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Brexit: MPs debate Boris Johnson's deal as thousands join People's Vote march – live news Brexit: MPs debate Boris Johnson's deal as thousands join People's Vote march – live news
(31 minutes later)
Michael Gove is up taking a conciliatory tone, stressing that he accepts everyone is acting in what he thinks are the best interests of the country.
But he says those he respects most are those from both benches who voted to remain but now are voting for the deal because it is the will of the British people.
On that basis, he says the speech that stood out was that by Theresa May who voted for remain but now wants to honour the result of the referendum.
Gove says MPs should be prepared to put aside “our perfect Brexit” for the sake of the common good.
He says if there is a vote to delay people will feel that parliament has shirked its responsibilities.
Asked a question about how the government will avoid a no deal if it is passed but legislation is not passed on time, Gove says the best way to avoid that is to vote for the government’s deal.
If the amendment is passed there will be no meaningful vote today, he says.
If parliament votes for the deal unamended people will feel “like a cloud has lifted”, he claims.
Another Tory who had the whip withdrawn has confirmed he will vote for Boris Johnson’s deal.
I shall vote against The Letwin amendment and for the Deal
As the Brexit debate continues, so do Ukip’s travails.
It has taken steps to suspend its leader Richard Braine amid a fresh power struggle within the party, my colleague Aaron Walawalkar writes.
Ukip attempts to suspend leader amid fresh power struggle within party
A man has been arrested for trespass within the Palace of Westminster.
At 1323hrs, officers arrested a 29-year-old man at the Palace of Westminster for trespassing at a protected site.He has been taken to a south London police station.Enquiries ongoing.
Just before I spotted Jared O’Mara the police pinned someone to the ground outside Westminster Hall. So you could say it’s been an eventful half an hour. pic.twitter.com/8GBpzb9QDO
Antoinette Sandbach, who had the Tory whip withdrawn last month, says she will back the Letwin amendment.
Making the point that she has voted for a Brexit deal more times than the prime minister, she says Johnson’s deal is “substantially worse”:
I’m not saying much about the deal. I was always taught that if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing.
She also says she would vote for an amendment in favour of a people’s vote if there was an opportunity to do so.
The Lib Dems’ Tom Brake says the PM is a “colourful Pied Piper” who struck the deal to further his own ambition.
Brake says Boris Johnson himself has said the deal may not survive the transition period and could still lead to a no-deal crash-out
He advocates a people’s vote, referencing “the hundreds of thousands of people over there in Parliament Square”.
Brake urges MPs to support the Letwin amendment and reject the deal.
The Tory MP and former cabinet member, Liam Fox, says the amendment will not take EU off the table, as the government would be forced to ask the EU for any extension. The only way to prevent no deal is to vote for the PM’s deal, says Fox.
He says the government made a contract with the British people.
It’s a question of faith in our electoral system itself.
He says he has “strong reservations” about the deal but it’s time to deliver. Fox also voted three times for Theresa May’s deal.
The veteran Tory Eurosceptic, Bill Cash, has confirmed he will vote for the deal. He was a doubt for the government.
While the debate goes on in parliament ...While the debate goes on in parliament ...
Kate Willoughby, actor, said: “I believe that woman like Emily Davison and Mary Leigh would be here today because 100 years ago only some women had the right to vote. Today only some voices are being heard in parliament. It’s time for people to have the final say.” #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/KNMbqkAwkfKate Willoughby, actor, said: “I believe that woman like Emily Davison and Mary Leigh would be here today because 100 years ago only some women had the right to vote. Today only some voices are being heard in parliament. It’s time for people to have the final say.” #PeoplesVote pic.twitter.com/KNMbqkAwkf
"We've already got the best deal with Europe so why would we give that up," says Becky Wing, from Thanet Green Party. "This deal would put workers rights, animal rights, environmental protections and the NHS at huge risk. We want a people's vote." #PeoplesVoteMarch pic.twitter.com/ezdPlTJZCA"We've already got the best deal with Europe so why would we give that up," says Becky Wing, from Thanet Green Party. "This deal would put workers rights, animal rights, environmental protections and the NHS at huge risk. We want a people's vote." #PeoplesVoteMarch pic.twitter.com/ezdPlTJZCA
"It's been three years of lying from Johnson, Farage and Rees-Mogg," says Josh from Uxbridge. "I'm here both because I disagree with the actual decision to leave and how the process has been corrupted by Leave EU and others. Every element of Brexit is a complete mess." pic.twitter.com/WVIWDwavFs"It's been three years of lying from Johnson, Farage and Rees-Mogg," says Josh from Uxbridge. "I'm here both because I disagree with the actual decision to leave and how the process has been corrupted by Leave EU and others. Every element of Brexit is a complete mess." pic.twitter.com/WVIWDwavFs
The Speaker, John Bercow, had placed a five-minute rule on contributions from MPs. He has now reduced it to three minutes.The Speaker, John Bercow, had placed a five-minute rule on contributions from MPs. He has now reduced it to three minutes.
Chris Grayling uses his time to pay tribute to the prime minister and urge people to accept the deal.Chris Grayling uses his time to pay tribute to the prime minister and urge people to accept the deal.
