Boris Johnson news: PM sends unsigned extension request to EU after he is forced to seek delay by MPs
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Your support makes all the difference.Boris Johnson has sent a series of letters to the EU after he was forced by MPs to seek a further Brexit extension.
The prime minister sent two letters to European Council president Donald Tusk – an unsigned message relaying parliament’s request for an extension to Brexit and a letter from him setting out why he does not believe delay would be in the interests of the EU or UK..
Downing Street said it believes the move fulfils the requirements of the Benn Act, which required the prime minister to seek an extension beyond his 31 October deadline if he was unable to secure parliamentary approval of his Brexit deal by the end of Saturday.
You can relive our coverage of a historic day in Westminster below:
Mr Johnson’s decision follows a tumultuous day in Parliament.
MPs backed a rebel amendment during a special Saturday sitting, throwing Mr Johnson’s Brexit plans into disarray by forcing him to seek the extension.
As hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for a Final Say referendum, MPs used the historic sitting to approve amendment from Sir Oliver Letwin, which withholds Commons approval until legislation to ratify the Brexit deal has passed.
The prime minister insisted he “would not negotiate a delay” – despite being legally compelled to do so – prompting speculation No 10 might try to get around a law forcing the PM to send a letter to the EU asking to delay Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline.
In a letter to all MPs and peers, sent on Saturday evening, Mr Johnson repeated his claims.
“I will not negotiate a delay with the European Union,” he said.
“I will tell the EU what I have told the British public for my 88 days as Prime Minister: further delay is not a solution.”
Additional reporting by agencies
BREAKING: Boris Johnson says Withdrawal Agreement Bill vote will happen ‘next week’
The prime minister has begun his statement in the Commons. He says his deal is a chance to “bring the country together”.
He confirms he will bring his Withdrawal Agreement Bill forward “next week”.
Johnson says he will “meet with anyone on any side” if they consider backing the bill next week.
Boris Johnson addresses House of Commons
Johnson says ‘now is the time’ to get deal done
Boris Johnson finishes his statement by telling the Commons that “now is the time” to get his “great” Brexit deal done.
He said the agreement “provides for a real Brexit”, adding: “Taking back control of our borders, laws, money, farming, fisheries and trade - amounting to the greatest single restoration of national sovereignty in parliamentary history.
“It removes the backstop, which would have held us against our will in the customs union and much of the single market.
“For the first time in almost five decades the UK will be able to strike free trade deals with our friends across the world.”
Jeremy Corbyn says ‘people should have the final say’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has begun speaking.
“This government cannot be trusted and these benches will not be duped,” he says advising his MPs to vote against Boiris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
He says the deal would “fire the starting pistol on a race to bottom”.
Corbyn said one Tory MP “let the cat out of the bag” yesterday when he said the deal could still allow Britain to crash out of the EU without a deal at the end of the transition period in December 2020.
He finished by saying: “Voting for the deal won’t end Brexit … The people should have the final say.”
Jeremy Corbyn addresses the House of Commons
Jo Swinson urges MPs to reject Johnson’s ‘bad deal’
The Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has spoken about the prime minister’s Brexit deal.
She said she people would “reject his bad deal” if given the chance at a referendum.
“According to the government’s own analysis, [the deal] will damage the economy on a scale greater than the financial crash.
“Today, hundreds of thousands of people will be outside demanding a final say in a people’s vote. Isn’t the truth that the reason prime minister refuses their calls because he knows that given the option people will reject his bad deal and remain in the European Union.”
Jo Swinson speaks in the Commons
Protesters descend on London to demand a Final Say on Brexit
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to arrive in the capital today to march on Westminster.
Will there be a meaningful vote on Brexit deal today or not?
I’m afraid we’re still not sure whether there will definitely be a “meaningful” vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal today.
A No 10 source told The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman and ITV’s Robert Peston that if MPs vote for the Letwin amendment – designed to make the PM abide by the Benn Act – would “render the entire day …. meaningless.”
But can they actually pull the vote today? We’re still waiting to hear.
Boris Johnson did say earlier that Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) – the actual legislation necessary to enact this Brexit deal – would be brought forward “next week”.
In theory, his “meaningful” motion today would only have proved he had the support for his deal and then the legislation would have been debated in the coming days to carry it out.
Join The Independent calling for a Final Say
Writers, editors and journalists from The Independent are marching through London today calling for a Final Say on the Brexit deal. Come and say hi and pick up your very own placard from Marble Arch and all along the protest route.
If you're marching today come say hi near Marble Arch (Photo: Tom Richell)
Pick up a Final Say placard from one of our Independent stands (Picture: Tom Richell)
BREAKING: Boris Johnson will tell Tory MPs to abstain on Brexit vote
The prime minster will order Conservative MPs to boycott the vote he had hoped would secure the necessary Commons backing for his Brexit deal – if a last-ditch delaying amendment is approved beforehand, The Independent understands.
The impact of the Letwin amendment getting approved looks like it could make today’s “meaningful” vote on the Brexit deal “meaningless”.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has all the details of this breaking story.
Sign our letter from the people to the powerful demanding Final Say Brexit referendum
As hundreds of thousands of people prepare to take to the streets to call for a Final Say referendum on Brexit, here’s how you can demand it directly from the people in power.
The Independent is uniting with People’s Vote to ask everyone – whether taking part in the march or not – to sign a letter to MPs, MEPs, the Prime Minister and the elected heads of government among the 27 other member of the European Council.
Next week’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill becomes ‘meaningful’ vote
As ITV’s Paul Brand explains, if the Letwin amendment passes, No 10 will essentially be asking Conservative MPs to go home for the day – rendering the rest of the day meaningless.
The next big moment will come on Monday – when the government is expected to bring its Withdrawal Agreement Bill – which would be taken as the “meaningful” vote on PM’s deal with the EU.
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