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Saturday's Brexit votes in Parliament: What's going on and what time is the vote? | |
(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 is happening? | What is happening? |
MPs began their special session at just after 09:30 BST. We don't know what time they will finish amid uncertainty over the votes. | MPs began their special session at just after 09:30 BST. We don't know what time they will finish amid uncertainty over the votes. |
Peers started their debate at 10:00 and are due to finish at 15:00. | |
Commons proceedings got under way with a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a response from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. | Commons proceedings got under way with a statement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson and a response from Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. |
The prime minister took questions on his Brexit deal from MPs for nearly two hours - and they are now debating the government motion on it. | The prime minister took questions on his Brexit deal from MPs for nearly two hours - and they are now debating the government motion on it. |
What time will voting get under way? | What time will voting get under way? |
It's likely to begin after 14:30 but the timings have yet to be announced. | It's likely to begin after 14:30 but the timings have yet to be announced. |
There could be up to four votes - or no votes at all. | There could be up to four votes - or no votes at all. |
Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected two amendments to be voted on by MPs. | Commons Speaker John Bercow has selected two amendments to be voted on by MPs. |
They are: | They are: |
The first vote will be on the Letwin amendment, if it is moved. | The first vote will be on the Letwin amendment, if it is moved. |
This could be followed by a vote on the main government motion - whether or not to back the deal. | This could be followed by a vote on the main government motion - whether or not to back the deal. |
The government does not want this vote to happen if MPs back the Letwin amendment, as it could delay Brexit. | The government does not want this vote to happen if MPs back the Letwin amendment, as it could delay Brexit. |
It is not clear at this stage how they would prevent the vote happening - it's possible Tory MPs could abstain - but the motion has already been tabled. | It is not clear at this stage how they would prevent the vote happening - it's possible Tory MPs could abstain - but the motion has already been tabled. |
If it does take place, and MPs reject the deal, we could then move to votes on a second government motion on whether or not there should be a no-deal Brexit. | If it does take place, and MPs reject the deal, we could then move to votes on a second government motion on whether or not there should be a no-deal Brexit. |
Before a vote takes place on that, MPs could get a chance to vote on the cross-party amendment rejecting a no-deal Brexit and seeking another referendum. | Before a vote takes place on that, MPs could get a chance to vote on the cross-party amendment rejecting a no-deal Brexit and seeking another referendum. |
MPs would then vote for a fourth time - on the government no-deal motion. We know there is a majority in the Commons against a no-deal Brexit, so this would be unlikely to pass. | |
Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the government has said it plans to push ahead with the legislation enacting the treaty agreed by Boris Johnson in Brussels - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. | Regardless of what happens on Saturday, the government has said it plans to push ahead with the legislation enacting the treaty agreed by Boris Johnson in Brussels - the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. |
They plan to hold the second reading of that bill on Tuesday, which would give MPs a chance to register their support - or not - for Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. | They plan to hold the second reading of that bill on Tuesday, which would give MPs a chance to register their support - or not - for Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. |
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 being amended, it will just be the first stage of getting the deal into law. | If the government motion is passed by MPs without being amended, 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 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, will be presented to Parliament early next week - something the government now plans to do whatever happens in Parliament on Saturday. | |
How can you follow the debate? | How can you follow the debate? |
You can find out the latest developments on the BBC News website and app, where we'll have live coverage in text and video, and analysis from our experts. | You can find out the latest developments on the BBC News website and app, where we'll have live coverage in text and video, and analysis from our experts. |
There will also be coverage on BBC One from 09:00 to 13:15, BBC Two from 13:15 to 16:30, and continuous coverage on the BBC News Channel. | There will also be coverage on BBC One from 09:00 to 13:15, BBC Two from 13:15 to 16:30, and continuous coverage on the BBC News Channel. |
There will also be extended editions of BBC News at Six and News at Ten, as well as a special edition of BBC Newsnight. | There will also be extended editions of BBC News at Six and News at Ten, as well as a special edition of BBC Newsnight. |
Why is the Letwin amendment significant? | Why is the Letwin amendment significant? |
By the BBC's Parliamentary Correspondent Mark D'Arcy | |
The government seems to be all but conceding that the Letwin amendment will pass, and is making its dispositions accordingly - announcing plans to hold a "meaningful vote" on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill on Tuesday. | |
This would corner MPs into a Yes/No vote on their deal, and given there are a fair number of Labour rebels, the government could well win. | |
Certainly, the vote would put any number of Labour MPs - and MPs for other parties - from Brexit-voting constituencies in a very awkward place. | |
Watch out for an attempt to attach a second referendum to the deal in some way. | |
But the success of that effort would require full-throated support (and whipping of their MPs) from the Labour Party. They are not there yet, and they may never be. | |
If the government wins a "meaningful vote" on Tuesday, the legislation to underpin the new deal would then go forward - and that would provide further opportunities to attempt amendments. | |
Winning the next meaningful vote is only the beginning of a new phase of Brexit; it's not even the beginning of the end. | |
Read Mark's full blog | Read Mark's full blog |