BREXIT : what's happened ?

[Anthea]

IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER

Ignore ALL media comments about Boris suspending Parliament

EVERY YEAR Parliament is suspend for a few weeks in September/October to enable political parties to hold their annual conferences

All Boris has requested, is that an extra few days be added to the autumn suspension, logical really as he only became PM a couple of weeks prior to the summer break

MPs are the elected representatives of the British public and as such, they are NOT in office to promote their own personal views

MPs are the elected spokespeople for the people and the British people voted to leave the EU

MPs are duty bound to work TOGETHER to obtain the smooth transition out of the EU

Jacob Rees-Mogg tells Remainers
they're too scared to bring down Boris

The Minister at the centre of Boris Johnson's shock move (misinformation) to suspend Parliament today dares his opponents to bring down the Government – then watch the Prime Minister sweep to a thumping Election victory.

Jacob Rees-Mogg accuses 'deceitful' and 'underhand' MPs planning a last-ditch Commons move to block No Deal Brexit of being too frightened to call a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson because it would lead to a crushing defeat of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in a snap poll.

Mr Rees-Mogg, who went to Balmoral to gain the Queen's approval for the dramatic suspension (misinformation) last week, lays down the gauntlet as an exclusive Mail on Sunday poll predicts Mr Johnson would win a majority of 28 seats in an Election – rising to 84 if Nigel Farage's Brexit Party stands aside.

Plotters including former Chancellor Philip Hammond hope to seize control of the Commons agenda from the Government this week, allowing them to pass laws that would thwart No Deal.

Jacob Rees-Mogg accuses 'deceitful' and 'underhand' MPs planning a last-ditch Commons move to block No Deal Brexit of being too frightened to call a vote of no confidence in Mr Johnson

But writing in this newspaper, Mr Rees-Mogg, the Commons Leader describes such 'politicking' as 'unconstitutional' – and says opponents are 'too frightened' to use the other route open to them.

'They dare not use the confidence procedures because they know that Jeremy Corbyn is too unpopular,' he writes.

His provocative comments come at the start of what is sure to be a tumultuous week at Westminster. In the latest developments:

Senior Tories have war-gamed how to react if Remain MPs pass laws forcing Mr Johnson to demand a Brexit extension. Under one scenario, he would duly ask for a delay beyond October 31 – but then use the UK's veto in the EU to kill his own request;

Downing Street has drawn up plans to bar Tory MPs who vote to block No Deal from standing at the next Election;

Mr Johnson's allies have vowed to punish Speaker John Bercow for siding with pro-Remain rebel MPs by putting up a Tory candidate against him in his Buckingham constituency – breaking established protocol;

(When someone becomes Speaker of the House he is no longer allowed to take any side in politics - he does not take part in General Elections representing any specific political party - for many years there was a gentleman's agreement that political parties would not run a candidate against a speaker)

Former Deputy Speaker Natascha Engel warned that her former boss's partisan stance would backfire and bring about a hard Brexit;

Demonstrations took place across the UK yesterday against Mr Johnson's decision to suspend Parliament;

The Prime Minister has introduced a cross-Governmental dashboard modelled on the Apollo space project to ramp up preparations for No Deal;

Leaked EU minutes revealed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been impressed by Boris Johnson's 'professional' approach as Prime Minister, but has made clear to him that he needs to 'move rapidly' to secure a new Brexit deal.

Mr Johnson's plan to prorogue Parliament prompted an angry backlash from opponents of a No Deal Brexit. They said it was an attempt to stop MPs from passing laws to thwart the Prime Minister's plans.

The MPs, led on the Tory side by Mr Hammond and fellow former Cabinet Minister David Gauke, plan to seize control of the Commons when MPs return to Parliament on Tuesday.

They hope to delay Brexit if Brussels refuses to strike a compromise deal removing elements such as the Northern Ireland backstop, which are hated by the Tory hard Brexiteers known as the 'Spartans'.

Mr Rees-Mogg believes Mr Johnson would win extremely comfortably if a snap election was called

Boris Johnson warns against opposing his Brexit plan

In his Mail on Sunday article, Mr Rees-Mogg says Remainers risk sabotaging plans to plough millions into public services by wiping out the time set aside for the Chancellor's Spending Review on Wednesday.

He writes: 'The Chancellor has made clear it will focus on voters' priorities – schools, education, health and the police and it may be unwise for the Commons to stand in the way of the recruitment of 20,000 more police officers, or to prevent more than £14 billion being committed to our schools.'

He also urges Mr Bercow not to interfere in the process, saying the Speaker 'is bound by a requirement to represent the whole House of Commons, and by implication the whole of the UK, not a single view of their choosing'.

'It is now time to end this paralysis in the two chambers and allow the new Prime Minister, with all his natural vim and vigour, to bring this chapter in our island story to a conclusion,' he writes.

The Deltapoll survey for The Mail on Sunday shows that the 'Boris bounce' first recorded when he entered No 10 in July has continued in the wake of last week's move.

It puts the Conservatives on 35 per cent, up 5 per cent and 11 points clear of Jeremy Corbyn's Labour on 24 per cent. That means a projected Commons majority of 28.

If Mr Farage could be persuaded not to run candidates, the Tories would be on 41 per cent, with a 15 point lead over Labour – enough for a projected majority of 84.

The survey shows that half of all Brexit supporters support an electoral pact between the Conservatives and the Brexit Party, rising to nearly eight out of ten Brexit Party supporters.

Among the rebel Tory MPs thought to be involved in a lot against Boris Johnson are Philip Hammond, 63, (left) and former justice secretary David Gauke, 47, (right)

The poll shows that only a third of respondents believed Mr Johnson when he said that he was proroguing Parliament to allow the time for the Queen's Speech. When asked whether they agreed with the move, voters were split down the middle – 34 per cent in favour, with 36 per cent against.

The volatility of the political situation leads half of the respondents to think that Mr Johnson will only be Prime Minister for a year or less, while only one in ten predicts he will be in No 10 for five years or longer.

Joe Twyman, co-founder of Deltapoll, said: 'Despite all the controversy in Westminster, support for the Conservatives under Boris Johnson remains strong and increasingly points to a majority being on the cards were a General Election to be held today.

'Among Conservative voters there is support for the new Prime Minister's approach to both the suspension of Parliament and Brexit. What continues to be clear from these results, however, is that the country is still deeply divided: divided over Brexit, divided over the suspension of Parliament and divided over the future. And all these divisions show no sign of disappearing any time soon.'

lDeltapoll interviewed 2,028 British adults online between August 29 and 31. The data has been weighted to be representative of the British adult population as a whole.

JACOB REES-MOGG: Ignore all the hysteria and overblown caricatures. This is just another conflict between those still scheming to overturn Brexit and a PM battling to do what voters demanded three years ago

Those who create political hysteria are playing with fire. If politicians claim that democracy is under direct attack, or suggest there has been a coup d'etat, some of their supporters will take them seriously. If prominent novelists speak of ropes and lampposts – the language of the lynch mob – then their readers may well be influenced by it.

The divisions in this country are already quite bad enough. The disagreements are deeper and more personal than at any time since the appeasement crisis of more than 80 years ago or the Suez Crisis of more than 60 years ago. What good purpose is served by making them worse through lurid language and wild exaggeration?

People who speak where many listen, and write where many read, have a high responsibility. If they conjure a mob into being, as several are now trying to do, they may find that they cannot control it, or persuade it to go home. And those who place themselves at the head of a mob almost always end up being chased by the rabble they have called on to the streets, or in these times, on to the internet.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, writing in this newspaper, says : Those who create political hysteria are playing with fire

The absurd over-reactions of the past few days are not just foolish, though they certainly are foolish. They are also very dangerous. The Prime Minister's suspension of Parliament during the party conference period is certainly gamesmanship, and open to criticism. Prorogations, even quite long ones, are not unusual.

But this one is unusually long and will create extra difficulties for opponents of Brexit, though it still leaves them remarkable room to make trouble, which no real dictator or despot would have permitted.

Some on Boris Johnson's own side no doubt have reservations about the suspension. But it is also a perfectly reasonable response to openly declared plans by Remainers to try to bring down the Government or obstruct its single most important and urgent policy objective.

What sort of Prime Minister sits and does nothing in the face of such efforts? It would be weak and ineffectual for Mr Johnson to fail to react, and it would also persuade the EU leaders that he did not mean business.

He must act firmly at home if he is to be able to negotiate firmly abroad.

