As MPs meet to discuss the nation’s course for the next few generations, I thought it might be useful to go through the Order Paper.
First up is a statement from the Prime Minister followed by a vote on the deal itself.
There are a number of amendments to the motion. The SNP’s Angus McNeill has put down a straightforward revoke one. The rest of the SNP has put down an amendment calling for an extension and a General Election. They would prefer to get that over now than have it happen at the same time as Alex Salmond’s trial, currently scheduled for January.
The crunch vote will come on the amendment put together by Oliver Letwin and co-signed by the Rebel Alliance of Lib Dems, Hilary Benn, Dominic Grieve, Stephen Gethins and others. This would basically note the agreement and call for an extension to put it in legislation – so it can be amended by all sorts of things like a People’s Vote at some point in the future.
There is a second motion on the Order Paper which approves leaving without a deal. It is to this motion that the Kyle Wilson Amendment calling for a confirmatory referendum has been attached.
The thinking appears to be that this might get a majority of MPs to back it if the only alternative is no deal.
So, we could get the deal passed unamended. We could get the Letwin Amendment which is more likely to attract a wider range of Tories than the Kyle Wilson amendment wouldn’t that stage.
Let’s hope that MPs see the trap in the Prime Minister’s deal. He is selling it to the likes of the ERG as meaning no deal in a year’s time at the end of the transition period.
The other important thing to note is that all the environmental, social and labour protections that were put in by Theresa May to try to get Labour MPs to support it have been watered down. Nobody who considers themselves progressive should be voting for that.
One thing that amazes me, though, is that on such a monumental national occasion, there is no amendment in the name of the Leader of the Opposition. As it has been all the way through this, it is the likes of Lib Dems, Dominic Grieve and Oliver Letwin who have shown leadership.
I will admit to feeling very anxious as I arrive at Victoria Station for the People’s Vote March.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
Follow @libdemvoice.org on Bluesky
Like us on Facebook
Subscribe to our feed
Sign-up for our daily email digest
Lib Dems pick Richard Kilpatrick as candidate for the Greater Manchester Mayoral election
The Joy of Six 1538
Is Kier Starmer the new John Major?
Peter Hirst
Nick Hopkinson
Peter Martin
Paul Reynolds
Tom Bailey
7 Comments
Personally, if there’s no amendment in the name of Jeremy Corbyn, I’m not going to criticise him.
He’s played a lot of games to try to appeal to both Leavers and Remainers. If he’s chosing not to do so today, that’s fine with me.
This morning in the Commons, it’s as if the whole UK nation is being shaken up like a snow globe. We’ll see where all the flakes fall at lunch time.
I just hope common sense and distrust of this governments intentions will prevail today. We can only pray!!!
19th Oct ’19 – 9:34am “We’ll see where all the flakes fall at lunch time.” We did not.
The Letwin amendment was carried, Boris said he would not obey the Benn Act, because there was no legal reason to do so. The deadline is 23.00 UK time (midnight in Brussels).
This page is carrying pictures of Boris Johnson.
Do we think he is Intelligent? Stupid? Bandit? Helpless? I think he is naïve.
He should have got to know the DUP better than he has, although he has had ample time and opportunities. They could give him ten votes in the Commons, or oppose him as they did, a difference of twenty on an otherwise close vote. When the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement was finalised the late Ian Paisley was outside, against, and proud of his reputation for inflexibility (unless and until he had become First Minister).
One of the DUP MPs said in the Commons today, 19/10/2019, that the Northern Ireland Assembly will meet on Monday, except for one unnamed party (Sinn Fein?)
It will be interesting to see whether it actually meets,
whether it proceeds to create a devolved government for Northern Ireland
and what else it decides to do.
“Boris said he would not obey the Benn Act, because there was no legal reason to do so”
No he didn’t. He said:
“I will not negotiate a delay with the EU; neither does the law compel me to.”
But that doesn’t preclude a letter sent at 10:59pm tonight. Sending a letter is not negotiating. The Benn act says: “the prime minister must send a letter (specifically worded in the Act) to the president of the European Council which seeks an extension to Article 50 until 31 January 2020. If the EU agrees to the date, then the prime minister should also agree.”
Layla posted a tweet of a crowded lobby which was shown on BBC tv.
One is reminded of the report by Shirley Williams MP of an occasion when all the female MPs decided to wear high heels and stamp on anyone who pinched them. A Tory MP told them he had gout.
19th Oct ’19 – 6:53pm
BBC red button reported that ‘Donald Tusk tweeted that he had received the extension request and would consult EU leaders “on how to react”.’