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 15:56 · Lizzy Buchan]

'Get Brexit done': Wealthy Tory donors buying EU citizenship for themselves, documents reveal

Wealthy Tory donors are reportedly taking steps to secure EU citizenship for themselves, as Boris Johnson returns to office on the back of his "Get Brexit Done" election campaign.

An investigation by the Reuters news agency found that past donors to the ruling party have applied for citizenship of the EU member state of Cyprus since the UK voted to Leave in 2016.

Cyprus offers a so-called "golden passport" scheme that allows investors to effectively buy EU citizenship if they spend around two million euros on property in the country – a trifling amount for Britain's wealthiest.

[20 December 2019 16:16 · Lizzy Buchan]

Senior Tory who grabbed female climate protester by throat breached ministerial code, inquiry finds

A former Tory MP who grabbed a female climate change protester around the neck has been found to have breached the ministerial code – five months after Boris Johnson dropped an investigation.

Mark Field was able to quietly leave the Commons at the general election, after the incoming prime minister decided a full probe into his behaviour was no longer needed.

Just weeks later, a Cabinet Office inquiry under the code has concluded his manhandling of the Greenpeace activist flouted “the high standards of behaviour expected of ministers”.

[20 December 2019 16:36 · Lizzy Buchan]

Shadow cabinet member says he abstained on Commons vote says Brexit is 'closed'

John Healey, the shadow housing secretary, was among five frontbenchers who defied Jeremy Corbyn to abstain on the vote on Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement bill today.

In a statement on his website, Mr Healey said: "Last week’s Election was called on Brexit and largely decided on Brexit.

"In a Brexit referendum and a Brexit election the public have now been clear, and so should Labour: our fight must be about the type of Brexit and the huge difference between Labour and Conservative visions of our economy. Any question about whether Brexit goes ahead has been closed. I heard this same sentiment talking with many people on the doorstep and in the street during the election.

"For this reason, I took a different stance to the official Labour Party position and did not oppose the introduction of the Government’s Brexit bill today. However, we need a better Brexit than Boris Johnson’s got so far and it’s clear the Tories want an economy where workers’ rights are stripped back, our NHS is opened up to private companies and essential British industries like steel are left to close – within a week of the Election, they’re already backtracking on previous pledges about workplace rights and a higher minimum wage.

"So – just as I’ve done since the referendum – I’ll continue to challenge the Government to secure better Brexit terms and fight to safeguard our British jobs, consumer standards and worker’s rights."

[20 December 2019 16:55 · Lizzy Buchan]

‘He encourages hate’: Stormzy says Boris Johnson has fueled racism in UK

Stormzy has claimed Boris Johnson is responsible for emboldening people in the UK with racist views. 

The grime star, who just released his new album Heavy is the Head, was interviewed by Italian newspaper La Repubblica when he addressed the issue of racism in Britain. 

“It’s like, ‘Oh no, we’re not racist’. But there’s a lot of racism in the country,” he said. “The difficult thing with the UK is, as you said, in Italy it’s a clear problem, whereas trying to explain that Britain is a racist country [to a British person] is the most difficult thing ever. They think, ‘No, it’s not. Stormzy you’re successful. Look at London, there’s loads of black people...’ It’s a more difficult case to fight.”

[20 December 2019 17:12 · Lizzy Buchan]

Tory MPs ask Boris Johnson for autograph after Brexit deal passed

Conservative MPs were spotted asking Boris Johnson to sign copies of their order papers after the prime minister’s Brexit deal cleared its first hurdle in the House of Commons.

The withdrawal agreement bill, which has been stripped of powers for MPs to avert the risk of a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020, was passed with a majority of 124, putting the UK on course to leave the EU on 31 January.

It will now be scrutinised at its committee stage early in the New Year, but is not expected to be amended significantly before passing into law next month.

[20 December 2019 17:30 · Lizzy Buchan]

Zac Goldsmith remark about 'seedy lists of party apparatchiks' comes back to haunt him after Tory peerage

“Seedy lists of party apparatchiks appointed by power hungry party leaders & insulated from any democratic pressure for 15 yrs?” wrote Zac Goldsmith in 2012. “No thanks.”

The missive resurfaced on Thursday hours after it turned out that the 44-year-old’s answer to being offered the chance to become such a seedy party apparatchik was in fact: yes please.

[20 December 2019 17:49 · Lizzy Buchan]

Boris Johnson under fire over nearly 20 per cent increase in Downing Street special advisers

Boris Johnson is facing criticism after it emerged the number of special advisers employed by Downing Street has increased by nearly 20 per cent on last year.

The details set out in the Cabinet Office’s annual report on political advisers – known in Whitehall as “SpAds” – also shows the prime minister’s influential adviser, Dominic Cummings, receives almost £100,000 a year. 

The transparency data details that Mr Johnson has appointed 44 special advisers in Downing Street – a 19 per cent increase on former Tory leader Theresa May, who had 37 advisers in post last year.

[20 December 2019 17:55 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it for The Independent's politics liveblog for the day. Thanks for following!