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Brexit: What to expect from Parliament's Saturday sitting | Brexit: What to expect from Parliament's Saturday sitting |
(32 minutes later) | |
Parliament is sitting on a Saturday for the first time in 37 years to debate and vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal - here is what to expect. | Parliament is sitting on a Saturday for the first time in 37 years to debate and vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal - here is what to expect. |
What time is Parliament sitting? | What time is Parliament sitting? |
MPs will gather in the House of Commons at 09:30 BST - we don't know what time they will finish. | MPs will gather in the House of Commons at 09:30 BST - we don't know what time they will finish. |
Peers sit a little later at 10:00 and are due to finish at 15:00. | |
What will happen then? | What will happen then? |
Commons proceedings will get under way with a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as confirmed by Saturday's order paper. | Commons proceedings will get under way with a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as confirmed by Saturday's order paper. |
He is expected to take questions on his Brexit deal from MPs for a couple of hours. | He is expected to take questions on his Brexit deal from MPs for a couple of hours. |
The main debate on the deal will follow. Commons Speaker John Bercow will reveal which amendments - suggested changes to the government's motion asking MPs to approve the deal - have been selected. | The main debate on the deal will follow. Commons Speaker John Bercow will reveal which amendments - suggested changes to the government's motion asking MPs to approve the deal - have been selected. |
A government minister, yet to be confirmed by Downing Street, will then open the debate. | |
What time can the voting start on Mr Johnson's deal? | What time can the voting start on Mr Johnson's deal? |
It's likely to begin after 14:30. | |
If there are amendments selected by the Speaker, the votes on these will be held first. | If there are amendments selected by the Speaker, the votes on these will be held first. |
So we can't at this stage say exactly when the vote on the prime minister's deal will be held. | |
But things may become clearer at the start of the debate on Saturday. | |
What happens if MPs vote for the deal? | What happens if MPs vote for the deal? |
If the government motion is passed by MPs without any amendments, it will just be the first stage of getting the deal into law. | |
The government is likely to want to move quickly so it can meet Boris Johnson's 31 October deadline. | |
The Withdrawal Amendment Bill, which implements the legally-binding treaty, could be presented to Parliament early next week. | The Withdrawal Amendment Bill, which implements the legally-binding treaty, could be presented to Parliament early next week. |
If the government motion is passed with amendments, then a delay to Brexit becomes more likely. | |
What happens if MPs reject the government's motion? | What happens if MPs reject the government's motion? |
If MPs reject the deal, there is the possibility they could be given the chance to vote in favour of a no-deal Brexit - listed as a second government motion on the Commons order paper. | If MPs reject the deal, there is the possibility they could be given the chance to vote in favour of a no-deal Brexit - listed as a second government motion on the Commons order paper. |
However, MPs have previously rejected the proposals of leaving without a deal, so it's unlikely this motion will pass if it is put to the House. | |
So, with no approval for either a deal or no-deal, the prime minister will have to write to the EU to request a Brexit extension. | So, with no approval for either a deal or no-deal, the prime minister will have to write to the EU to request a Brexit extension. |
What are the amendments? | What are the amendments? |
MPs have tabled three amendments to the government motion so far. However, this does not mean they will automatically be debated and voted on by MPs - Mr Bercow will have to select them for debate. | MPs have tabled three amendments to the government motion so far. However, this does not mean they will automatically be debated and voted on by MPs - Mr Bercow will have to select them for debate. |
There are two from the SNP: | |
Mr Blackford has called on opposition parties to "quit dithering, back our amendment, and finally act to bring this appalling Tory government down and stop Brexit". | Mr Blackford has called on opposition parties to "quit dithering, back our amendment, and finally act to bring this appalling Tory government down and stop Brexit". |
He and his party are against Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, which Mr Blackford has said would be "devastating for Scotland". | He and his party are against Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, which Mr Blackford has said would be "devastating for Scotland". |
The third amendment, which has cross-party support, increasing its chances of being selected, is: | The third amendment, which has cross-party support, increasing its chances of being selected, is: |
Labour's Hilary Benn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts - as well as former ministers David Gauke and Philip Hammond - have thrown their weight behind this proposal. | Labour's Hilary Benn, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson and Plaid Cymru's Westminster leader Liz Saville Roberts - as well as former ministers David Gauke and Philip Hammond - have thrown their weight behind this proposal. |
Mr Letwin's aim is to prevent a no-deal Brexit, even if MPs back Mr Johnson's deal. He his concerned that some MPs who vote for it might change their mind as the legislation passes through Parliament - or it could be held up in the House of Lords. | Mr Letwin's aim is to prevent a no-deal Brexit, even if MPs back Mr Johnson's deal. He his concerned that some MPs who vote for it might change their mind as the legislation passes through Parliament - or it could be held up in the House of Lords. |
So, if this proposal - you'll hear it referred to as the "Letwin amendment" - is passed by MPs along with Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, the prime minister would still have to write a letter on Saturday requesting a further postponement of Brexit until 31 January. | So, if this proposal - you'll hear it referred to as the "Letwin amendment" - is passed by MPs along with Mr Johnson's Brexit deal, the prime minister would still have to write a letter on Saturday requesting a further postponement of Brexit until 31 January. |
Why is the Letwin amendment significant? | Why is the Letwin amendment significant? |
The latest gambit by the alliance of MPs around Sir Oliver Letwin looks like a real problem for the government whips, writes our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy. | The latest gambit by the alliance of MPs around Sir Oliver Letwin looks like a real problem for the government whips, writes our parliamentary correspondent Mark D'Arcy. |
The lesson of the Brexit battles so far is that it is the cross-party amendments and motions that are the most dangerous. | The lesson of the Brexit battles so far is that it is the cross-party amendments and motions that are the most dangerous. |
Single party proposals are mostly efforts to signal a position, it's the proposals that MPs from several parties can sign up to that pose a more serious threat. | Single party proposals are mostly efforts to signal a position, it's the proposals that MPs from several parties can sign up to that pose a more serious threat. |
It's a cunningly crafted proposition which, crucially, could be voted for by MPs who want a deal, but don't trust this one, and don't trust the government. | It's a cunningly crafted proposition which, crucially, could be voted for by MPs who want a deal, but don't trust this one, and don't trust the government. |
It rests on the idea that were Parliament to approve the deal for the purposes of the Benn Act now, there might then be a danger that the subsequent legislation to enact it might be, somehow, derailed, resulting in a no-deal exit on 31 October. | It rests on the idea that were Parliament to approve the deal for the purposes of the Benn Act now, there might then be a danger that the subsequent legislation to enact it might be, somehow, derailed, resulting in a no-deal exit on 31 October. |
Read Mark's full blog | Read Mark's full blog |
What happens if the Letwin amendment passes? | What happens if the Letwin amendment passes? |
If it passes, and the main motion - approval for Mr Johnson's Brexit deal - passes as amended: | If it passes, and the main motion - approval for Mr Johnson's Brexit deal - passes as amended: |