Boris Johnson news – live: Bercow scuppers bid for fresh vote on Brexit deal amid court challenge over 'childish' EU letters

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What will happen with Brexit following the Letwin amendment?

Boris Johnson is to seek to fast-track legislation to ratify his Brexit deal through the Commons in just three days as he attempts to avoid another delay to Britain’s departure from the EU.

Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg told MPs debate on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would start on Tuesday with ministers hoping to get it through all its Commons stages by Thursday.

MPs have strongly condemned the prime minister for giving MPs only until Thursday to debate the draft legislation, which was shown to be 110 pages long with 125 pages of notes when it was published.

Ministers are likely to face opposition attempts to amend the legislation, including the “programme motion” setting out the Commons timetable for the bill.

It came after John Bercow, the Speaker, blocked Mr Johnson’s request to hold a vote on his deal after he ruled that the government could not re-run the same vote.

Key Points

• Bercow blocks meaningful vote on PM's Brexit deal
• ...as government criticised for plan to force through Brexit legislation in three days
• Labour will whip MPs to back second referendum 
• ERG could pull support for Brexit deal if 'wrecked' by Labour amendments
• Bitter row over homophobia allegations against Labour mayoral hopeful

[21 October 2019 16:56 · Lizzy Buchan]

'History shows us the Tory-DUP pact would always end in betrayal'

'From Carson to Paisley to Foster, Northern Ireland’s unionists refuse to learn the lesson that they will never be a priority for Britain,' writes The Independent's Ben Kelly.

Read his column here:

[21 October 2019 17:11 · Lizzy Buchan]

New deadline to form Northern Ireland Assembly

Julian Smith, the Northern Ireland secretary, told the Commons he has extended the deadline to get Stormont up and running until 13 January.

The deadline was due to to be reached on Monday evening - but Mr Smith has pushed it forward until next year. Stormont has not sat since 2017, after powersharing collapsed.

Mr Smith confirms civil same-sex marriage will take place in Northern Ireland from the week of Valentine's Day 2020. This comes as both same-sex marriage and abortion were due to be legalised in NI from midnight.

Read more on the changes here:

[21 October 2019 17:27 · Lizzy Buchan]

Court date set for Alex Salmond hearing

A preliminary hearing will take place on 21 November in the case against former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who faces attempted rape and sexual assault charges.

Mr Salmond faced a total of 14 charges when he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on 24 January.

He was charged with two counts of attempted rape, nine counts of sexual assault, two of indecent assault and one breach of the peace during the brief hearing in private.

He denies the allegations and has said he will defend himself "to the utmost" in court.

[21 October 2019 17:42 · Lizzy Buchan]

Government seeks to get Brexit legislation through Commons by Thursday

Jacob Rees-Mogg confirms second reading and committee stage on Tuesday and into Wednesday, then conclusion of proceedings on Thursday.

The bill would then go to the Lords, where it must complete the same stages. It would return to the Commons if peers make changes - in a process known as ping pong.

[21 October 2019 17:51 · Lizzy Buchan]

Jacob Rees-Mogg says MPs may need more support from police on leaving parliament

Commons leader thanks MPs and the public for the kind messages of support after he and his 12-year-old son Peter were escorted home by police from parliament.

Mr Rees-Mogg says his son was excited by the police escort - but questions whether MPs may need more support on entering and leaving parliament.

John Bercow says MPs must be able to conduct their business safely and says any intimidatory behaviour must be unequivocally condemned.

Here is our piece on the abuse MPs were facing on Saturday.

[21 October 2019 18:04 · Lizzy Buchan]

Criticism of government's attempt to force Brexit bill through Commons in three days

Jacob Rees-Mogg has announced that the government plans to get the Withdrawal Agreement Bill through its Commons stages by Thursday. 

The news has triggered outrage as the bill has not even been published yet - giving MPs very little time to scrutinise.

Significantly, the DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson, says: "In the absence of the kinds of assurances we need from ministers, I have to say that what he's proposing in terms of proper scrutiny of this bill does not do justice to what the constituents I represent need."

Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "We’ve seen today that even the Westminster Brexit Secretary hasn’t yet grasped the details of this deal.

"Trying to ram through legislation of this complexity, significance and long lasting consequences in just 3 days is an abomination of scrutiny and democracy."

Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said: "You couldn’t make this up. Government proposing just three days of debate in the Commons for a Bill of some 100 pages on massively complex issues of such importance for future of this country."

Labour frontbencher Marsha de Cordova said: "This is an executive that refuses to be held to account. Giving MPs just three days to scrutinise the Withdrawal Agreement Bill is obscene."

[21 October 2019 18:15 · Lizzy Buchan]

Speculation MPs could sit late into the night to debate Brexit deal

[21 October 2019 18:31 · Lizzy Buchan]

Sketch: Meaningful Vote Four? Bercow says no

John Bercow, may have finally ended the Meaningful Vote franchise, the least enjoyable multi-part series in cultural history, writes Independent sketchwriter Tom Peck.

Read his take here:

[21 October 2019 19:29 · Jane Dalton]

Diplomatic immunity at RAF Croughton to be reviewed

Dominic Raab, the foreign secretary, has told MPs he has commissioned a review of immunity at RAF Croughton for US personnel and their families following anger at the case of the death of Harry Dunn, a motorcyclist in Northamptonshire.

Shortly after the crash outside the RAF base on 27 August, Anne Sacoolas, a diplomat's wife, left the UK for America. 

"I do not believe the current arrangements are right and I will seek to ensure they won’t be used this way again," Mr Raab said.

He insisted the government would do everything it could to ensure justice was done.

[21 October 2019 20:03 · Jane Dalton]

Brexit bill published

The government has published the European Union Withdrawal Bill, which is 110 pages long with 40 clauses and 125 pages of notes, to ratify Boris Johnson's Brexit deal with Brussels.

Some MPs have complained that the timetable, under which the bill would complete its Commons passage on Thursday, means there would not be enough time for proper scrutiny.