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| Brexit: MPs set to pass withdrawal agreement bill – live news | Brexit: MPs set to pass withdrawal agreement bill – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Follow the latest political developments as MPs are due to vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill and Clive Lewis becomes the second Labour MP to enter party’s leadership contest | Follow the latest political developments as MPs are due to vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill and Clive Lewis becomes the second Labour MP to enter party’s leadership contest |
| Boris Johnson has insisted leave and remain labels are now defunct as he moved to push Brexit legislation through Parliament, according to PA’s write up of the prime minister’s speech. | |
| After months of delay and deadlock, the PM said now is the time to act and forge a new relationship with the rest of Europe. | |
| Johnson, moving the European Union (withdrawal agreement) bill at second reading, urged parliament to come together and allow the “warmth and natural affection that we all share” for the UK’s European neighbours to “find renewed expression in one great new national project”. | |
| The PM told MPs the bill must not be seen as a victory for one party or faction before adding: “This is the time when we move on and discard the old labels of leave and remain. | |
| Johnson said: | |
| SNP spin doctors have been described as at best “patronising” after the leak of an email to broadcasters giving them tips on how to interview Tories about Scottish independence. | |
| The Times Scotland reports this morning that the SNP’s email to journalists offered advice on how to ensure Tory interviewees are “tied in knots” over their opposition to a second referendum, and urged broadcasters to “rigorously” scrutinise their answers. This came as news to all those journalists who thought that they were already doing just that to all politicians, regardless of party. | |
| Indeed, one recent example might by the interview of Scottish secretary Alister Jack, on Good Morning Scotland earlier today. Interestingly, Jack did not immediately dismiss Nicola Sturgeon’s formal request for transfer of powers to hold a second vote: he said that Johnson would “give it careful consideration and reply in the new year”. | |
| Challenged about whether the Tories were ignoring the election mandate, Jack insisted that recent polling showed Scots did not want another referendum, and said accused the SNP of changing their argument at the end of the election campaign “away from indyref2 because they were losing, and they hardened their position on Brexit. They were fighting the election in the last ten days over Brexit”. | |
| Asked whether continued Tory refusal would, as Sturgeon has suggested, increase support for independence, Jack warned that the first minister’s call to devolve the power to hold referendums permanently to Holyrood would result in “perpetual neverendums”. | |
| Tory backbencher Suella Braverman claims trust in politicians was stretched to breaking point in the last parliament. | |
| Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of DUP in the Commons, says that European Union will continue to have a say in Northern Ireland affairs under the bill. | |
| I want the prime minister to treat my part of the United Kingdom the same as the rest of the country when it comes to leaving the European Union, Donaldson says. | |
| We don’t want barriers to trade with the rest of the country, he said. Citing a Treasury report also mentioned by Corbyn, Donaldson said it is clear that checks will take place despite Johnson’s pledge of no border checks. | |
| The former de facto deputy prime minister, Damian Green, urges those who voted to remain to accept the result of the referendum and stop trying to subvert Brexit. “Please accept the decision and move on,” Green said. | |
| Green adds: “We should stop defining ourselves as leavers or remainers. The last few years have been miserable for democracy. The longer we fight past battles the longer that misery will persist.” | |
| Labour’s Hilary Benn says the PM has chosen to gamble with a cliff edge Brexit by trying to outlaw extending the implementation period in the bid. | |
| He says the government will need to be confident no extension is needed by the end of June. | |
| Benn also laments the lack of an economic impact assessment on the future trading relationship with the EU. He says history will judge this as deeply irresponsible. | |
| Labour has released the full text of Corbyn’s speech on the withdrawal bill: | Labour has released the full text of Corbyn’s speech on the withdrawal bill: |
| Sajid Javid is still on message: | Sajid Javid is still on message: |
| Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in the Commons, says the PM has no mandate to drag Scotland out of the EU against its will. He said Scotland will be made poorer by Brexit and it is already having an impact on the Scottish economy. | Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in the Commons, says the PM has no mandate to drag Scotland out of the EU against its will. He said Scotland will be made poorer by Brexit and it is already having an impact on the Scottish economy. |
| Former international trade secretary, Liam Fox, says the bill is about fulfilling a promise to the British people. | Former international trade secretary, Liam Fox, says the bill is about fulfilling a promise to the British people. |
| Corbyn challenges Johnson’s commitment to have no checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He says more checks will have a devastating impact on the economy. | Corbyn challenges Johnson’s commitment to have no checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. He says more checks will have a devastating impact on the economy. |
| Corbyn urges the PM to commit to ensure that workers’ rights don’t slip behind those in the EU. | |
| He says the removal of the commitment to refugee children is an “absolute disgrace”. Quoting the charity Safe Passage he says the move is “shocking” and could result in tragic consequences. | |
| Responding Jeremy Corbyn says Labour recognises the nation’s desire to move on from the referendum debate. | |
| But he says the Brexit deal will be used as a battering ram to deregulate the UK and leave it open to the excesses of the free market. | But he says the Brexit deal will be used as a battering ram to deregulate the UK and leave it open to the excesses of the free market. |
| He claims the deal is a roadmap for the reckless direction the prime minister is determined to take the UK. | He claims the deal is a roadmap for the reckless direction the prime minister is determined to take the UK. |
| “We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the EU,” Corbyn says. | “We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for this country to leave the EU,” Corbyn says. |
| Johnson says: “If this house comes together now to support this bill ... history will record that the first act of this new parliament in its earliest days was to break the ice flows and find a new way through. | |
| “Now is the moment to come together and write a new chapter in this nation’s history,” he says in closing his remarks. | “Now is the moment to come together and write a new chapter in this nation’s history,” he says in closing his remarks. |
| The possible Labour leadership contender Lisa Nandy intervenes to challenge Johnson to show “decency” on child refugees. | The possible Labour leadership contender Lisa Nandy intervenes to challenge Johnson to show “decency” on child refugees. |
| “If he thinks that people in towns like mine … want to see us turn our back on decency and tolerance and kindness and warmth and empathy he is wrong,” she said. | |
| Johnson says the UK will accept unaccompanied children but not overseen by the EU. | Johnson says the UK will accept unaccompanied children but not overseen by the EU. |
| He says the essence of the opportunity of Brexit is that parliament can take decisions for itself on this and environmental standards. | He says the essence of the opportunity of Brexit is that parliament can take decisions for itself on this and environmental standards. |
| He goes on to talk about the government’s “unwavering commitment” to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. | He goes on to talk about the government’s “unwavering commitment” to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. |
| Steven Swinford picks out these lines: | Steven Swinford picks out these lines: |
| Johnson insists the government is commitment to taking unaccompanied refugee children from Europe despite the withdrawal of provisions on this from the bill. | Johnson insists the government is commitment to taking unaccompanied refugee children from Europe despite the withdrawal of provisions on this from the bill. |