Grayling also warns the Letwin amendment, if passed, may cause the house to decline to decide on a deal today.Grayling also warns the Letwin amendment, if passed, may cause the house to decline to decide on a deal today.
The DUP’s Sammy Wilson made a furious contribution in which he also suggested the party’s MPs would back the Letwin amendment.
Now the DUP's Sammy Wilson is up, and he's furious. Says if the plans for customs checks between NI and GB aren't a hard border, he doesn't know what is. Their effect will be, "we are cut off from the country to which we belong."
BIG: Sammy Wilson of DUP hints they will back the Letwin amendment. That could swing it. #SuperSaturday
More from the march.
Tens of thousands of people here marching down Park Lane #PeoplesVoteMarch pic.twitter.com/ZfmwjZW2Id
"It's going to wreck my charcuterie company, my community and everything I've ever stood for," says Rachel Hammond from Northumberland, whose brother Daniel plays the trumpet. "We need to stay in the EU and encourage people to engage more in politics. We need an informed vote." pic.twitter.com/CceL3L0DyH
"The Brexit phenomenon is in line with a move towards the hard right that we're seeing across the world," says Roger silverman, editor of magazine On The Brink. "There's going to be a great movement of resistance to stop the gains of the last century being snatched away from us." pic.twitter.com/CTpEDUNbfa
"I'm French, been here 25 years," says Thierry Latorre, a history teacher in the Midlands. "I've been paying tax for nothing. It's ridiculous. Now Im thinking, do they really want me? It was long & laborious going through the settled status process, it felt intrusive and unfair." pic.twitter.com/3L3IwDgQ84
Ken Clarke, former Tory chancellor, home secretary and more, says what we have before us is “undoubtedly a bad deal” and worse than that proposed by Theresa May.
But now the choice is very real.
He says he’s worried that the purpose of the convoluted agreement over Ireland was so the rest of the UK could be taken out of the customs union straight away.
The Canada deal took nine years to put in place, says Clarke. But he says all along he has been determined to avoid a no-deal Brexit.
We should support this deal.
Some pro-Brexit protesters have been ushered away from the People’s Vote march.
A handful of pro-Brexit protesters are quickly whisked away by the police after loud boos from those on the march #PeopleVoteMarch pic.twitter.com/jmTVrd5qc3
Labour’s Peter Kyle responds to Theresa May, saying there was a promise not to create a border in the Irish Sea but that is what has happened.
He also says the original referendum was ill-defined. If you want to know what the British people think now: “Ask them.”
The Lib Dems’ Sam Gyimah (formerly of the Conservatives of course) asks Kyle if he agrees that any deal should be put to a people’s vote.
Kyle says he voted for three different versions of Brexit but it’s got to the point that there are so many different versions of Brexit that there is “irreconcilable division” in the house. The public must have a say, he concludes.
Theresa May speaks. She tells a slightly stodgy anecdote about Jonny May scoring two tries for England in the rugby.
Saying she feels a sense of déjà vu, May says:
I intend to rebel against all of those who don’t want to vote to deliver Brexit.
She says the SNP has a history of rejecting the results of referendums. The former prime minister says if parliament doesn’t back the deal “it is guilty of the most egregious con tricks on the British people”.
If you don’t want no deal you have to vote for a deal. Businesses are crying out for certainty. People want certainty in their lives.
She concludes by saying if you want the country to move forward, vote for the deal today.
More from the People’s Vote march.
Gareth Ellner, 37, dressed up as a Brexit unicorn called “Sunlit uplands”, said:
I like dressing up and I thought we have been promised the unicorn and I thought it’s right for everyone to get a unicorn.
Ellner said he’s worried by the events taking place in parliament.
I’m concerned that Boris has told enough lies to enough people to get it [the deal] through.
He is still holding out hope for a second referendum.
We didn’t know what we were voting to. I am ashamedly one of the voters who voted leave because I thought screw David Cameron. I was politically naive but recent events have made me more political active.”
One man pointed to Ellner’s costume and asked: “It’s not a sexual thing?” before taking a photo with him.
Gareth Ellner, 37, dressed up as a Brexit unicorn called ‘Sunlit uplands’. He said: “I like dressing up and I thought we have been promised the unicorn...” #PeopleVoteMarch pic.twitter.com/vEnvIti8kT
The former Labour MP Jared O’Mara, who had said he would resign from parliament in September, has been spotted in the house.
Jared O’Mara *is* in Parliament. Just spotted him walking through the cloisters.
Breaking: I have just walked past the honourable member for Sheffield Hallam. He is on the estate.
The SNP leader in Westminster, Ian Blackford, says the deal gives Northern Ireland a competitive advantage over Scotland. He says Northern Ireland is effectively being kept in the customs union, which is what Scotland wanted.
This prime minister and his Brexit fan club in No 10 don’t care about Scotland.
He says it was “dishonesty and lies” by Vote Leave that brought this country to vote for Brexit.
This is the beginning and end of their precious union.
Whether the deal is passed or not today, an extension is needed and there should be an election to get rid of this “rotten government”, says Blackford.
Former cabinet minister Justine Greening, who had the Tory whip withdrawn, says the house is being given an “impossible choice”. She likens it to buying a house without going inside.
Greening – along with fellow Tory exiles Dominic Grieve and Guto Bebb – has previously made clear she wants a second referendum.