Now is time to get behind Labour’s fair offer for all
» Bercowsays no to 2nd bid for Brexit vote » Boris limps on as MPs plot amendments
Saturday’s march
BORIS Johnson’s sell-out deal would give a green light to trigger a race to the bottom, putting food safety, workers’ rights and consumer standards at risk and hitting our poorest areas hardest.
On Saturday, Parliament blocked the Prime Minister from forcing through a backdoor no-deal crash-out.
Now, Labour will seize every opportunity to safeguard workers’ rights, protect our economy and ensure the people are given the final say.
We have one last chance to break the impasse. By amending the Withdrawal Agreement Bill published last night, MPs can reject the false choice between this bad deal and no-deal, and find an agreement that works for all.
Now is the time to get behind Labour’s offer.
A new customs union between the UK and the EU, with a UK say, can command a majority. Businesses and manufacturers back it and it would remove the need for a border down the Irish Sea.
Labour will also work to return to the Agreement the legally binding commitments on workers’ rights and the environment the PM took out.
Labour wants a general election and any deal should go back to the people.
In April, Parliament failed to find a way forward. Too many refused to compromise.
This cannot happen again.
JOHN Bercow threw Boris Johnson’s Brexit strategy into even deeper turmoil yesterday by blocking a “disorderly” second bid for a yes-or-no vote on his deal.
The Speaker’s move cut the Prime Minister’s already slim chances of getting it through Parliament by his “do or die” Halloween deadline.
Mr Bercow said MPs had already answered the question in Saturday’s special sitting, when they demanded he ask Brussels for an extension.
He said: “Today’s motion is in substance the same and the House has decided the matter. The motion will not be debated as it would be repetitive and disorderly to do so.”
But the PM last night pressed on with introducing the Withdrawal
Rees-Mogg set out timing
Agreement Bill. He faces a major showdown in the legislation’s crucial second reading tonight – but No10 and Labour insiders both believe while voting will be close, it will pass.
The timetable to rush the bill through – the “programme motion” set out by Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg – has worried MPs, who want to give the 110-page bill full scrutiny.
No10 wants to ram it through in just three days, with MPs sitting until midnight, so it reaches the Lords by Friday.
And the PM aims for the bill to become law next Wednesday. But Tories fear the haste will put off Labour MPs they need to win over.
Labour and other MPs were last night mulling amending – or even voting down – the timetable. One
MP said: “Boris has said he’d rather than die in a ditch than leave after October 31. But his arbitrary deadline shouldn’t prevent us from doing our job.”
The EU is ready to delay to February if the PM cannot get his deal past MPs this week.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said
MPs have “one last chance” to find a compromise.
Labour plans to back an amendment calling for us to stay in a customs union to safeguard workers’ rights and standards.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer has also suggested Labour would back amendments for a “confirmatory vote” on a deal. And MPs are
PM Johnson is pressing on with legislation
considering a third amendment to rule out no-deal Brexit when the transition period ends in December next year. But too many changes could prompt No10 to pull the deal. Mr Johnson’s spokesman said: “If the legislation steps too far from what was agreed in the original [deal] that does bring into question ratification.” Meanwhile, Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has reportedly told friends he “wants Brexit done” by October 31 – so he can relax properly when he goes to a Cher concert in Dublin on November 1.
AMENDMENT Labour’s Starmer
What happened yesterday? Boris Johnson tried to put his Brexit deal to a “clean” yes or no “meaningful vote” but was blocked by the Speaker for being a repeat of Saturday.
Is the Brexit deal dead?
No, the PM will still try to push it through. Only when the Withdrawal Agreement Bill passes will the Brexit divorce process be finished. The bill was introduced last night and its first big vote is tonight. Will the PM’s deal pass? MPs will probably back the bill tonight but the deal will not necessarily get through unchanged to its final vote.
The Government also has to win the ”programme motion”, which MPs could amend to scrutinise the bill beyond October 31. They could also dramatically alter the bill by amending it with a customs union, a second referendum and measures to
avoid crashing out when the transition period ends.
Will Brexit happen by October 31?
Possibly. The PM hopes to rush his deal through but a final decision on whether to delay is in the hands of EU leaders. If MPs agree the deal before the end of the week, Brussels can complete its votes in time for Halloween.
But MPs could tonight try to amend the legislative timetable to give themselves more time.
What is the EU doing?
EU leaders will almost certainly grant an extension to help get a deal through. What about an election?
If MPs spend the next two weeks legislating on Brexit, a general election cannot be held before Christmas.
Labour are unlikely to trigger a confidence vote.
There must be five weeks between calling a snap poll and the election, making January the earliest date. But that means campaigning over the festive period – so February is more likely.