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As it happenedended
5 years ago

Boris Johnson news: PM ‘behaving like a spoilt brat’ after deal derailed as Micheal Gove insists UK will leave EU on 31 October

Follow the updates from Westminster and beyond

Peter Stubley,Eleanor Busby
Sunday 20 October 2019 12:07 EDT
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Boris Johnson’s letters to Brussels 'may be in contempt of parliament', claims John McDonnell

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Boris Johnson was accused of “behaving like a spoilt brat” after he sent an unsigned letter to the EU asking for an extension to Brexit.

The prime minister, having promised that he would never make such a request, was forced to do so after MPs voted to withhold approval for his withdrawal agreement.

Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said Mr Johnson “has to abide by the law” and may be in contempt of parliament, adding: ”He’s behaving a bit like a spoilt brat.”

However Michael Gove, the government minister in charge of Brexit preparations, insisted that the UK would still leave the EU on 31 October.

“We are going to leave by October 31,” he told Sky News. ”We have the means and the ability to do so and yesterday... we had some people who voted for delay, voted explicitly to try to frustrate this process and to drag it out.”

The government is planning to hold a “meaningful vote” on Mr Johnson’s deal on Monday but opposition MPs are seeking amendments to protect against a no-deal Brexit and hold a second referendum.

Supporters of a Final Say referendum are being urged to sign a letter which calls on officials in the UK and the EU to do everything they can to give the people a vote on the final Brexit deal.

Follow events as they happened in our liveblog below:

5 years ago

The shadow Brexit secretary has also confirmed Labour will back an amendment calling for a referendum on Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement.

It is expected to be brought in the Commons next week.

The so-called "meaningful vote" on the prime ministers Brexit deal, which was meant to happen on Saturday, is due to be held on Monday.

Speaker John Bercow said he would rule on Monday whether it was in order for the government to hold the vote.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 09:45
5 years ago

'We are going to leave on 31 October' - Michael Gove

Michael Gove, one of the architects of Brexit, has insisted the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, saying it is the government's "determined policy".

"We are going to leave on October 31st, we have the means and ability to do so," he told Sky News.

"People are trying to frustrate this process and drag it out. I think the mood in the country is clear. We must leave on October 31st."

He says that if parliament passes all the Brexit legislation then the letter to the EU requesting an extension can be withdrawn.

However he claims that the Letwin amendment has actually increased the risk of a no-deal Brexit.

"We cannot guarantee the EU will grant an extension," he says, adding that the government is preparing to trigger Operation Yellowhammer.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 09:47
5 years ago

Foreign secretary Dominic Raab also believes the Government can get Boris Johnson's Brexit deal through Parliament before the deadline.

He told The Andrew Marr Show: "We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons. A lot of people say 'get this done and move on'."

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:01
5 years ago

Is this allowed? Michael Gove reveals he has a financial interest in the UK leaving the EU on 31 October.

He tells Sky News he has a bet with health secretary Matt Hancock. He thinks it will happen, while Mr Hancock apparently believes Brexit will be delayed.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:07
5 years ago

It now appears the bet is about the size of the majority for the deal - not whether Brexit will happen.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:09
5 years ago

The full exchange between Sophy Ridge and Michael Gove went like this:

Gove: We are going to get this deal done and I am confident with the support of good people we will get this deal done.

Ridge: If you are a betting man would you put money on it?

Gove: Yes I have

Ridge: How much?

Gove: That's between me and the health secretary.

It came after Mr Gove refused to say whether Boris Johnson should resign if he does not get backing for his deal.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:16
5 years ago

Oliver Letwin, whose amendment forced the prime minister to request an extension to Brexit, has said he believes the deal will "probably" be passed by parliament.

He told the BBC: "I am absolutely behind the government now as long as they continue with this bill, continue with the deal, I will support it, I will vote for it.

"There will be no more Oliver Letwin amendments next week because there don't need to be, I am supporting the bill."

Asked if the government could get the deal across the line, he added: "I think we probably will."

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:19
5 years ago

Here's a reminder that six weeks ago Boris Johnson promised he would not ask the EU for an extension to the Brexit deadline, saying he would rather be "dead in a ditch".

Yesterday the prime minister requested an extension.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:28
5 years ago

While the EU has not yet responded to the letter making the request for an extension, a German minister has suggested the the deadline could be pushed back "a few weeks".

Peter Altmaier, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's party, told Bild that "a good and orderly solution is still possible if Boris Johnson now reaches out to Parliament and seeks a cross-party solution."

"If an extension by a few weeks is necessary, I wouldn't have a problem with it," he added.

Peter Stubley20 October 2019 10:31
5 years ago

Shadow cabinet minister Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour will whip its MPs to back a second referendum on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal

Eleanor Busby20 October 2019 10:51

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