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
Final Say march: Do you feel more optimistic or less optimistic about our future since Boris Johnson announced his deal?
Ex-Tory rebel says PM should bring forward Withdrawal Bill on Monday
An Ex-Tory rebel has said Boris Johnson should bring his Withdrawal Agreement Bill before the House, rather than bother with another attempt at a “meaningful vote”, writes our political editor Andrew Woodcock.
The source said: “If the prime minister wants to get Brexit done as soon as possible, why is he not doing everything in his power to move it along? He needlessly boycotted his own vote today in an act of petulance that did nothing to achieve his stated aim. And on Monday he looks set to repeat that exercise.
“In light of the new deal agreed with the European Union ... this House has considered the matter but withholds approval unless and until implementing legislation is passed.”
“This sends a clear signal that the prime minister should now bring forward the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, not a meaningful vote, on Monday, so that MPs can vote for or against it. In the meantime, he must comply with the law.”
Several politicians have condemned the protesters who shouted at Jacob Rees-Mogg earlier when he left Parliament with his young son.
"This is not acceptable," said Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats.
"Everyone has a right to their opinion. In these charged times, it's even more important that we should disagree well with
one another - never resort to intimidation or yelling abuse.
"Hope Jacob, and especially his young son, are ok."
Dominic Grieve has said he is pleased with the day's events in Westminster.
"I am very pleased with the result of today's vote," he said.
"It prevents us from crashing out with no deal, which the Government provided no reassurance it wasn't going to do."
Mr Grieve added "kicking the can down the road" could not continue and a solution needs to be found.
"I continue to believe the better solution is to come back and have a second referendum and that is what I am working on," he said.
So, what happens next? That's the question everyone in Westminster is asking tonight.
The prime minister decided not to have a "meaningful vote" on his deal today after the Letwin amendment won Commons backing.
He could push for a vote on Monday but only if John Bercow allows it.
It's currently unclear if the Speaker will permit the vote to occur as you can't table the same motion twice in parliament.
Instead the prime minister could bring his full Withdrawal Agreement Bill to the Commons early next week.
This is the legislation needed for Brexit.
As ever, any outcome is too close to call.
The Irish foreign minister has warned that there is no guarantee the EU will grant the UK a Brexit extension.
"The Irish government position has always been that an extension is preferable to a no deal and I don't think that will change but this has to be a decision that is a collective decision by the European Council," Simon Coveney told Irish national broadcaster RTE on Saturday.
"Any one prime minister can prevent that and I think the EU wants to see certainty and an end to endless negotiation and speculation so I think a request for an extension is not straightforward."
The French government sounds rather unhappy at the prospect of further delays to Brexit.
Emmanuel Macron's office said that given a deal was negotiated "it's now up to the British Parliament to say if it approves or rejects it. There must be a vote on the fundamentals."
And the presidential Elysee Palace said "a supplementary delay is in the interest of no one".
Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron have spoken tonight, an Elysee Palace official said.
It's a reminder that events in the Commons are being very closely watched abroad.
Boris Johnson has sent another letter to MPs tonight.
"It is to my great regret that today the House has voted for more delay," he writes.
"The public want us to get Brexit done so the country can move on.
"I will not negotiate a delay with the European Union. 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."
The prime minister adds that next week the government will introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill to the Commons next week.
"It is quite possible that our friends in the EU will reject Parliament's request for further delay (or not take a decision quickly.)," he adds.
"In these circumstances, I hope colleagues on all sides of the House will - faced with a choice of our new deal or no deal - support his new deal."
Emmanuel Macron has called on Boris Johnson to clarify Britain's position over Brexit.
"The president held a conversation with the British prime minister and shared his view for the need for a swift clarification," an official at the French presidency said.
"He signalled a delay would be in no one's interest," the official added.
The Final Say rally at Parliament Square has wrapped up, with one last speech from Lord Heseltine.
He said: "We believe only the British people are entitled to take the most important decision of modern times and this Government is determined to stop us.
"They say the decision was taken in 2016.
"They have got one argument: civil unrest.
"Those who had their fight in the referendum now threaten violence if the people ask again."
Lord Heseltine said the People's Vote campaigners are fighting for British influence in the world.
"They call it taking back control," he said.
"They dream of Donald Trump as some newly discovered benefactor, when it is clear the only special relationship that he knows is America first."
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