Our political system, an organic, flexible constitution which has grown over centuries of experience, allows such behaviour, and generally survives it. This is why our Government stretches back many centuries, and our Parliament dates to the 13th Century, while France is now on its Fifth Republic since 1789, punctuated with failed restorations of the monarchy and various violent overthrows of the state.

Mr Rees-Mogg added: Parallels with the age of regicide and civil war are overdone. Boris Johnson is neither Oliver Cromwell nor Charles I

There have been many worse threats to British liberty over the past 20 years, most notably the pro-EU Blair Government's use of the terror threat to whittle away at the ancient protections of habeas corpus by allowing longer and longer periods of detention without charge or trial.

And the Europhile Left has often been very quiet about the increasing restriction of free speech, especially on university campuses, because it has generally affected Right-wingers.

A more comparable crisis, over the rejection by the House of Lords of Lloyd George's radical 'People's Budget' of 1909, was eventually resolved two years later only when the newly crowned King George V threatened to create regiments of new peers to overcome the built-in Tory majority in the upper house. If anything, the clash strengthened our democratic institutions, not least because both sides, in the end, kept their heads.

The hysterical portrayal of the suspension as what it is not – as a forced total shutdown of Parliament or a lawless breach of the constitution – is far worse than the action itself. Those who are making this claim need to examine their consciences very hard.

They have created a precedent which others may one day use against them. And the best and most honest way to judge your own actions is to ask yourself how you would feel if your foes did the same thing to you.

It is also a good idea to check that your own side (or you) have not in fact done the same thing, or something similar, before getting too exercised.

In 1948, the much-admired Labour Prime Minister Clement Attlee prorogued Parliament to get around opposition to legislation aimed at limiting the powers of the Lords. By doing so, he created an extra session of Parliament, so making it easier to override angry Tory peers.

And in 1997, John Major (among Mr Johnson's noisiest opponents today) prorogued Parliament almost three weeks before it would have been dissolved anyway to hold a General Election.

Many accused the then Tory Premier of misusing his powers to avoid the publication of a damning report into Tory MPs taking cash for questions.

So, once the foam and froth have been scraped away, this is really just another conflict between Remainers, still trying to prevent the referendum from being obeyed properly, and a Government pledged to leave the EU, as instructed by the voters three years ago.

And the deep politicking, alas, continues. As The Mail on Sunday reveals today, the most effective Tory apostle of the anti-Boris cause, ex-Chancellor Philip Hammond, still appears to be hard at work building an apparatus to undermine his leader.

Mr Hammond's failure to prepare adequately for a No Deal exit remains his most distinctive contribution to modern politics. It greatly weakened the country's ability to push hard for the best possible deal. Had he acted differently, the whole course of the negotiations with the EU might have been different.

Now we find him deep in conversation with a leading Tory fundraiser amid the soft carpets and tinkling piano music of Le Caprice, one of London's most discreet and costly restaurants, famous for the squadrons of Bentleys and Rolls-Royces purring outside, as their patient chauffeurs wait for rich and powerful diners to finish their important conversations, and lavish meals, within.

Well, what a contrast to the urgent desires of ordinary voters to have their concerns listened to and their fears acknowledged. Whatever was being discussed at Le Caprice, it seems unlikely that it was a plan to accelerate and assist a clean, rapid and decisive British departure from the EU, after which our sovereign Parliament will at last be free from the heavy hand of external interference, and the domination of a supranational court.

That is what all this is really about. In the weeks between now and October 31, these are the issues. The nation should not be distracted by overblown caricatures and hysterical language, but continue to steer a steady course towards its democratic objective.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... abble.html

[Anthea]

Britain IS in the grip of a
coup - led by Remainers

The Prime Minister’s ‘declaration of war will be met with an iron fist,’ announced Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake

It took two phone calls to convince Boris Johnson he would have to press the nuclear button and prorogue Parliament. ‘It was after he got off his second call with two of the European leaders,’ a Johnson ally reveals. ‘He just turned and said, “They don’t think we’re serious about No Deal. They think Parliament will block it. They don’t think they need to move.” ’

This morning Britain stands on the brink of a second civil war. The Kamikaze Remainers are heading for the barricades – quite literally – in an attempt to prevent the usurpation of democracy. Bridges are to be seized. Streets occupied. The Prime Minister’s ‘declaration of war will be met with an iron fist,’ announced Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake.

And, once again, the Kamikaze Remainers are allowing self-righteous outrage to blind them to reality. Despite the hysterical talk of a hard-Brexit ‘coup’, Mr Johnson hasn’t prorogued Parliament in order to force through a No Deal Brexit. He has prorogued Parliament precisely so he can drive through a deal and avoid a No Deal Brexit.

‘Boris told me he now thinks there’s a 50-50 chance of getting the EU to move on the backstop,’ explains a Minister who spoke to Mr Johnson in the hours after the prorogation plan was unveiled. ‘But the obstacle is Parliament. If the EU thinks Parliament will take No Deal off the table, then there’s no need to give concessions. So his strategy is to bring everything to a head. Let the MPs take their shot, face them down, then say to the EU, “Right, it’s up to you now. Do you want to help me take No Deal off the table or not.” ’

For the past few months Boris has been telling everyone who will listen that ‘Theresa May’s deal is dead’. But the truth is May’s deal is not dead. The backstop – a key component, admittedly – is indeed suffering rigor mortis. The Prime Minister has been clear that there can be no sleight of hand over codicils or time limits. It has to be completely ditched.

But the rest of the May deal remains on life support. As one Johnson aide phrased it: ‘The backstop isn’t the only problem, but it’s certainly one of the main ones.’

Which is why, while the Remainers have been rushing around drawing up wild plans to seize control of the nation’s arteries, Conservative backbench Spartans have been quietly expressing their own concern. ‘Removing the backstop alone is not enough to secure a deal worth supporting,’ Steve Baker tweeted on Friday. Concern that is fully justified.

‘The Spartans are finally realising they’re about to get f*****,’ one Minister acknowledged. Another explained: ‘You can see why Boris went for the reshuffle he did. If Priti Patel had been given a junior job, she’d never have accepted dumping the backstop was enough. But she’s not going to walk away from the Home Office.’

It took two phone calls to convince Boris Johnson he would have to press the nuclear button and prorogue Parliament

Thousands protest against PM's suspension of Parliament
[color=#0000FF]Misinformation as Parliament is ALWAYS suspended in autumn and is only being suspeneded for an etra few days[/color]

Over the past week, the Remainers have been subjecting the British people to a mandatory history lesson. We have been told that we are reliving 1653, when Oliver Cromwell marched into the Commons and ordered MPs out at the point of a flintlock.

But as we stampede towards yet another national crisis, recent history is probably more relevant.

It was Parliament that voted to grant the British people a referendum on our membership of the EU. It was Parliament that voted to trigger Article 50 when a majority of those people voted to leave.

Five hundred and sixty-eight of our 650 current MPs were elected on manifestos pledging to respect the referendum result

It was Parliament that voted on three separate occasions to prevent Britain leaving the European Union with a deal. And it was Parliament that voted on March 26, 2019, to take control of the Brexit process, held a succession of votes on its preferred Brexit model and spectacularly failed to find a majority for any of them.

All the haughty expressions of democratic outrage we have heard over the past few days ignore a single, simple fact. The people of Britain voted to leave the European Union in the biggest expression of popular will ever seen in this country since the introduction of the universal franchise. And, more than three years later, our politicians persistently and pig-headedly refuse to respect and implement that democratic instruction.

‘Boris Johnson is acting like an unelected dictator,’ they cry while literally plotting to install Jeremy Corbyn or Harriet Harman or Ken Clarke in Downing Street.

Who is really acting like the dictator this morning? The person who is attempting to force Parliament to act in concert with the wishes of the people who elected them? Or those who are again attempting to impose a never-ending parliamentary veto over the wishes of the voters?

When are the Remainers finally going to be honest with those voters. They do not respect the referendum result. They do not want to see a No Deal Brexit, or a soft Brexit, or anything that even remotely resembles Brexit. They think that when Britain voted to leave, Britain voted the wrong way. But they just can’t muster the courage to say so.

So this week they will begin their own act of insurrection. The fact that Mr Johnson is specifically attempting to avoid the very No Deal Brexit they profess to oppose is irrelevant. They will take to the streets. They will occupy bridges. They will give the British people a taste of that iron Remainer fist.

