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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)
MPs are to vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill, and Clive Lewis becomes the second Labour MP to enter party’s leadership contestMPs are to vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill, and Clive Lewis becomes the second Labour MP to enter party’s leadership contest
Some of your questions so far have been about the opposition and a second referendum on Scottish independence:
Q: This is the first big majority in parliament in over a decade. How will the opposition now operate in parliament since they are unlikley to be able to defeat the government on any legislation? Craig, 36, works in the public sector, Stirling
The majority Conservative government is new ground for many opposition MPs and for those who took their seats in 2017. They have never operated in a majority scenario before. You might expect tighter whipping as the last thing Labour needs is to look divided in the face of huge majority votes that pass with ease. When there’s only 202 Labour MPs, every vote counts.
You might also see informal discussions with the SNP, the Lib Dems, Plaid Cymru and Green on votes and working as a bloc. While they will not be able to overcome the Tory majority of 80, unity between those parties is in the very least a visual message to the public that the government is scrutinised and opposed. There will also be a scramble for opposition MPs to get the chair position on select committees, which is a powerful way of holding the government to account.
Q: The SNP received a larger share of the vote in Scotland (45%) to the Conservatives in the UK (44%). Do you think that Boris’ position to “not permit” a second referendum on Scottish independence is democratically sustainable? James Munro, 53, architect, Glasgow
Boris Johnson was extremely firm on this in the Queen’s speech when the SNP brought up independence. He is 100 per cent against it and the power to grant another independence vote is in his hands. I think he will stick to this and will not bend to pressure. That does not of course stop the debate raging within the Commons throughout his entire premiership. I do think the first 12 months will be the time for Sturgeon to capitalise on her share of the vote in Scotland and I think we can expect her coming down to Westminster to hold press conferences and meetings with her MPs with more frequency.
The SDLP’s Claire Hanna used her maiden Commons speech to warn that Brexit “reopens old wounds” in Northern Ireland. She said:
Hanna said Brexit “fed off” people who felt lost and disenfranchised in the political system, adding: “I fear it will leave them feeling much worse.” She also said:
I’m Kate Proctor, a political correspondent for the Guardian, and I will be answering any questions you have on the general election results today. I have been covering politics for six years, locally and nationally, and arrived in the lobby at Westminster the day after Jeremy Corbyn became leader of the Labour party. Before joining the Guardian I worked for the Evening Standard for three years as their political reporter, and was the Yorkshire Post’s political correspondent.
If you have a question you can send it to us by filling in the form here.
Mark Francois, the deputy chairman of the European Research Group, said the election has broken the logjam of the last parliament over Brexit.
He said he wished anti-Brexit protester Steve Bray, a “happy and silent retirement” after he came sixth in the seat of Cynon Valley for the Liberal Democrats in the election.
“All I want to for Christmas is not EU,” Francois said.
At the end of her speech backbench Tory MP Rachel Maclean said: “I want to wish everybody a very Merry Brexmas.”At the end of her speech backbench Tory MP Rachel Maclean said: “I want to wish everybody a very Merry Brexmas.”
Labour’s Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) said the Conservative election slogan “Get Brexit Done” was misleading.Labour’s Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) said the Conservative election slogan “Get Brexit Done” was misleading.
She said: “Brexit isn’t going to be done. The challenges of the next stage are infinitely more complex than the first.”She said: “Brexit isn’t going to be done. The challenges of the next stage are infinitely more complex than the first.”
Matthew Pennycook, Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, added:Matthew Pennycook, Labour MP for Greenwich and Woolwich, added:
Number 10 has released the full text of Boris Johnson’s speech opening the debate. Here it is with a few gaps for interjections:Number 10 has released the full text of Boris Johnson’s speech opening the debate. Here it is with a few gaps for interjections:
Lord Dubs, the Labour peer who came to the UK as a refugee in 1939 on the Kindertransport and forced the government to promise to give sanctuary to some unaccompanied child refugees, has reacted with dismay to the removal of these provisions from the bill.Lord Dubs, the Labour peer who came to the UK as a refugee in 1939 on the Kindertransport and forced the government to promise to give sanctuary to some unaccompanied child refugees, has reacted with dismay to the removal of these provisions from the bill.
