Brexit: John Bercow says there is 'arguable case' government has committed contempt by failing to publish legal advice
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May is facing a constitutional crisis after six opposition parties joined forces to accuse the government of contempt of Parliament over its failure to publish its full Brexit legal advice.
The Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said there was "an arguable case" that the government had committed contempt, after he was asked by Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, the Green Party and the DUP to begin proceedings.
Earlier, Attorney general Geoffrey Cox admitted the UK could be locked into a customs backstop under the prime minister’s Brexit blueprint.
Mr Cox confirmed that neither the UK nor EU would be able to unilaterally end the Northern Irish backstop arrangement if it came into force, in an address to MPs.
It also comes as The Independent’s petition calling for a Final Say referendum on Brexit was delivered to Downing Street, after more than a million people backed the campaign.
See below for live updates:
Theresa May is facing a full-blown constitutional crisis after opposition parties joined forces to accuse the government of contempt of Parliament, writes The Independent's political correspondent Ben Kentish.
Here's his full story:
Labour's Chris Williamson says the attorney general could be expelled from Parliament if found in contempt. Is he happy to take that risk?
Geoffrey Cox says he understands MPs' concerns and is "truly sorry" but says it would be against the public interest to publish the advice while Brexit negotiations are ongoing.
Labour's Chris Byrant says he has even less sympathy Geoffrey Cox after today's proceedings. Surely the government has to "bow the knee to Parliament" sometimes, he suggests.
Cox says the House has no power to demand documents which are not official.
Here's the opposition parties' letter, calling for the government to be held in contempt, in full:
Labour peer Charlie Falconer, the former lord chancellor and justice secretary, has accused the attorney general of "fundamentally misstating the Constitution":
Geoffrey Cox says the government was wrong not to oppose a motion last month which called for publication of his final and full Brexit legal advice.
Asked if he was consulted about whether to opposite it, he says he was not.
John Bercow says he has only just seen the letter calling for the government to be held in contempt and intends to come to "rapid decision", possibly tonight or "at the earliest opportunity".
Cox says he will also write to the speaker tonight with submissions from the government.
Geoffrey Cox has now finished taking questions after more than two-and-half hours. The Speaker, John Bercow, notes notes he looks "relieved".
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