A coup is indeed under way. But it is not being mounted by the Prime Minister

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/arti ... iners.html

[Anthea]

THREE YEARS OF NEGOTIATIONS

THREE EXTENSIONS

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

The EU in simple terms:

When an EU country wants tp deal with a non EU country it has to do so through the EU thereby giving the EU a percentage of all deals

During ALL the so-called negotiations, I have yet to see any mention of the

WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

The EU brings in regulations that are forced into UK law without ever being passed by any elected official

Shocking but true:
Groups of overfed, probably semi drunk, non-elected pen pushers get together and come up with weird laws that are forced onto other countries

The most stupid laws are those which effect farm produce, whereby EU countries are NOT allowed to sell produce for human consumption which is not of regulation size and shape

Surely I am not the only person to notice that large number of countries suffer from lack of food

[Anthea]

Parties in late-night pact
to get bill past Lords

The government has said a bill to stop a no-deal Brexit will complete its passage through the Lords on Friday

The proposed legislation was passed by MPs on Wednesday, inflicting a defeat on Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

There were fears pro-Brexit peers could deliberately hold up the bill so it could not get royal assent before Parliament is prorogued next week.

But the Conservative chief whip in the Lords announced a breakthrough in the early hours after talks with Labour.

The peers sat until 01:30 BST, at which point Lord Ashton of Hyde made the announcement that all stages of the bill would be completed in the Lords by 17:00 BST on Friday.

He added that the Commons chief whip had also given a commitment that MPs will consider any Lords amendments on Monday and that the government intends that the "bill will be ready to be present for Royal Assent".

Baroness Smith, Labour leader in the House of Lords, confirmed the opposition supported the move, and said she hoped there would be "no further frustrations" of the bill as it goes through all its stages on Friday.

"It has been quite a night. It has been a long debate - and I am grateful to the noble Lords who have stayed the course - it shows the importance of the work we do and the issue we are debating," she said.

"I am grateful that we are now able to confirm that we will be able to complete all stages of the bill in a time honoured way by 5pm Friday."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49588186

[Anthea]

Remember Boris was only PM for 2 WEEKS before the summer break

MPs have had 3 YEARS to work TOGETHER and provide an EXIT STRATEGY

Government doing what the people want

Boris Johnson has said "there is a way" of getting a new Brexit deal, as he defended the decision to suspend Parliament for five weeks

The PM said "loads of people" wanted an agreement, but he was prepared to leave without one if "absolutely necessary".

Parliament will not resume sitting until 14 October, three days before a crucial Brexit summit of EU leaders.

The PM, who has met the leadership of Northern Ireland's DUP, said claims this was undemocratic were "nonsense".

Amid unprecedented scenes in the Commons early on Tuesday, some MPs protested against the suspension with signs saying "silenced" while shouting: "Shame on you."

But Mr Johnson rejected claims this was an affront to democracy, saying the opposition parties were given the chance of an election before the Brexit deadline on 31 October but had spurned it.

Opposition MPs said a law blocking a no-deal Brexit must be implemented before there could be any election.

Key sticking point

The prime minister held an hour of talks with Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster and her deputy Nigel Dodds in Downing Street.

Mrs Foster, whose party has propped up the Conservative government since the 2017 election, issued a statement later indicating it would not support any revised version of Theresa May's Brexit agreement which separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

She said renewed talk of a so-called Northern Ireland-only backstop, which would see it remain in the customs union and be bound by EU rules for goods and animal products while the rest of the UK was not, would be "unacceptable".

"A sensible deal, between the United Kingdom and European Union which respects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom, is the best way forward for everyone," she said.

"History teaches us that any deal relating to Northern Ireland which cannot command cross community support is doomed to failure. That is why the Northern Ireland backstop is flawed.

"During today's meeting, the prime minister confirmed his rejection of the Northern Ireland only backstop and his commitment to securing a deal which works for the entire United Kingdom as well as our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland."

The Irish border has proved a key sticking point in attempts to agree a Brexit deal between the UK and the EU.

The government has indicated it could support harmonised rules for the agriculture and food sector to prevent the need for any sanitary and other health checks on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

But it has distanced itself from reports that plans for a single EU-UK customs territory in the current withdrawal agreement - rejected three times by MPs - could be replaced with a specific Northern Ireland only "backstop" arrangement.

Although official negotiations with the EU have yet to restart, the bloc's new trade commissioner said it was positive the UK seemed prepared to "accept some level of divergence between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK".

"I remain hopeful that the penny is finally dropping with the UK that there are pragmatic and practical solutions that can actually be introduced into the debate at this stage - albeit at the 11th hour - that may find some common ground between the EU and the UK," Ireland's Phil Hogan told the Irish Times

Parliament was suspended - or prorogued

During the five-week suspension, parties will hold their annual conferences but no debates, votes or committee scrutiny sessions will take place.

Boris Johnson will not face Prime Minister's Questions until the period is over and his scheduled questioning by the Commons Liaison Committee on Wednesday has been cancelled.

Sarah Wollaston, the Lib Dem chair of the committee, said the PM had gone back on earlier "reassurances" that he would appear, telling BBC's Newsnight she was "appalled" that he was "running away from scrutiny".

Parliament's suspension means MPs will not get a third chance to vote for an early election until they return, meaning a poll would not be possible until November at the earliest.

In Monday's latest vote, 293 MPs backed the prime minister's motion for an early election, far short of the two thirds needed.

New legislation, which was granted royal assent on Monday, will force the prime minister to seek a delay until 31 January 2020 unless a deal - or a no-deal exit - is approved by MPs by 19 October.

Speaking during a visit to a primary school in London, Mr Johnson said getting ready to leave the EU on Halloween was among the "priorities of the people".

He said there "were loads of people around the place", including in Brussels, who wanted to nail down an agreement but he was willing to leave without a deal "if absolutely necessary".

"There is a way of getting a deal but it will take a lot of hard work - but we must be prepared to come out without a deal."

Labour, the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Independent Group for Change and Plaid Cymru have refused to agree to an election on what they say are "Boris Johnson's terms".

The Lib Dems, meanwhile, are seeking to put distance between themselves and Labour by saying that if they win power at the next election they will have an "unequivocal" mandate to cancel Brexit entirely.

At their conference on Sunday, members will debate a motion reaffirming their support for a referendum, but also urging the revocation of Article 50 - the legal process for leaving the EU - a week before the Brexit deadline if no deal has been agreed.

The prime minister's self-imposed Halloween Brexit deadline looks further out of reach than a few short days ago.

Is it impossible? Absolutely not.

There is the possibility, still, of a deal, with Number 10 today stressing it is still their primary aim.

Whispers again about a Northern Ireland-only backstop, and a bigger role for the Stormont assembly, if it ever gets up and running, are doing the rounds.

Some MPs and some diplomats are more cheerful about the possibilities of it working out.

If you squint, you can see the chance of an agreement being wrapped up at pace, although it seems the chances range somewhere between slim and negligible.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49651969

[Anthea]

I must remind you that Boris had only been PM for 2 weeks before the summer break

The mess that we have over BREXIT was not caused by Boris

It was caused by Parliament in it's entirety, for falling to comply with the wishes of the public and working TOGETHER during the last 3 YEARS to provide for an effective EU exit plan

Indeed a great many MPs seem to have forgotten that they are public servants elected by us, the general public, to act on our behalf and comply with our wishes

Sadly, the power we have given these idiots seems to have gone to their heads - they are PUBLIC SERVANTS there to serve the public

As for Boris, he seems to have put in a great deal more effort in his few weeks in office than all the rest of the MPs have done in 3 years

Boost for Boris court says Parliament
shutdown can't be challenged

Boris Johnson received a major boost over his highly controversial decision to shut down Parliament ahead of Brexit today as senior judges said it could not be legally challenged

After the Prime Minister's divisive move to prorogue the Commons for five weeks, sparking Remainer uproar, was deemed illegal by judges in Scotland, the High Court in London revealed that it viewed the situation completely differently.

In giving their reasons for throwing out a case brought by Remainer businesswoman Gina Miller, justices in London said the decision which closed down parliament on Monday was 'purely political' and therefore 'not a matter for the courts'.

The ruling will calm Brexiteer nerves ahead of a dramatic legal showdown at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, where the UK's highest legal authority will have to decide which judicial decision is the right one.

Ms Miller's claim - which was supported by former prime minister Sir John Major, shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti and the Scottish and Welsh governments - was dismissed last Friday. But a bench led by Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett delivered their ruling at a brief hearing in London on Wednesday.