Today, Kate Proctor, a political correspondent for the Guardian, will answer your questions about the general election result and what happens next between 12.30 and 1.30pm.Today, Kate Proctor, a political correspondent for the Guardian, will answer your questions about the general election result and what happens next between 12.30 and 1.30pm.
You can ask your question via our form here.You can ask your question via our form here.
Here’s a brief morning summary:Here’s a brief morning summary:
Boris Johnson has called on the British public to discard the labels of leave and remain as MPs prepared to take a historic step towards withdrawing the UK from the EU. Opening the debate on the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill he said: “We come together as a new parliament to break the deadlock and finally to get Brexit done.”Boris Johnson has called on the British public to discard the labels of leave and remain as MPs prepared to take a historic step towards withdrawing the UK from the EU. Opening the debate on the second reading of the withdrawal agreement bill he said: “We come together as a new parliament to break the deadlock and finally to get Brexit done.”
Jeremy Corbyn, confirmed his party would continue to oppose the bill despite calls in his shadow cabinet to move on from the referendum by supporting it. He said: “This deal will be used as a battering ram to drive us down the path towards more deregulation and towards a toxic deal with Donald Trump that will sell out our NHS and push up the price of medicines. We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for Britain to leave the EU.”Jeremy Corbyn, confirmed his party would continue to oppose the bill despite calls in his shadow cabinet to move on from the referendum by supporting it. He said: “This deal will be used as a battering ram to drive us down the path towards more deregulation and towards a toxic deal with Donald Trump that will sell out our NHS and push up the price of medicines. We remain certain there is a better and fairer way for Britain to leave the EU.”
Johnson has claimed he is “absolutely committed” to allowing unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families after Brexit, in the face of opposition anger at removing those provisions from the Wab. Labour’s Lisa Nandy said Johnson had “not earned the right to shoehorn into this legislation measures that are a direct attack on some of the most vulnerable children in the world”.Johnson has claimed he is “absolutely committed” to allowing unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families after Brexit, in the face of opposition anger at removing those provisions from the Wab. Labour’s Lisa Nandy said Johnson had “not earned the right to shoehorn into this legislation measures that are a direct attack on some of the most vulnerable children in the world”.
Downing Street has refused to say whether the government has carried out any analysis into potential benefits of any trade deals with third countries after Brexit. Pressed repeatedly on the matter, the official said: “We’ve been doing preparatory work in relation to trade deals and we will now be able to sit down and have those talks properly.”Downing Street has refused to say whether the government has carried out any analysis into potential benefits of any trade deals with third countries after Brexit. Pressed repeatedly on the matter, the official said: “We’ve been doing preparatory work in relation to trade deals and we will now be able to sit down and have those talks properly.”
Andrew Bailey, the head of the UK financial watchdog, has been named as the next governor of the Bank of England. The chancellor, Sajid Javid, announced the replacement for Mark Carney, who is due to stand down from the role at the end of January after six-and-a-half years in the job.Andrew Bailey, the head of the UK financial watchdog, has been named as the next governor of the Bank of England. The chancellor, Sajid Javid, announced the replacement for Mark Carney, who is due to stand down from the role at the end of January after six-and-a-half years in the job.
The new Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has revealed he was diagnosed with diabetes days before the general election, and vowed it will not prevent him from carrying out the prestigious role. Hoyle, 62, said he had lost three stone in recent months and said he was still in shock over the diagnosis.The new Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, has revealed he was diagnosed with diabetes days before the general election, and vowed it will not prevent him from carrying out the prestigious role. Hoyle, 62, said he had lost three stone in recent months and said he was still in shock over the diagnosis.
Johnson has claimed his government is “absolutely committed” to allowing unaccompanied child refugees to be reunited with their families after Brexit, PA reports.
Downing Street has refused to say whether the government has carried out any analysis into potential benefits of any trade deals with third countries after Brexit.
Asked if analysis had been performed on the economic benefits of any deal with the US or other nations, the prime minister’s official spokesman said:
Pressed repeatedly on the matter, the official said: “We’ve been doing preparatory work in relation to trade deals and we will now be able to sit down and have those talks properly.”
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. He added:
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: