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Brexit: MPs set for knife-edge vote on Boris Johnson's deal Brexit: Commons set for knife-edge votes on deal
(32 minutes later)
Parliament is sitting on a Saturday for the first time in 37 years to vote on Boris Johnson's Brexit deal. MPs are debating the PM's Brexit deal, amid uncertainty about whether the decisive vote on it will go ahead.
The PM is trying to convince MPs to support the agreement he secured with the EU, ahead of what is expected to be a knife-edge vote in the Commons. The PM is trying to convince MPs to support the agreement he secured with the EU, in Parliament's first Saturday session in 37 years.
Mr Johnson told MPs "now is the time to get this thing done", saying any delay beyond 31 October would be "corrosive".Mr Johnson told MPs "now is the time to get this thing done", saying any delay beyond 31 October would be "corrosive".
But MPs will debate a proposal that could delay Brexit again until all the necessary UK legislation is passed.But MPs will debate a proposal that could delay Brexit again until all the necessary UK legislation is passed.
Commons Speaker John Bercow has chosen an amendment that, if passed, would require the PM to ask for a further extension to the Brexit process by the end of Saturday. Commons Speaker John Bercow has chosen an amendment that, if passed, would require the PM to write to the EU by the end of the day to ask for a three-month extension to Brexit.
With the PM's former DUP allies and opposition parties planning to vote against the PM's deal, the vote is expected to be incredibly close. Downing Street has threatened to postpone the vote on the revised deal altogether if MPs vote for a Brexit delay.
At least nine Labour MPs are expected to support the government while the PM is hoping to be backed by some of the 21 Tory MPs he sacked for opposing him last month. If the vote does go ahead, it is expected to be incredibly close, with the PM's former DUP allies and opposition parties planning to vote against the PM's deal.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would "not be duped" into voting for an agreement which would leave the UK worse off.
However, at least nine Labour MPs are expected to support the government while the PM is hoping to be backed by some of the 21 Tory MPs he sacked for opposing him last month.
Steve Baker, the chairman of the European Research Group, a group of Tory Brexiteers, recommended its members vote in favour of the deal at a meeting on Saturday morning.Steve Baker, the chairman of the European Research Group, a group of Tory Brexiteers, recommended its members vote in favour of the deal at a meeting on Saturday morning.
MPs have assembled for the first weekend sitting since the invasion of the Falklands in 1982. Mr Johnson has defended the terms of of his revised EU withdrawal agreement at the start of the first weekend sitting since the invasion of the Falklands in 1982.
After making a statement, Mr Johnson will face MPs' questions before the House moves on to a debate about the deal, with votes not expected before 14.30 BST. 'Heal rifts'
Opening the debate, Mr Johnson urged MPs to come together to begin to "heal the rifts in British politics". He urged MPs to come together to begin to "heal the rifts in British politics", saying he believed a majority of MPs were committed to delivering the result of the 2016 referendum.
He said a majority of MPs were committed to delivering the result of the 2016 referendum and urged opponents to "abandon their delusion" that any further delay would help the UK. He suggested any further negotiations would be fruitless and urged opponents of Brexit to "abandon their delusion" that any further delay would help the UK.
"It is my judgement we have reached the best possible solution," he said. "In this crucial mission, there cannot be longer any argument for further delay." "It is my judgement we have reached the best possible solution," he said.
Letwin amendment "I must tell the House, in all candour, whatever letters they may seek to force the government to write, it cannot change my judgement that further delay is pointless, expensive and deeply corrosive of public trust."
Among the amendments chosen by Commons Speaker John Bercow is a controversial one put down by former Tory Sir Oliver Letwin, who now sits as an independent. After several hours of debate, there will be series of votes, not expected before 14.30 BST.
Among the amendments chosen by Speaker John Bercow to be voted on is a controversial one put down by former Tory Sir Oliver Letwin, who now sits as an independent.
