Brexit vote: MPs approve Boris Johnson’s withdrawal bill, despite backlash over ‘binned’ protections for child refugees and workers

Follow all the latest developments as they happened

Brexit bill approved by MPs setting course for EU departure on January 31st

Boris Johnson has been accused of watering down rights in his Brexit legislation, as his withdrawal agreement bill passed its first Commons hurdle with a majority of 124 votes.

Labour said Mr Johnson had “torn-up” protections for workers’ rights and child refugees, calling the changes “deeply cruel”. The Lib Dems said compromises had been “binned” following his march towards “unbridled” power.

As Jacob Rees-Mogg returned to frontline politics following his conspicuous absence from the Tory election campaign, campaigners railed against government plans to shake up the constitution and introduce photo ID at polling stations.

To follow events as they unfolded, see our live coverage below

Key Points

• Boris Johnson's Brexit deal passes first Commons hurdle with large majority
• Wealthy Tory donors 'buy EU citizenship for themselves'
• PM has 'watered down' parliament's role in Brexit, say Labour
• Senior Tory who grabbed female protester by throat 'breached ministerial code'
• Rees-Mogg returns after election campaign absence

[20 December 2019 09:37 · Adam Forrest]

David Lammy attacks ‘deeply cruel’ move by Boris Johnson

Labour MP David Lammy thinks the ditching of protections for child refugees in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is “deeply cruel” – and ridicules the idea of the PM being a “compassionate Conservative”.

[20 December 2019 09:42 · Adam Forrest]

Harry Styles and Stormzy chant ‘f*** Boris’ on stage

Stormzy joined Harry Styles on stage at an intimate gig at the Electric Ballroom in Camden for a performance of his hit track “Vossi Bop”​. 

Video footage posted on social media by fans who attended the gig showed Styles with the grime star as they urged the audience to chant the lyrics: “F*** the government and f*** Boris.”

More details here:

[20 December 2019 09:48 · Adam Forrest]

PM compares Leavers and Remainers to Montagues and Capulets

Boris Johnson has been speaking in the House of Commons ahead of the big vote on his Brexit bill. In a call for unity, he claimed MPs should “act together as one”.

“This is the time we move on and discard the old labels of Leave and Remain,” he said.

The PM has also made a reference to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, comparing the terms “Leavers” and “Remainers” to the Montagues and Capulets “at the end of the play”.

[20 December 2019 09:53 · Adam Forrest]

Will Johnson mark Sturgeon’s letter ‘return to sender’?

The Scottish secretary has claimed Boris Johnson will give “careful consideration” to Nicola Sturgeon’s request to be handed the powers to hold a second independence referendum.

But Alister Jack said the SNP does not currently have a mandate for another vote to be held on the issue.

Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has outlined her position that a referendum on independence should be held in the latter part of 2020.

Asked on BBC Radio Scotland’s Good Morning Scotland programme whether the PM would mark Sturgeon’s letter, sent on Thursday, with “return to sender” – as he had pledged he would – Jack said: “No, he has received a letter and he is going to give it careful consideration and we’ll reply in the new year.”

[20 December 2019 10:17 · Adam Forrest]

Corbyn: Tory Brexit has become ‘national embarrassment’

Jeremy Corbyn is unimpressed with Boris Johnson’s call for unity. The Labour leader has accused the Tories “mishandling” and causing “political gridlock, chaos and economic uncertainty”.

He said the whole process has “paralysed our political system, divided communities and countries” and “become a national embarrassment”.

Bringing up the “brutal reality” of the Brexit bill, Corbyn again mentions the more unpleasant aspects of US food safety standards which could be a feature in a future trade agreement.

“The choice is between keeping the highest environment and food standards in order to get a future trade deal with the EU, or slashing food standards to match those of the US, where there are so-called acceptable levels of rat hairs in paprika, rat hairs in orange juice.”

[20 December 2019 10:24 · Adam Forrest]

Nandy says people in towns like hers have ‘warmth and empathy’ to child refugees

Labour MP Lisa Nandy – considering standing for the leadership – urges Boris Johnson to think again about ditching a clause previously in the Brexit bill to protect child refugees.

“If he thinks that people in towns like mine, who want to deliver Brexit, want to see us turn our back on decency and tolerance and kindness and warmth and empathy, he is wrong.”

[20 December 2019 10:35 · Adam Forrest]

Brits getting ‘screwed’ over by Tory elite, says Verhofstadt

Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s Brexit co-ordinator, is no fan of Boris Johnson. This morning he is railing against the Conservative party and its donors.

Government documents seen by Reuters show that Conservative Party donors have sought citizenship of Cyprus, an EU member state, since Britain voted to leave the bloc in 2016.

Verhofstadt said it shows that “ordinary British citizens are being screwed over by their elite”.

[20 December 2019 10:42 · Adam Forrest]

PM promises ‘unfettered access’ after UK leaves EU

The DUP MP Gavin Robinson said Boris Johnson “needs to understand the concerns about customs arrangements for Northern Ireland”.

He said in the Commons: “We’re not going to resolve those issues today, but will the prime minister commit to proper and thorough and detailed reconsideration using the strength he has, to deliver for the entirety of this country?”

Johnson replied: “Let me remind him that the deal commits to unfettered access, unfettered access in all parts of the UK, respects the territorial integrity of the UK and ensures that Northern Ireland is part of the UK customs territory and will therefore benefit immediately from any of our new free trade deals as soon as they are in force.”

Plaid Cymru MP Jonathan Edwards, meanwhile, asked the PM whether by ruling out extending the transition period with the EU he has “boxed himself into a corner”.

Johnson replied: “On the contrary, I think most people looking at the negotiations would agree that it strengthens our negotiating position.

“If we have learned anything... from the experience of the last three years it is that drift and dither mean more acrimony and anguish.”

[20 December 2019 10:59 · Adam Forrest]

PM’s ‘toxic’ Brexit bill rejected by Scots, claims Ian Blackford

The SNP’s leader in the Commons Ian Blackford has been talking as much about his party’s election results as the Withdrawal Agreement Bill itself.

“We did not vote for Brexit … Scotland voted decisively to escape Brexit and put Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.”

[20 December 2019 11:10 · Adam Forrest]

Industries will be ‘done over’ by Brexit, says Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn has told Boris Johnson businesses will soon be coming to MPs with “issues” as the government negotiates a trade deal with the EU.

“If the government gets it wrong, it will not be a question of getting Brexit done, it will be a question of some industries being done over by Brexit,” he said.

Tory former minister Maria Miller, incidentally, said MPs are repeating themselves on Brexit.

She added: “So much has been said on Brexit already, people who are tuning in to watch our debate today on the parliament channel could be forgiven for thinking they're watching a re-run – and I know it’s Christmas, but come on, we need to get this debate to move forward.”