In their judgment, they stated: 'We concluded that the decision of the Prime Minister was not justiciable (capable of challenge). It is not a matter for the courts.'

They added: 'The Prime Minister's decision that Parliament should be prorogued at the time and for the duration chosen and the advice given to Her Majesty to do so in the present case were political.

'They were inherently political in nature and there are no legal standards against which to judge their legitimacy.'

Judges said the decision by Mr Johnson (pictured today taking part in a People's PMQs on Facebook) which closed down parliament on Monday was 'purely political' and therefore 'not a matter for the courts'

Boris Johnson earlier suffered another setback as Scottish judges ruled his suspension of Parliament was unlawful. The case is expected to be appealed further at the Supreme Court

The Brexit war had exploded earlier today as No10 was accused of questioning the impartiality of Scottish judges who ruled Boris Johnson suspended Parliament illegally.

An Edinburgh court decided that prorogation was unlawful because the Prime Minister's intention had been to 'stymy' scrutiny of his Brexit policy - not to pave the way for a new legislative programme as he claimed.

The shock outcome sets the stage for a titanic showdown at the Supreme Court next week - with the risk that the Queen will be dragged into the constitutional crisis

As Westminster descended into chaos, Remainers claimed Mr Johnson had 'deceived' the monarch and the prorogation of Parliament for five weeks - which happened in the early hours of yesterday morning by Royal proclamation - was now null and void.

There was more fury after a No10 source reportedly swiped that the Scottish courts had been 'chosen for a reason', with Nicola Sturgeon slamming the jibe as 'pitiful' and undermining the rule of law.

Attorney General Robert Buckland tried to calm the row by tweeting that he had 'total confidence' in the independence of judges, while the PM's official spokesman repeated the message.

As MPs demanded the Houses be recalled 'immediately', some staged protests by tweeting selfies of themselves sitting in the Commons chamber.

Rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve said Mr Johnson must resign if he misled the Queen about his motives, while Labour's David Lammy accused him of 'deceiving' the monarch.

Meanwhile, union baron Len McCluskey made the extraordinary suggestion that Mr Johnson should be put under 'citizens arrest'.

Downing Street denied that the PM had misled the Queen. Pressed repeatedly by journalists on the allegation, a spokesman said: 'I think I am fairly clear that the reasons for prorogation have been consistent throughout.'

No10 sources insisted Parliament will stay prorogued until the Supreme Court rules next week, and suggested another Royal Proclamation will be needed for MPs to start sitting again before the currently slated date of October 14.

Attorney General Robert Buckland (left) tried to calm a row after a No10 source suggested Remainers had picked the Scottish courts because they were more likely to win. Lawyer Jo Maugham, who was involved in the Edinburgh case, said he believed Parliament was no longer prorogued. Downing Street said it did not agree

Judge Lord Doherty dismissed a challenge against the planned prorogation at the Court of Session last Wednesday, saying it is for politicians and not the courts to decide.

But a panel of three judges in Edinburgh overturned that decision.
Three separate legal challenges to prorogation - but all will end up in the Supreme Court

Remainers have been pushing three separate legal challenges to the PM's move to prorogue Parliament.

They have been taking place in the UK's three legal jurisdictions - England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Scottish law has been distinct from English law for centuries, and differs in a number of important respects. For example, juries in criminal trials have 15 members - and as well as 'guilty' and 'not guilty', they can find a case 'not proven'.

Northern Ireland law has been distinct since partition in 1921, but is more similar to that in England and Wales.

The challenge in Scotland was rejected in the first instance last week, but today three judges ruled that the suspension of parliament was unlawful due to the PM's 'improper' motivations.

The High Court in London took a very different view last week. Releasing details of their reasoning today, judges stated that it was not the place of the court to interfere in matters of 'high politics'.

A ruling is due in the Belfast case tomorrow.

However, all three strands are due to end up in the Supreme Court in London next week - the highest authority in UK law.

Nine senior judges will hear the arguments over three days, before deliberating and delivering a ruling that could decide the fate of the PM, and the country.

A summary of the judgement said: 'The Inner House of the Court of Session has ruled that the Prime Minister's advice to HM the Queen that the United Kingdom Parliament should be prorogued from a day between 9 and 12 September until 14 October was unlawful because it had the purpose of stymying Parliament.

'All three first division judges have decided that the PM's advice to the HM the Queen is justiciable, that it was motivated by the improper purpose of stymying parliament and that it, and what has followed from it, is unlawful.

'The court will accordingly make an order declaring that the prime minister's advice to HM the Queen and the prorogation which followed thereon was unlawful and is thus null and of no effect.'

At the hearing, Judge Lord Carloway told the court: 'We are of the opinion that the advice given by the Government to her majesty the Queen to prorogue parliament was unlawful and that the prorogation itself was unlawful.'

A UK Government spokesman said: 'We are disappointed by today's decision, and will appeal to the UK Supreme Court.

'The UK Government needs to bring forward a strong domestic legislative agenda. Proroguing Parliament is the legal and necessary way of delivering this.'

The case is now set for the Supreme Court in London where it is expected to be heard alongside a similar case brought by campaigner Gina Miller.

That challenge was rejected by the High Court last week - but judges gave permission for it to be appealed to the Supreme Court.

In an incendiary jibe, one No10 source told the Sun: 'We note that last week the High Court in London did not rule that prorogation was unlawful.

'The legal activists choose the Scottish courts for a reason.'

The remark was quickly disowned by the PM's aides, but SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said: 'This is pitiful, pathetic and desperate from No10.'

Former Justice Secretary David Gauke said: 'It is neither responsible nor acceptable for 'sources in No 10' to accuse judges of political bias. Criticism of this type from within Government undermines the independence of the judiciary and, therefore, the rule of law.'
Could Boris Johnson be forced to recall MPs?

Boris Johnson's decision to prorogue Parliament for five weeks at a key pre-Brexit time for the country followed a well-trodden constitutional path.

The decision to shut down the legislature is ultimately taken by the Queen, but on the advice of the prime minister of the day and the Privy Council.

The monarch spoke with Mr Johnson by telephone before Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg flew to Balmoral at the end of August to present the Government's plan in person.

She gave the Government a short window in which to carry out the prorogation and the decision was taken to enact it on Monday, after Boris Johnson made one last (failed) attempt to convince MPs to back his plea for a general election in October.

The pageantry involved led to chaotic scenes in the Commons in the early hours of Tuesday when opposition MPs tried to stop Speaker John Bercow accompanying Black Rod to the Lords, where the proclamation was read out and officially enacted.

Today's decision in Scotland is unlikely to change anything immediately, despite calls for the doors of Parliament to be reopened today.

But the decision of the Supreme Court in London on Tuesday would carry full political and legal weight.

As the court of last resort, if it upholds the ruling that Mr Johnson's advice to the Queen was unlawful it would effectively declare the shutdown null and void.

It is unclear exactly what would happen next - as Parliament would resume sitting, but the Government has not tabled any business.

But Tory MP Henry Smith told MailOnline: 'I think the Scottish court decision is is highly political and actually very dangerous, because the courts shouldn't be passing judgement on Parliamentary matters and certainly issues that are the subject of the PM's prerogative.

'The courts should be blind to party politics. The courts are not there to do the SNP's bidding.'

Another senior Conservative Brexiteer told MailOnline the judgement was 'pretty maverick'.

They said: 'The sort of language that is being used is remarkably political. It does look political.'

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: 'It is a landmark ruling when a court, this time in Scotland, rules that it is unlawful to prorogue Parliament. The issue will now go to the Supreme Court next week.

'We did everything we could to prevent the prorogation of Parliament. That is actually shutting down Parliament which is what the Prime Minister has done in order to prevent questioning and debate right through to the middle of October.

'Whatever happens next week we will continue to press for Parliament to be recalled so that we can question the PM as to why he seems, still, unable to give an undertaking that he will abide by the European law that we passed last week requiring him to seek an extension if necessary to prevent a No Deal crash out from the European Union at the end of October.

'These are interesting times when courts rule in favour of democracy against a prime minister who wants to shut down our democracy.'

Giving detailed reasons for its rejection of the Miller challenge today, the High Court said the decision to prorogue Parliament was 'purely political' and therefore not capable of challenge in the courts.

Ms Miller's claim was supported by former prime minister Sir John Major, shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, Master of the Rolls Sir Terence Etherton and President of the Queen's Bench Division Dame Victoria Sharp delivered their ruling at a brief hearing in London on Wednesday.