This would withhold parliamentary support for the deal unless and until legislation implementing the agreement in UK law is passed by MPs.This would withhold parliamentary support for the deal unless and until legislation implementing the agreement in UK law is passed by MPs.
If this amendment is passed, it would force the prime minister to seek a further delay to Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline - under the terms of the Benn Act passed last month.If this amendment is passed, it would force the prime minister to seek a further delay to Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline - under the terms of the Benn Act passed last month.
The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said its "brutal effect" would be to deny the PM the opportunity of having the "conclusive" vote on his deal he so badly wants.The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said its "brutal effect" would be to deny the PM the opportunity of having the "conclusive" vote on his deal he so badly wants.
A No 10 source has said the vote on Mr Johnson's deal will be abandoned if the amendment is passed, saying it will "render the entire day meaningless".A No 10 source has said the vote on Mr Johnson's deal will be abandoned if the amendment is passed, saying it will "render the entire day meaningless".
"A vote for Letwin is a vote for delay and the whips will send everyone home," they said. "It would perfectly sum up this broken Parliament.""A vote for Letwin is a vote for delay and the whips will send everyone home," they said. "It would perfectly sum up this broken Parliament."
Former Tory Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is backing the amendment, told the BBC it was an "insurance policy" to ensure the UK did not leave the EU later this month without a deal if the necessary legislation was not passed in time or was scuppered by MPs.Former Tory Chancellor Philip Hammond, who is backing the amendment, told the BBC it was an "insurance policy" to ensure the UK did not leave the EU later this month without a deal if the necessary legislation was not passed in time or was scuppered by MPs.
"This cannot be the final vote because we don't know the full shape of the package," he told BBC Radio 4's Today."This cannot be the final vote because we don't know the full shape of the package," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
He insisted he was not trying to stop Brexit and it might only lead to a delay to the UK's departure of a matter of weeks.He insisted he was not trying to stop Brexit and it might only lead to a delay to the UK's departure of a matter of weeks.
Mr Johnson has repeatedly said Brexit will happen by the end of the month with or without a deal.Mr Johnson has repeatedly said Brexit will happen by the end of the month with or without a deal.
However, MPs passed a law in September, known as the Benn Act, which requires the PM to send a letter to the EU asking for an extension until January 2020 if a deal is not agreed - or if MPs do not back a no-deal Brexit.However, MPs passed a law in September, known as the Benn Act, which requires the PM to send a letter to the EU asking for an extension until January 2020 if a deal is not agreed - or if MPs do not back a no-deal Brexit.
And after three years of chicanery, on Saturday another decision will be put before the Commons - one that gives MPs what sounds like an elegant way to give only qualified approval to his deal, which might have brutal political effect.And after three years of chicanery, on Saturday another decision will be put before the Commons - one that gives MPs what sounds like an elegant way to give only qualified approval to his deal, which might have brutal political effect.
The Letwin amendment is at best is a mere insurance policy that avoids an accidental departure without a formal agreement.The Letwin amendment is at best is a mere insurance policy that avoids an accidental departure without a formal agreement.
But by the author Oliver Letwin's own admission, it blurs today's decision.But by the author Oliver Letwin's own admission, it blurs today's decision.
And at worst, it's seen by government as one more rock cast in the path towards departure, another excuse for reluctant MPs to apply the brakes.And at worst, it's seen by government as one more rock cast in the path towards departure, another excuse for reluctant MPs to apply the brakes.
So today may not be a moment of saying the simple yes or no the prime minister craves.So today may not be a moment of saying the simple yes or no the prime minister craves.
The Commons once more will be asked to pick, between this deal, no deal, or another delay.The Commons once more will be asked to pick, between this deal, no deal, or another delay.
But the prime minister will keep, and keep, trying to force a moment of clarity.But the prime minister will keep, and keep, trying to force a moment of clarity.
