Boris Johnson news - live: Brexit bill ‘paused’ after MPs vote for it but kill off plan for Halloween exit
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MPs have voted in favour of a Brexit withdrawal bill for the first time – but killed off Boris Johnson’s proposal to ram it through Parliament, thereby derailing his plan to leave by Halloween.
The Commons voted by 329 votes to 299 – a majority of 30 – to approve the prime minister’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) in principle, six months after killing off Theresa May’s equivalent version.
However, the PM then lost a vote on his proposed timetable, which stipulated the bill would have to clear all its Commons stages by the end of Thursday in order to fulful his "do or die" pledge to exit the EU at the end of the month, by a margin of 322 to 308.
Mr Johnson then announced the legislation would be "paused", meaning that the EU will now have to grant an extension to Brexit in order to avoid the UK crashing out with no deal in nine days' time.
Boris Johnson is asked by Labour's Pat McFadden about previous comments in which he said Brexit negotiations should be used to strip back regulations, including on workers' rights.
The prime minister dismisses this, promising that the UK will maintain the "highest possible standards" and that the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will give Parliament "the collective ability to keep pace with Brussels and indeed to do better".
PM tries to reassure Labour MPs’ fears on ‘loopholes’ on workers’ rights
Boris Johnson is seeking to reassure Labour MPs on how workers’ rights will be dealt with after the UK leaves the EU.
Tracy Brabin MP asked about ensuring that workers’ rights in the UK keep pace with those in the EU.
She asked that the PM “explain the loopholes around those workers’ rights that don’t use the security that we would need regarding non-regression for communities like mine, manufacturing communities, that need those workers’ rights.”
Responding, Johnson said: “People will need reassurance about this. There can be no regression. The UK will maintain the highest possible standards.”
He added: “If the EU decides that it wishes to introduce a new piece of legislation on social protection then it is of course automatic that this House should consider that, consider. And as I say there will be an amendable motion by which the government will give parliamentary time for the implementation... of that measure.”
Fellow Labour MP Melanie Onn asked for reassurances about employee terms and conditions and asked if the government would write into the bill the date it will consult on workers’ rights such as unfair dismissal.
Johnson replied: “We’ve already said that we set out how we will address the concerns of honourable members,” adding: “I do understand the desire of the honourable lady to get cracking on this.”
Caroline Lucas cites ‘trapdoor’ to no deal at end of 2020
Green MP Caroline Lucas is talking about the “trapdoor” she thinks is contained within the bill for a no-deal Brexit at the end of next year.
This is why MPs want to amend the bill to require the PM to extend to ask the EU for an extension to the transition period if we don’t have a trade deal by December 2020.
Lucas asks Boris Johnson to give assurances “we will not crash out [of the EU] at the end of December”.
Johnson responds: “I can indeed confirm there will be no crashing out – we will negotiate a great new friendship and partnership.”
Caroline Lucas asks PM about no deal risk
Boris Johnson’s brother says ‘never doubted for minute’ deal could be done
Jo Johnson has just been speaking in the Commons with a wry smile.
“I congratulate the prime minister on securing a deal – I never doubted it for a minute,” he says to laughter.
The PM’s brother quit the government over its Brexit approach at the beginning of September.
“I thank my honourable friend, and brother,” the PM responds.
Jo Johnson speaks in the Commons
Government set to pull Brexit bill if timetable fails, reports say
The government is reportedly ready to pull the withdrawal agreement bill if the “programme motion” – a three-day timetable for the bill to get through the Commons – fails to pass this evening.
A No 10 source has told the BBC and Sky News “there will be no further business for parliament and we’ll move to an election before Christmas”.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson says he will pull Brexit bill if government loses timetable vote
Boris Johnson has confirmed what the No 10 source told the BBC and Sky News – he says that if the government loses the vote on the programme motion this evening then his bill will have to be “pulled" and “we will have to go forward to a general election”.
Jeremy Corbyn says the people should ‘take final decision’
The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is now responding to Boris Johnson’s statement about his withdrawal agreement bill.
Corbyn says the bill is “nothing less than a charter for deregulation and a race to the bottom … it fails to protect our rights and our natural world”.
The Labour leader says “we would allow the people to take the final decision”.
Labour rebel Lisa Nandy has challenged her party’s leader and says the government’s bill must be supported at this stage.
Corbyn responds: “I know that she will support the principle of a customs union [with the EU] – my own view is that we should vote against this bill … but I do understand and respect the way she’s approach it.”
Jeremy Corbyn speaks in the Commons
John McDonnell calls PM ‘pathetic’ for threatening to pull Brexit bill
Corbyn calls three-day timetable ‘ludicrous’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has just called the three-day timetable set out by the government to get the Brexit bill through the Commons “ludicrous”.
Corbyn said the prime minister was “trying to blindside this parliament to force this deal through, and this parliament must challenge him in doing that."
He added: “All 68 clauses have got to be considered and voted on within the next, what, 24, 48 hours starting this evening. It’s actually an abuse of parliament, and a disgraceful attempt to dodge accountability, scrutiny, and any kind of proper debate.”
What is actually in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill that MPs are voting on today?
Our chief political commentator John Rentoul - the lucky man - has been through it so you don't have to.
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