In their judgment, they stated: 'We concluded that the decision of the Prime Minister was not justiciable (capable of challenge). It is not a matter for the courts.'

They added: 'The Prime Minister's decision that Parliament should be prorogued at the time and for the duration chosen and the advice given to Her Majesty to do so in the present case were political.

'They were inherently political in nature and there are no legal standards against which to judge their legitimacy.'

They said it was 'impossible for the court to make a legal assessment of whether the duration of the prorogation was excessive by reference to any measure'.

The court also said that legislation passed by Parliament, which requires Mr Johnson to seek an extension to the current Brexit deadline of October 31 if no deal is reached with the EU, had 'undermined' Ms Miller's case.

The judgment stated: 'The ability of Parliament to move with speed when it chooses to do so was illustrated with clarity and at the same time undermined the underlying premise of the cases advanced by both the claimant and the interveners, namely that the prorogation would deny Parliament the opportunity to do precisely what it has just done.'

Those who pushed the case have been quick to celebrate the outcome.

Ms Cherry, one of the Scottish MPs who brought the challenge, tweeted: 'Huge thanks to all our supporters & our fantastic legal team who have achieved the historic ruling that #prorogation is #unlawful'

Jolyon Maugham QC, the anti-Brexit barrister who was second petitioner in the case, said the Supreme Court would hear the case next week.

He tweeted: 'We have won. Appeal begins in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

'We believe that the effect of the decision is that Parliament is no longer prorogued.

'I have never been able to contemplate the possibility that the law could be that our sovereign Parliament might be treated as an inconvenience by the Prime Minister.
What happens next in the Brexit crisis?

Here is how the coming weeks could pan out:

September 14-17: Lib Dem conference takes place in Bournemouth

September 17: Supreme Court hears case on whether prorogation of Parliament was illegal.

September 21-25: Labour conference in Brighton

September 29-October 2: Tory conference takes place in Manchester, with Mr Johnson giving his first keynote speech as leader on the final day. This will be a crucial waypointer on how Brexit talks are going.

October 14: Unless it has already been recalled following the court battle, Parliament is due to return with the Queen's Speech - the day before Mr Johnson had hoped to hold a snap election.

October 17-18: A crunch EU summit in Brussels, where Mr Johnson has vowed he will try to get a Brexit deal despite Remainers 'wrecking' his negotiating position.

October 19: If there is no Brexit deal by this date Remainer legislation obliges the PM to beg the EU for an extension to avoid No Deal.

October 21: Decisive votes on the Queen's Speech, which could pave the way for a confidence vote.

October 31: The current deadline for the UK to leave the EU.

November/December: An election looks inevitable, but Labour is hinting it might push the date back towards Christmas to humiliate the PM.

'I am pleased that Scotland's highest court agrees. But ultimately, as has always been the case, it's the final arbiter's decision that matters.

'We will convene again in the Supreme Court next week.'

Sir Keir said: 'I welcome the Court's judgement. No one in their right mind believed Boris Johnson's reason for shutting down Parliament.

'I urge the Prime Minister to immediately recall Parliament so we can debate this judgement and decide what happens next.'

He added: 'The Prime Minister was not telling the truth about why he was doing it. The idea of shutting down Parliament offended everyone across the country, and then they felt they were not being told the truth.'

Speaking at the TUC conference in Brighton, Mr McCluskey told Sky News: 'My advice to the prime minister is don't go up to Scotland - you're liable to face a citizen's arrest.'

Labour MP Ben Bradshaw said Mr Johnson 'broke the law by closing down Parliament', and added: 'Did he also lie to the Queen? Time for Parliament to get back to work.'

But Brexiteers voiced fury at the ruling.

Tory former MP Stewart Jackson said: 'The reputation of Parliament is as low as it can get now.

'The Scottish Court decision merely reinforces the narrative that the Establishment couldn't care less about the voters and will do all it can to overturn the democratic will of the people. Carry on. Tick tock.'

The ruling is a fresh headache for Mr Johnson as he scrambles to find a way through the Brexit crisis.

There are growing signs he is ready to compromise on his Brexit demands after he admitted he faces a revolt from hardline Tory Eurosceptics.

The Prime Minister told Remainer rebels he is expecting 'spears in my back' from so-called 'Spartans' in his own party.

The remarks emerged amid claims Mr Johnson is softening his call for the Irish border backstop to be completely scrapped.

Instead aides are believed to be examining proposals for arrangements that would apply only to Northern Ireland, rather than aligning the whole UK with EU market rules.

That could raise tensions with the DUP, which has insisted it will not accept anything that risks splitting the union.

Mr Johnson previously stated that he was seeking a 'backstop-ectomy', to remove the controversial provision from the Withdrawal Agreement altogether.

However, the premier's options are looking increasingly limited, after Parliament passed a law effectively banning No Deal at the end of October, and refused his call to trigger an early general election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the Scottish decision was 'a landmark ruling when a court, this time in Scotland, rules that it is unlawful to prorogue Parliament'

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer (pictured at the TUC conference in Brighton today) demanded Parliament be recalled 'immediately'. There was more fury after a No10 source reportedly swiped that the Scottish courts had been 'chosen for a reason', with Nicola Sturgeon (right) slamming the jibe as 'pitiful' and undermining the rule of law.

Labour's Luke Pollard said he had been sitting in the Commons chamber 'quietly and peacefully' to make a point today
Who are the Scottish judges who just ruled suspending Parliament was unlawful?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/articl ... enged.html

[Anthea]

PM 'won't be deterred'
from Brexit on 31 October

The prime minister said he was cautiously optimistic of getting a Brexit deal, but the UK would leave by the deadline whatever happens

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said he did not have "reasons to be optimistic" over getting a deal.

Mr Johnson will meet him and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Monday for talks.

During the PM's speech, at the Convention of the North in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, he was heckled by an audience member who told him to "get back to Parliament" and "sort out the mess that you have created".

Earlier this week Parliament passed a law forcing Mr Johnson to ask for an extension to Brexit.

He will have to write to the EU on 19 October to ask for an extra three months, unless he returns with a deal - then approved by MPs - or gets the Commons to back a no-deal Brexit.

But despite the new law, Mr Johnson said he would rather be "dead in a ditch" than ask for an extension.

The Speaker of the Commons, John Bercow, vowed to act with "creativity" if Mr Johnson ignored the law, saying it would be a "terrible example to set to the rest of society".

MPs managed to pass the law before Parliament was suspended - or prorogued - in the early hours of Tuesday morning until 14 October.

Mr Johnson said the government had made the move so it could hold a Queen's Speech and put forward its new domestic policy agenda.

But opposition MPs claim it was to stop scrutiny in Parliament of his Brexit plans.

Earlier this week, a Scottish court ruled the prorogation was unlawful as it was motivated by an "improper purpose of stymieing Parliament".

The government is appealing against the decision and a ruling will be made by the Supreme Court in London on Tuesday.

Answering questions after his speech, Mr Johnson said: "We are working incredibly hard to get a deal. There is the rough shape of the deal to be done.

"I have been to talk to various other EU leaders, particularly in Germany, in France and in Ireland, where we made a good deal of progress.

"I'm seeing [Mr Juncker and Mr Barnier] on Monday and we will talk about the ideas that we've been working on and we will see where we get."

He added: "I would say I'm cautiously optimistic."

'Shenanigans'

MPs are still demanding Parliament be recalled to scrutinise a number of Brexit-related issues, including the release of so-called "Yellowhammer" papers - a government assessment of a reasonable worst-case scenario in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

But Mr Johnson said that "whatever the shenanigans that may be going on at Westminster", the government would "get on with delivering our agenda and preparing to take this country out of the EU on 31 October".

He added that there would still be "ample time" for MPs to scrutinise any deal reached with the EU, adding that he "very much hoped" to agree one at the EU summit on 17 and 18 October.

The Times newspaper reported that a Brexit deal could be on the horizon as the Northern Irish Democratic Unionists (DUP) - the party which has a confidence and supply deal with the Conservatives - had reportedly agreed to "shift its red lines" over the backstop.

The backstop is the policy in the existing withdrawal agreement - negotiated between former Prime Minister Theresa May and the EU - aimed at preventing a hard border returning to the island of Ireland, but it has proved controversial with a number of pro-Brexit MPs.

However, the reports were rejected by the DUP's leader Arlene Foster, who tweeted: "Anonymous sources lead to nonsense stories."

A UK spokesman in Brussels revealed the negotiating team had "presented some ideas" on an all-island Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary solution - essentially keeping Northern Ireland aligned with EU regulations on animal and food health.

