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Johnson will pull vote on Brexit agreement if amendment strengthening legislation against no-deal passes — reports Johnson will pull vote on Brexit agreement if amendment strengthening legislation against no-deal passes — reports
(30 minutes later)
Saturday’s crunch Brexit vote has been put into jeopardy as UK PM Boris Johnson will reportedly pull a vote on his EU Withdrawal Deal if MPs vote in favor of an amendment bolstering the legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit. Saturday’s crunch Brexit vote has been placed in jeopardy as UK PM Boris Johnson will reportedly pull a vote on his EU Withdrawal Deal should MPs greenlight an amendment bolstering the legislation to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
The amendment, put forward by former Conservative Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin, is predicted to be widely supported, meaning a subsequent vote on Johnson’s deal would not be a meaningful vote to approve it. The amendment was put forward by former Conservative Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin. As the House of Commons meets on a Saturday for the first time this century, speaker John Bercow has already confirmed that he had selected the amendment in question for a vote. The bill is expected to garner wide backing from lawmakers.
If it passes Downing Street will reportedly tell Tory MPs that they can go home rather than stay to participate in the vote, and it will bring forward the legislation required to ratify a deal later, local media reports. The Letwin amendment would withhold support for the prime minister’s Brexit deal until not only MPs, but also Lords have passed the formal ratification legislation. That will require time. Johnson has already said that if the Letwin amendment goes through, he fears that a vote on his deal won’t be "meaningful” anymore.
As the House of Commons meets on Saturday for the first time this century, speaker John Bercow, said that he had selected Letwin amendment’s for a vote. The proposal would withhold support for Prime Minister Johnson's Brexit deal until formal ratification legislation has passed.  In that case, reports say, Downing Street will tell Tory MPs that they can go home rather than stay to take part in the vote on Johnson’s agreement with the EU.
The amendment is designed to close a potential loophole in the Benn Act, the piece of legislation dubbed the Surrender Bill by Brexiteers, which was designed to prevent the UK leaving the European Union without a deal. The reason for the PM’s pessimism is that if Letwin’s proposal is indeed a success, he will be forced to ask the EU for another extension of Brexit due to the Benn Act – dubbed the Surrender Bill by Brexiteers. It requires asking the EU for an extension if MPs fail to agree on Johnson’s deal this Saturday.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Johnson said that he fears that Saturday’s vote won’t be meaningful if the Letwin amendment is passed and repeatedly urged lawmakers to back his deal, saying the public and the EU want to get Brexit done. 
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by imploring MPs to reject the deal, saying it is worse than former Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal and Johnson’s government can’t be trusted. A spokesperson for the party said it would would vote in favor of the Letwin amendment.
In fact, the Letwin amendment was aimed at closing any potential loopholes in the Benn Act, which was designed to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
If Letwin’s bill fails, MPs would vote on Johnson’s deal. However, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn had already urged MPs to reject it, saying the latest agreement with the EU is worse than former Prime Minister Theresa May’s deal and Johnson’s government can’t be trusted. A spokesperson for the party also confirmed it would vote in favor of the Letwin amendment.
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