Boris Johnson news: Government releases no-deal Brexit documents, as PM warned ‘it’s over’ if he misled the Queen
Follow how the day unfolded
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A no-deal Brexit would trigger major hold-ups at channel ports, significant electricity price increases, shortages of some foods and delays to medicine imports, government documents reveal.
HGV delays of between one-and-a-half and two-and-a-half days would occur at Dover and public disorder could increase, according to the Operation Yellowhammer “reasonable worst case planning assumptions” released in response to MPs voting for it to happen.
The six page document was made public after Boris Johnson’s suspension of parliament has been ruled as unlawful by judges at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, prompting MPs to demand he “comes back and face the music”.
Follow how the day in Westminster unfolded
Nigel Farage’s repeated calls for an electoral pact with the Tories hasn’t been getting too much media attention. So the Brexit Party has bought a wraparound advert on the front page of The Daily Express, and a full page ad in The Sun.
Labour MP Gareth Snell has claimed the numbers “simply do not exist in parliament for a referendum”, adding the public had “no appetite” for a second EU poll.
He is one of those in favour of voting for an amended version of Theresa May’s deal.
“The Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which is a very different thing – that was the outcome of the cross-party negotiations – ought to be presented to parliament as a basis on which trying to find a deal.”
The BBC’s Norman Smith suggests not everyone is clear what the official party line is. For the sake of clarity, Jeremy Corbyn has said he wants a second referendum, but wants credible options for both remain and leave on the ballot.
What do you think of the idea of a bridge from Scotland to Northern Ireland?
According to Channel 4 News, the civil service drew up feasibility studies examining an ambitious bridge over the Irish Sea during the Tory leadership contest because frontrunner Boris Johnson had express an interest.
Apparently Johnson asked officials if “WW2 munitions in the Irish Sea” could scupper his hopes of getting a bridge.
Labour frontbencher Angela Rayner is not impressed.
Chuka Umunna has raised the possibility No 10 strategist Dominic Cummings may have wrongly carried out work for the Tory party while being paid by the taxpayer.
The Lib Dem MP said it was “clearly unsatisfactory” that he had to wait until December to hear via a freedom of information request whether the prime minister’s right-hand man has broken the rules.
BREAKING: The Court of Session in Edinburgh has ruled the government’s suspension of parliament was unlawful.
“Parliament should be immediately reconvened,” said SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, following the ruling by Court of Session judges.
“The prime minister should come back and face the music.”
“We feel completely vindicated,” said Joanne Cherry QC. “I feel confident the Supreme Court will uphold this decision.”
Jo Maugham QC added: “We believe that the effect of the decision is that parliament is no longer prorogued.”
Our breaking story here:
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer was told about that sensational court ruling while on stage speaking to the TUC.
The Labour MP said: “I’d better get back to London.”
“This is really important ... I’m really pleased with this result. I’m surprised because for a court to make a declaration like that on and issue like this is a huge thing for us.
“It vindicates everything we’ve done last week and I think what I can do and what others need to do is get back to parliament, see if we can’t open those doors and get back in and get Boris Johnson back in parliament so we can hold him properly to account.”
Watch Keir Starmer told on stage about the ruling in the Court of Session:
Here’s Lizzy Buchan with more on Keir Starmer’s stunned reaction – and his pledge to “see if we can’t open those doors and get back in parliament”.
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