But the DUP has said it would not support any arrangement that could see Northern Ireland treated differently than the rest of the UK after Brexit.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49690613

[Anthea]

Brits have completely lost
confidence in country’s MPs

Not surprising as they have wasted 3 years

Boris Johnson: I’d rather spend a billion on police than stay in EU

In light of recent gang violence and murders, I agree with Boris

Eight in 10 believe Parliament is in need of reform

74 percent believe it is not fit for the 21st century

70 percent think it fails to reflect the nation’s views

75 percent believe that, internationally, it does not show Britain in a good light.

60 percent say it has not respected the 2016 referendum result – causing Brexiteers to blame the lack of trust in MPs on the failure to leave the EU.

This polling shows the contempt the people now hold politicians in, and they are right to feel that way

Nigel Farage

Last night Nigel Farage told the Sunday Express: “This polling shows the contempt the people now hold politicians in, and they are right to feel that way.”

A Downing Street source said: “It is tragic that the deadlock brought about by those who want to cancel the referendum result has had such a chilling effect on our trust in parliamentary democracy.

“It’s clear that the British people have lost confidence in Parliament.”

However, the poll also showed that Remain voters were fed up with MPs, with 73 percent of them saying Parliament is in desperate need of reform, compared to 85 percent of Leavers.

The results also show that 73 percent of all voters believe that Parliament does not attract the brightest and best, and that as an institution it puts political point-scoring above the interests of the country.

“To say that Parliament is in desperate need of an overhaul is a gross understatement,” said ComRes’s chairman Andrew Hawkins.

In a boost to Boris Johnson, 59 percent agreed there should be an election if the Labour/Remainer “surrender bill” to force another extension of EU membership succeeds.

In the week that John Bercow announced he is to step down as Speaker, the findings are a damning indictment of his decade-long tenure and confirm that the divide between Parliament and the people is at crisis point.

It follows a shambolic end to Parliament which saw anti-Brexit MPs singing songs and waving placards in the chamber.

There should be NO anti-Brexit MPs because we, the public, voted to leave and they, the MPs, are public servants

Last week, BBC Question Time audience member Charlie Neil received an ovation when he told panellists: You’ve had three years and three months, and you’ve done nothing but argue among yourselves like little kids.

You’ve got no respect for each other and you’ve got no respect for the British people. Just go away.

ComRes’s Mr Hawkins said that the disillusionment was sparked by Parliament’s failure to deal with those trying the thwart the 2016 Brexit result.

But it had since spread to all parts of the political spectrum.

He added that it would boost Boris Johnson’s hopes of success in a “people versus Parliament election”.

He said: “It is no exaggeration to describe the public mood towards Parliament as being at crisis point.

“Views towards Parliament have grown progressively more negative since 2016, driven initially by Leave voters frustrated at what they feared were attempts by Remain-supporting MPs to frustrate the referendum result.

I repeat. There should be NO Remain-supporting MPs, as our elected representatives they are duty bound to follow our wishes and we voted to leave

“However, Remain voters have now turned hostile, to the point where the vast majority feel that Parliament is not putting Britain in a good light internationally, that it is not representative of the nation’s views and is putting political point-scoring before the interests of the country.

“To say that Parliament is in desperate need of an overhaul is a gross understatement: just seven percent, or one in 14, British adults think that ‘Parliament works well and is fit for the 21st Century’.

“No other institution could survive being as unpopular with the public but, from John Bercow’s unapologetic defence of Parliament last week, there seems little scope of significant change during this parliament.”

Writing for the Sunday Express today, Deputy Speaker Dame Eleanor Laing, one of the front-runners to succeed Mr Bercow, has made a barely veiled attack on the current Speaker’s record.

She warned that “faith in our finely balanced democracy has been badly rattled”. Dame Eleanor said it was extraordinary the Speaker is “totally unaccountable” and suggested that checks and balances may need to apply in the future.

She stressed the importance of respecting “rules and conventions”, and warned of the potential for public anarchy.

She said: “If the way in which a law is made is thought to be unfair, people will not respect that law and will be reluctant to obey it. That way lies anarchy.”

Stating that “discourtesy and arrogance are deplorable”, Dame Eleanor added: “All Members of Parliament should show respect for one another. Equally, we must all respect those who elect us and the decisions they entrust to us.

“That, of course, includes the result of the 2016 referendum!”

The ComRes survey of 2,057 people revealed strong backing for an election if Parliament suc­ceeds in delaying Brexit until January 31, putting pressure on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his alliance of Remain par­ ties to relent and stop blocking a general election.

As Jeremy Corbyn and his loony left friends support Remain against the wishes of the population - he no longer deserves a place in Parliament

According to the results, 61 percent of Conservative voters, 74 per cent of Labour supporters, seven in 10 Lib Dem voters and 52 percent of Brexit Party voters all support a general election being called.

Seven in 10 Remain voters also would support calling an election if Brexit is delayed, as do three in five of those who voted Leave in 2016.

However, in a week where Downing Street strongly rejected overtures for a Brexit alliance with Nigel Farage the poll showed that the Tories can only win with Brexit Party support.

The findings had the Con­servatives on 28 percent, just one point ahead of Labour on 27 per cent.

The Lib Dems are on 20 percent and Brexit Party is on 13 per cent.

It comes as a survey by the Bow Group, the oldest Con­servative think ­tank, of more than 2,000 Tory voters reveals that 90 percent want an electoral pact between the Tories and Brexit Party, while 93 percent want a no­deal Brexit.

Bow Group chairman Ben­jamin Harris­-Quinney said: “It’s a time to put petty differ­ ences aside and form an unstop­ pable Brexit coalition to take us out of the EU by November.

“If Boris can’t even unite the Brexit movement he will never unite the country.”

Poor Boris has not been PM long enough to do much other than attempt to sort out some of the mess May left behind and try dealing with the now open warfare on our streets

Mr Johnson is facing another Tory grassroots revolution, with 35 senior association of officers signing a letter supporting the Conservative Campaign Democracy’s demand that the local parties are given the power to pick candidates.

It comes amid concerns that maverick Remainers such as Dominic Grieve and the other 20 rebels who were sacked earlier this month for refusing to back the Government may be allowed back into the party and even be reinstalled as candidates at the next election.

The letter says: “It is no secret that relations between CCHQ (Conservative Campaign HQ) and associations are at an all­ time low.

“CCHQ can fix this by returning the power they took away from associa­tions to decide who their Conservative candidate is and making sure the pro­cess is more transparent and democratic, instead of imposing CCHQ’s favoured candidates on them.”

https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics ... oll-latest

[Anthea]

Brexit breakthrough:
EU finally compromises

The Prime Minister successfully opened up new negotiating ground during his recent talks with Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Commission’s president, and Michel Barnier, the bloc’s chief negotiator, in Luxembourg.

During the two-hour lunch, he was said to be “surprised” by the amount of checks needed in order to convince Brussels to remove the controversial Northern Ireland backstop. EU sources have indicated that Mr Johnson’s reaction proved he is intent on preventing the return of a hard border.

One EU diplomat familiar with the discussions told Express.co.uk: “I think, first and foremost, it expresses that the Prime Minister doesn’t want customs checks or the like on the island of Ireland.”

Mr Johnson was shown how creating an all-Ireland standards zone for food and livestock would fall short of EU expectations and fail to avoid checks on a large amount of goods that cross the border.

Sources said the Prime Minister’s current agri-food plan covers just 50 out of the 150 customs regulations needed to maintain the all-Ireland economy.

UK and EU officials will now begin work on establishing how to deal with the 100 outstanding issues ahead of the European summit on October 17.

The Good Friday Peace Agreement could be used as a “backdrop” to allow negotiators to evaluate if they are all absolutely necessary, an EU source said.

This opens up a possible Brussels compromise as any deal would have to cover enough regulations “to keep the hole in the single market manageable, but not be too wide to undermine the peace process”, they added.

Such a plan could use an extended transition period to allow both sides to hammer out the details at a later date.

Simon Coveney has revealed he has been holding secret talks with British ministers about backstop alternatives.

Ireland’s deputy prime minister Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, no deal planning chief Michael Gove, and Northern Ireland Secretary Julian Smith.

"Of course there are conversations, as you would expect, exploring concepts, what might work, what won’t work,” Mr Coveney said.

"We await written proposals from the UK side. We simply haven’t seen any written proposals to date.

