be reasonably cautious,” he said. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, welcomed the Brexit deal as he arrived at the EU summit earlier, but stressed that it still had to get through the UK and EU parliaments. “Based on past experience we have to be reasonably cautious,” he said. |