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Brexit: MPs set to pass withdrawal agreement bill – live news Brexit: MPs set to pass withdrawal agreement bill – live news
(31 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 contestFollow 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
After the election there had been some speculation that the size of Johnson’s majority meant he might pursue a softer Brexit and and could afford to face down his hardline Eurosceptics. Boris Johnson is due to open today’s second reading debate on the withdrawal agreement bill at 9.30am.
But the hard version of Brexit is still very much on the agenda following changes set out in the Brexit Bill. And the European Research Group (ERG) is delighted. The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, is set to close the debate and MPs are expected to start voting at about 2.30pm.
Eurosceptic MP Bernard Jenkin said the ERG is “quite happy”. Barclay’s department is due to be scrapped by the end of January, along with the word “Brexit” if No 10 gets its way.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme: “It was the Remainers that wrecked Boris Johnson’s ability to get the agreement through Parliament. “Every member of the ERG supported Boris Johnson’s agreement, so we’re generally quite happy about how all this is proceeding. It’s a compromise deal.” According to the Huffington Post, the prime minister has ordered officials to drop the term “Brexit” once the Wab passes and the UK leaves the EU on 31 January as planned.
Jenkin added: “I’m just reminding myself what was in our manifesto - take back control of our laws, take back control of our money, control our trade policy, introduce an Australian-style points immigration system, raise standards in areas like workers rights, animal welfare, agriculture and the environment, and ensure we’re in full control of our fishing waters. I mean, we’re the manifesto support group now.” Some shadow cabinet members representing pro-leave seats are understood to have suggested the Labour party should not vote against the Wab in today’s second reading vote.
But the party remains split on Brexit. Labour MP Anneliese Dodds said she is “very concerned” about the bill.
Speaking to the Today programme, she said: “I really don’t feel that it’s really matching up to many of the commitments that were given by previous Conservative governments, and as a result we really have to reject that bill.
“I mean, clearly, with a government majority of the size that it is at the moment, it is likely that it will pass, but I think we’ve got to represent our constituents’ concerns and do at least what we can to make sure these issues are heard.”
After the election there had been speculation that the size of Johnson’s majority meant he might pursue a softer Brexit and and could afford to face down his hardline Eurosceptics.
But a hard version of Brexit is still very much on the agenda following changes set out in the Brexit bill. And the European Research Group (ERG) is delighted.
The Eurosceptic MP Bernard Jenkin said the ERG is “quite happy”.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “It was the remainers that wrecked Boris Johnson’s ability to get the agreement through parliament. “Every member of the ERG supported Boris Johnson’s agreement, so we’re generally quite happy about how all this is proceeding. It’s a compromise deal.”
Jenkin added: “I’m just reminding myself what was in our manifesto – take back control of our laws, take back control of our money, control our trade policy, introduce an Australian-style points immigration system, raise standards in areas like workers rights, animal welfare, agriculture and the environment, and ensure we’re in full control of our fishing waters. I mean, we’re the manifesto support group now.”
Welcome to Politics Live a week on from the morning the nation woke up to news of Boris Johnson’s thumping election win.Welcome to Politics Live a week on from the morning the nation woke up to news of Boris Johnson’s thumping election win.
His 80-seat majority means there is no doubt that MPs will pass the withdrawal agreement bill when it comes up for a second reading vote on Friday afternoon. This will be put Johnson’s government on course to meet the election pledge of getting out of the EU by 31 January.His 80-seat majority means there is no doubt that MPs will pass the withdrawal agreement bill when it comes up for a second reading vote on Friday afternoon. This will be put Johnson’s government on course to meet the election pledge of getting out of the EU by 31 January.
The Brexit Bill set out in Thursday’s Queen’s speech has been greeted with dismay by opposition MPs. It strips out protections for workers’ rights, waters down a commitment to take unaccompanied refugee children from Europe, and removes parliament’s say on the future relationship. It also inserts a ban on the government extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020.The Brexit Bill set out in Thursday’s Queen’s speech has been greeted with dismay by opposition MPs. It strips out protections for workers’ rights, waters down a commitment to take unaccompanied refugee children from Europe, and removes parliament’s say on the future relationship. It also inserts a ban on the government extending the Brexit transition period beyond the end of 2020.
Meanwhile, the shadow Treasury minister Clive Lewis has declared his candidacy for Labour leader. And Nicola Sturgeon has called for the Scottish parliament to be given permanent powers to hold subsequent referendums on independence from the UK.Meanwhile, the shadow Treasury minister Clive Lewis has declared his candidacy for Labour leader. And Nicola Sturgeon has called for the Scottish parliament to be given permanent powers to hold subsequent referendums on independence from the UK.