Read more from Laura hereRead more from Laura here
Mr Johnson's revised deal with the EU, secured at a Brussels summit on Thursday, ditches former PM Theresa May's backstop, the measure designed to prevent a return to physical checks on the Irish border.Mr Johnson's revised deal with the EU, secured at a Brussels summit on Thursday, ditches former PM Theresa May's backstop, the measure designed to prevent a return to physical checks on the Irish border.
Instead it will, in effect, draw a new customs border along the Irish Sea.Instead it will, in effect, draw a new customs border along the Irish Sea.
A number of Tory MPs who voted against Mrs May's agreement on all three occasions it was put to the Commons - the so-called "Spartans" - have said they will be supporting the deal.A number of Tory MPs who voted against Mrs May's agreement on all three occasions it was put to the Commons - the so-called "Spartans" - have said they will be supporting the deal.
These include Mark Francois, the deputy chairman of the ERG of Tory Brexiteers, Iain Duncan Smith and Bernard Jenkin.These include Mark Francois, the deputy chairman of the ERG of Tory Brexiteers, Iain Duncan Smith and Bernard Jenkin.
Also crucial to Mr Johnson's hopes of success will be the Tories who had the whip withdrawn for supporting a bill to force the PM to seek an extension to avoid a no-deal Brexit.Also crucial to Mr Johnson's hopes of success will be the Tories who had the whip withdrawn for supporting a bill to force the PM to seek an extension to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
Sir Nicholas Soames, who is one such former Tory, has indicated he will vote in favour of the deal, adding the other 20 would "by and large vote for it".
'Sell-out''Sell-out'
However, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists have made clear they will not be voting for the deal and have been trying to persuade hardline Brexiteers to follow their lead.However, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionists have made clear they will not be voting for the deal and have been trying to persuade hardline Brexiteers to follow their lead.
The vast majority of Labour MPs will oppose the deal, which Jeremy Corbyn has branded a "sell-out" which risked "triggering a race to the bottom on rights and protections". The vast majority of Labour MPs will oppose the deal, which Jeremy Corbyn has branded a "sell-out" and worse than Theresa May's agreement rejected three times by MPs.
Ahead of the vote, the government appears to have moved to allay concerns expressed by some Labour MPs by announcing that workers' rights and environmental standards will be boosted post-Brexit.Ahead of the vote, the government appears to have moved to allay concerns expressed by some Labour MPs by announcing that workers' rights and environmental standards will be boosted post-Brexit.
Downing Street confirmed its pledges followed discussions held with opposition MPs. Downing Street confirmed its pledges followed discussions held with opposition MPs but Mr Corbyn said these were "empty promises".
"These benches will not be duped," he said. "Supporting the government this afternoon will merely fire the starting pistol in a race to the bottom in regulations and standards."
On Friday, the governor of the Bank of England welcomed the new deal, saying it would take away the "risk of a disorderly Brexit" - but added it would not boost the economy to the same extent as the previous deal struck by Theresa May.On Friday, the governor of the Bank of England welcomed the new deal, saying it would take away the "risk of a disorderly Brexit" - but added it would not boost the economy to the same extent as the previous deal struck by Theresa May.
Mr Barclay said he disagreed that the new deal was not as good for the economy, saying it allowed the government to "secure trade deals" around the world.Mr Barclay said he disagreed that the new deal was not as good for the economy, saying it allowed the government to "secure trade deals" around the world.
Asked why the Treasury has not published analysis of the economic impact of the new deal, Mr Barclay replied: "The deal was only reached on Thursday.Asked why the Treasury has not published analysis of the economic impact of the new deal, Mr Barclay replied: "The deal was only reached on Thursday.
"We've only had two days.""We've only had two days."
On Saturday, thousands of people are expected in central London, to call for a so-called People's Vote, asking for a new referendum on the Brexit deal.On Saturday, thousands of people are expected in central London, to call for a so-called People's Vote, asking for a new referendum on the Brexit deal.