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As it happenedended

Boris Johnson news – live: PM to call October general election if rebel MPs vote to block no-deal

Follow all the latest developments as they happened

Adam Forrest,Colin Drury,Chiara Giordano
Monday 02 September 2019 13:23 EDT
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Boris Johnson says there are 'no circumstances' that can delay Brexit beyond October 31st

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Government officials revealed Boris Johnson plans to call a 14 October general election if he loses a crunch no-deal Brexit vote in the Commons on Tuesday.

The sources said the prime minister was confident that the election motion would receive the two-thirds majority required to trigger an early poll under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act.

Ministers will table the motion by the end of Tuesday, but it will be moved to a vote on Wednesday only if MPs vote tomorrow to take control of Commons business in order to pass a bill to block a no-deal Brexit on 31 October.

In an unexpected statement outside Number 10 on Monday, Mr Johnson insisted there were “no circumstances” in which he would delay Brexit beyond the current deadline.

The prime minister warned that MPs would “chop the legs out” from the UK position if they backed a Brexit extension as he addressed the nation this evening.

Please allow a moment for the live stream to load

“Get Ready” is the two-word slogan that heads up the government’s new £100m campaign to ensure that the public is prepared for Brexit.

But, asks Richard Godwin here, what exactly does that even mean?

colin.drury2 September 2019 14:22

Labour MP Sarah Jones has said: “We all want a general election so long as we don’t think we’re being played. If it’s possible we would crash out of the EU without a deal during an election campaign then we’re clearly being played ... Jeremy Corbyn and Keir Starmer are very alive to those things.”

Columnist Owen Jones has also been talking to the BBC’s Daily Politics about the possibility of a crash-out Brexit in the midst of a general election campaign.

Adam Forrest2 September 2019 14:34
Adam Forrest2 September 2019 14:58

Trouble in Rushcliffe for Tory Big Beast – and renowned Europhile – Ken Clarke.

The Conservative chairman in the MP’s constituency has branded Mr Clarke "disgraceful" for suggesting he would defy the government to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Councillor Neil Clarke, who is chair of the Rushcliffe Conservatives, said voting against the prime minister was “not acceptable”, and hinted the former cabinet member could be deselected.

He said a “a significant number" of members had voiced their concerns over Mr Clarke’s suggestions he might support Jeremy Corbyn as a caretaker prime minister in order to prevent leaving the EU without a deal.

colin.drury2 September 2019 15:00

The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg reporting that the rebel MPs will try to force the government to seek a three-month extension to Article 50.

ITV’s Robert Peston has been suggesting over the past week that the rebel alliance had a six month delay in mind. Have they changed their minds on a longer extension?

Adam Forrest2 September 2019 15:06

London Mayor Sadiq Khan may be in Warsaw for the 80th anniversary of the start of World War Two but Brexit demands comment even there.

Answering questions at a news conference in the Polish capital, he said: “It's an outrage that the British prime minister has chosen to shut down parliament because he's worried about members of parliament challenging his decision in relation to leaving the EU without a deal.”

colin.drury2 September 2019 15:07

Complete bollocks and feasts of garbage?

Gather round, gather round for our own irrepressible Tom Peck’s take on what might be described as another day’s shenanigans in Westminster.

If you didn’t laugh...etc etc.

colin.drury2 September 2019 15:15

Owen Smith – remember him? He challenged Jeremy Corbyn to be Labour leader in 2016 – says Labour should not back a snap general election.

Writing on Twitter, the MP for Pontypridd said Boris Johnson would use it as “as cover for a Brexit that’ll  kill off the last of our industry & provide all the excuses the hard right need to introduce the low tax, low wage, unregulated economy they’ve always wanted”.

colin.drury2 September 2019 15:26

Boris Johnson has been warned not to pack the House of Lords with new peers by former Tory cabinet minister and now Lord Speaker Norman Fowler.

The prime minister is expected to use an honours list later this year to reward a handful of key players in the campaign for Brexit but there has been speculation that Mr Johnson could seek to flood the upper chamber with loyalists.

Chiara.Giordano2 September 2019 15:32

Former chancellor Philip Hammond has written to Boris Johnson demanding answers to a string of questions before the House of Commons resumes sitting tomorrow as the summer recess comes to an end.

His letter comes after the prime minister cancelled a meeting with Tory Brexit rebels which was due to take place today.

Read the letter in full:

Chiara.Giordano2 September 2019 15:43

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