"Just because Boris Johnson says the backstop needs to go, doesn’t mean that everybody else will respond positively to that.

"There's an obligation on the party looking for change to come up with solutions that can deal with the consequences of what they’re asking for.

"And if that question can’t be answered, we won’t have a deal."

Addressing the European Parliament today, Mr Juncker signalled that he is ready to do away with the backstop.

“I have no emotional attachment to the backstop,” he said.

Brexit: EU fleets fish six times as much in UK waters says expert

“But I made clear that I do have an intimate commitment to its objectives.”

While promising to work “day and night”, the Commission chief said there is a “palpable” risk that the deal won’t be struck before October 31.

In a significant moment, Mr Barnier acknowledged the Prime Minister’s concerns that the backstop is anti-democratic.

The Brussels negotiator said: “We also understand the questions and remarks of the British Prime Minister on the democratic, or undemocratic, nature of the backstop.”

Link to Article - Photos:

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/11795 ... ier-latest

[Anthea]

Brexit Party MEP
delivers brilliant speech

Speaking on BBC Newsnight, Ms Fox, who is a Brexit Party MEP, revealed her deepest fear over the ordeal that has ensued following the Supreme Court’s ruling that Boris Johnson’s proroguing of Parliament was unlawful. She claimed the attention has been drawn away from the background workings of MPs and Parliament and unfairly focused on Mr Johnson, the former of which has led to a constitutional crisis

Ms Fox expressed contempt for what she claimed will not happen on October 31, that is, the Uk’s exit from the EU.

She said: “It doesn’t seem likely to me that we will be leaving on the October 31 I have to say.”

“Not because in this instance Boris Johnson isn’t going to stick with the pledge, but because of what has happened today and in fact what had happened prior.

“But I think it’s interesting that we’ve just had a Labour MP saying they’ve legislated to bind up the hands of the Prime Minister.

Claire Fox said the decision by the Supreme Court was 'scary'

“And then, actually we wonder why we’ve got a constitutional crisis - here we have MPs and parliament saying ‘we don’t trust the prime minster’, so they’re going to stop him from trying to run the country.

I’m not Tory but I do happen to think that the Government should be allowed to govern

“And then a number of MPs of gone off to the courts to get them to legislate.

“I mean this scares me - not that Boris Johnson told a lie, or that he prorogued which I didn’t agree with, but that we have Parliament acting against, and a group that we haven’t mentioned - the voters.

The Brexit Party MEP gave several points as to why she thinks the British constitution is n tatters

“The authority of those people is the voters and the people and they weren’t allowed a voice because we don’t have a general election.

Emily Maitlis, Newsnight’s presenter, interjected in Ms Fox’s long-drawn speech, saying: “The authority tonight was the highness court in the land. Do you agree with Jacob Rees-Mogg who reportedly called this ‘a constitutional coup’? Are you saying you don’t think the Prime Minister did break the law?”

Ms Fox replied: “First of all I don’t think it’s a matter of the law in relation to this.

“I think there was a serious problem here in terms of a judicial power grab.

Boris Johnson vows to push ahead with Brexit

She has since fervently campaigned for the UK to leave the EU among other things

I think they have brought upon themselves a slew of new powers that I get anxious about.

But the main thing is that if the judicial review can make decisions about the future of the country, they’re even further removed because the unelected from the power where it should be.

The authority of what happens in Parliament and of that Government historically, philosophically, in our tradition int arms of any enlightenment thinking or any of the ideas that come about constitutional law, come from the people.

The Brexit Party MEP attempted to quote John Locke, the English philosopher widely regarded as the most influential enlightenment figures and known as the father of liberalism, before being stopped by Ms Maitlis in order to give the shows other guests a chance to Ms Fox’s points.

The story will be more complex now the court ruled the suspension unlawful

Judges said it was wrong of the Prime Minister to stop MPs from carrying out their duties in the run up to October 31, of which the UK is set to leave the European Union, with or without a deal.

Following the ruling Mr Johnson said he “profoundly disagreed” with the result but would duly “respect” it.

The Labour Party cut their party short following the news as MPs are set to return to Westminster tomorrow ready to reconvene Brexit talks.

Boris Johnson was in New York at the UN Assembly at the time of the ruling

Ms Fox’s argument was entrenched in the fact that MPs seem to be steering the Brexit ship further and further away from the electorate, despite their being the ones who voted for the UK to leave the EU in 2016.

Her fears, expressed by both Remainers and Brexiteers, follow that politics in the UK is slowly resembling a dictatorial nation and not one of a democracy, as the powers that be who decide the next steps in the Brexit process seem to be further removed from the people.

However, others have argued that the MPs actions and that of the judiciary is in fact doing the opposite and allowing the people to regain control from a tight-knit group of Brexiteers, like Dominic Cummings, who are reportedly hell-bent on leaving the EU for their own personal agendas.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/11823 ... government

[Anthea]

Boris Johnson brutally mocks
Remainers in hilarious UN speech

Following the news that Mr Johnson would have to cut his visit short, the Prime Minister rounded off the short trip by delivering a speech to the UN delegates where he mentioned the current Brexit process. While delivering his speech to the UN members, Mr Johnson remarked that the current Brexit process was taxing the nation

In a surprising turn of phrase, he then went to comment on how the current Brexit impasse was similar to that of the tale of Prometheus.

In the myth, Prometheus was punished by Zeus for stealing fire and chained him to a rock.

While chained to the rock, Prometheus's stomach was picked out every day by an eagle, a character to which Mr Johnson likened to Remain-voting MPs.

Mr Johnson added: “This went on forever.

“A bit like the experience of Brexit in the UK, if some of our Parliamentarians have their way.”

Mr Johnson’s speech comes as the Supreme Court ruled that his decision to suspend Parliament was in fact, unlawful.

Following that decision, Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow announced that Parliament will reconvene today.

Despite the ruling, No 10 announced that although it will follow the law, the Supreme Court had made a “serious mistake in extending its reach to these political matters”.

“Proroguing Parliament again would not be without risk, but every time the courts and others try to stop the Prime Minister, it reinforces the point that the Government is fighting a lone battle to carry out the will of the people.

“People should expect a quick push for an early election with a vote in Parliament in the coming days.”

Seizing the opportunity to put pressure on Mr Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn led calls for the Prime Minister to consider his position on Tuesday.

Mr Corbyn said on the matter: “This is an extraordinary and precarious moment in our country’s history.

“The Prime Minister has been found to have acted illegally when he tried to shut down parliament.

The leader of the Opposition had also told members of his party, that Labour will not look to topple Mr Johnson from Government.

Mr Corbyn insisted that a no deal Brexit must be officially ruled out before an election is called.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Corbyn said: “This crisis can only be settled with a general election.

“That election needs to take place as soon as this government’s threat of a disastrous No Deal is taken off the table.

“That condition is what MPs passed into law before Boris Johnson illegally closed down parliament. It’s a protection that’s clearly essential.”

Earlier during their conference, the party also announced that it would remain neutral on a second referendum.

https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/11823 ... parliament

[Anthea]

Johnson updates
cabinet on Brexit talks

Boris Johnson is updating the cabinet, as UK and EU officials hold talks on getting a deal done in time for the 31 October Brexit deadline

Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said "compromise" was inevitable and the PM could be "trusted" to get an agreement acceptable to Leave-backing MPs.

Parliament will meet on Saturday and vote on any deal achieved by Mr Johnson at a Brussels summit this week.

Labour said it would "wait and see", but would oppose anything "damaging".

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "We don't think the Tories have moved too far on on their deal."

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told the same programme: "We will not vote for the kind of deal specified by Boris Johnson."

Talks in Brussels between UK and EU officials - described as "intense technical discussions" - are continuing on Sunday, while Mr Johnson is briefing ministers by telephone.

Ambassadors to the EU from 27 member countries are scheduled to meet this evening and Michel Barnier, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, is expected to brief them on the talks.

The summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday is seen as the final chance to get a Brexit deal agreed ahead of the deadline of 23:00 GMT on 31 October.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson told Sky News that any agreement reached by Mr Johnson should "be put to the public so they can have the final say".

But, asked whether more MPs would be likely to support a deal, if the Commons first voted in favour of putting it to a referendum, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: "I think many in Parliament, not necessarily Labour MPs - others - might be inclined to support it because they don't really agree with the deal.

"I would caution them on this."

Home Secretary Priti Patel told the Andrew Marr Show there was much "speculation" about what could be included in a deal.

She added: "Progress has been made by the prime minister."

Asked about Labour's stance, Ms Patel replied: "They are clearly playing politics. The British public want to ensure that we get Brexit done."

Mr Rees-Mogg wrote in the Sunday Telegraph: "In the final stages of the Brexit negotiation, compromise will inevitably be needed, something even the staunchest Leavers recognise albeit unwillingly - but as a Leaver Boris can be trusted.

"He wants to take back control and has dedicated his political career to this noble cause. If he thinks the ship of state is worth an extra ha'porth of tar he deserves support."

Mr Johnson's revised proposals - designed to avoid concerns about a hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit - were criticised by EU leaders at the start of last week.

However, on Thursday, Mr Johnson and Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar held talks and said they could "see a pathway to a possible deal".

The Benn Act, passed by Parliament last month, requires Boris Johnson to ask EU leaders for a delay to Brexit if a deal has not been reached and agreed to by MPs by 19 October.

The first Queen's Speech of Mr Johnson's premiership, delivered during the State Opening of Parliament on Monday, will see the government highlight its priorities, including on Brexit.

Timeline: What's happening ahead of Brexit deadline?

Monday 14 October - The Commons is due to return, and the government will use the Queen's Speech to set out its legislative agenda. The speech will then be debated by MPs throughout the week.

Thursday 17 October - Crucial two-day summit of EU leaders begins in Brussels. This is the last such meeting currently scheduled before the Brexit deadline.

Saturday 19 October - Special sitting of Parliament and the date by which the PM must ask the EU for another delay to Brexit under the Benn Act, if no Brexit deal has been approved by Parliament and they have not agreed to the UK leaving with no-deal.

Thursday 31 October - Date by which the UK is due to leave the EU, with or without a withdrawal agreement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50032500

[Anthea]

New Brexit deal agreed

A Brexit deal has been agreed between UK and EU negotiating teams before a meeting of European leaders in Brussels

Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted: "We've got a great new deal that takes back control."

The two sides have been working on the legal text of a deal, but it will still need the approval of both the UK and European parliaments.

The DUP has cast doubt on its success, saying they still cannot support it.

The Northern Irish party earlier released a statement saying they could not back proposals "as things stand", and - after the PM's announcement - said their statement "still stands".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the deal sounded "even worse" than what was negotiated by the PM's predecessor, Theresa May, and "should be rejected" by MPs.

But European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said it was a "fair and balanced agreement".

In a letter recommending the deal to European Council President Donald Tusk, he wrote: "It is high time to complete the withdrawal process and move on, as swiftly as possible, to the negotiation on the European Union's future partnership with the United Kingdom."

Both he and Mr Johnson have urged their respective parliaments to back the deal.

The EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier told a press conference in Brussels: "We have arrived at an agreement with the British government on an ordered withdrawal of the United Kingdom and the European Union and also on the framework for our future relationship.

He added that the text should provide "the legal certainty in every area where Brexit, like any separation, creates uncertainty and in particular, and first and foremost, for citizens".

Mr Johnson's proposals for a new Brexit deal hinged on getting rid of the controversial backstop - the solution negotiated between Theresa May and the EU to solve issues around the Irish border after the UK leaves.

By removing it, he hoped to secure the support of Brexiteers in his own party and the DUP - which could hold the key to getting the numbers for a successful vote in the Commons.

Mr Juncker's letter confirmed both the border plans and the political declaration on the future relationship after Brexit had been revised, and agreed by both him and Mr Johnson.

However, it is understood the new plan would see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK - something the DUP, among others, has great concerns about.

The DUP has been in a confidence and supply agreement with the Conservative Party since the 2017 election, which, in the past, gave the government a working majority.

But after resignations and the removal of the party whip from more than 20 Tory MPs in recent weeks, Mr Johnson now could face a tough battle to get his deal through Parliament.
Presentational grey line

Analysis box by Norman Smith, assistant political editor

Is this gamesmanship on the part of Boris Johnson? I surmise he is really trying to turn up the heat on the DUP to get them on board.

But we are heading towards show-time when the PM brings back his deal to the Commons.

There are a lot of MPs who will be unhappy that he is rushing Parliament into a vote when they haven't had the text to study what they're voting for.

There's another emerging battle too as we learnt the Labour Party is increasingly likely to back a so-called confirmatory referendum - meaning they would only approve the deal if it was put to a referendum.

But one thing I've been told is that Boris Johnson will not hold a vote on his deal unless he's confident of winning it.

So we are heading for one humungous showdown.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-50079385

[Anthea]

British parliament votes
to force Brexit delay

A defiant Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would not negotiate a further delay to Britain’s departure from the European Union after losing a vote in parliament on Saturday that means he is obliged to request a postponement

The move by parliament, on a day Johnson had pitched as a day of reckoning for Brexit, increases the chances that the divorce will be delayed and thus increases the opportunity for opponents of Brexit to frustrate the United Kingdom’s departure.

Parliament voted 322 to 306 in favor of a 26-word amendment that turned Johnson’s Brexit finale on its head by leaving the prime minister exposed to a humiliating obligation to ask the EU for a delay until the end of January 2020.

“I will not negotiate a delay with the EU and neither does the law compel me to do so,” Johnson told parliament.

“I will tell our friends and colleagues in the EU exactly what I have told everyone else in the last 88 days that I have served as prime minister: that further delay would be bad for this country, bad for the European Union and bad for democracy.”

While Johnson did not explicitly refuse to send a letter to the EU requesting the delay - as an earlier law passed by his opponents demands - he said he would not negotiate.

That opens up a path to a new Brexit drama over a delay that could pull in lawyers, courts, the European Union and the divided British parliament.

Saturday’s amendment, put forward by former Conservative cabinet minister Oliver Letwin, deflated Johnson’s big Brexit day just as hundreds of thousands gathered to march on parliament demanding another referendum on EU membership.

After several hours of heated debate, senior politicians - including Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom, House of Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg and Labour’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Diane Abbott - were escorted from parliament past jeering demonstrators by phalanxes of police.

The European Commission said Britain must now inform it of its next steps as soon as possible.

French President Emmanuel Macron told Johnson a delay was in no-one’s interest, an official at the French presidency told Reuters.

Ireland believes granting an extension is preferable to Britain leaving with no deal, but there is no guarantee that view is shared throughout the EU, its foreign minister said.

BREXIT DELAY?

In a move designed to prevent the United Kingdom slipping out of the EU without a deal by design or default, Letwin’s amendment delays parliament’s ultimate decision on Johnson’s Brexit deal until the very end of the process.

By supporting Letwin, whom Johnson had expelled from the Conservative Party, parliament exposes the prime minister to another law passed by his opponents which demands he ask for a delay until Jan. 31, 2020 unless he had a deal approved by the end of Saturday.

Even if he is given an extension he doesn’t want by the EU, Johnson could still take the country out of the bloc on Oct. 31 because the law allows him to if he can get all the legislation approved by that date.

Rees-Mogg said the government now planned to put Johnson’s deal to a debate and vote on Monday, but the house speaker John Bercow said he would rule on Monday whether he would allow that.

Letwin said he hoped Johnson’s deal would succeed, but he wanted “an insurance policy which prevents the UK from crashing out on 31 October by mistake if something goes wrong during the passage of the implementing legislation”.

Three years after the country voted 52-48% to leave the European project, many Britons say they are bored with the whole Brexit argument and just want the process to end. But others demonstrating on Saturday remain angry that Britain is leaving the EU and want that reversed.

Hannah Barton, 56, a cider maker from Derbyshire in central England, was draped in the EU flag. “We feel that we are voiceless. This is a national disaster waiting to happen and it is going to destroy the economy,” she said.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, backed a second referendum, saying “the people should have the final say”. The UK has already had the refendum and we want OUT

‘SUPER SATURDAY’

Brexit “Super Saturday” topped a frenetic week which saw Johnson confound his opponents by clinching a new Brexit deal with the EU.

When it comes to a vote in a divided parliament where he has no majority, Johnson must win the support of 320 lawmakers to pass his deal.

If he wins, he will go down in history as the leader who delivered a Brexit - for good or bad - that pulls the United Kingdom far out of the EU’s orbit.

Should he fail, Johnson will face the humiliation of Brexit unraveling after repeatedly promising that he would get it done - “do or die” - by Oct. 31.

Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May was forced to delay the departure date. Parliament rejected her deal three times, by margins of between 58 and 230 votes, earlier this year.

He says lawmakers face the option of either approving the deal or propelling the United Kingdom to a disorderly no-deal exit that could divide the West, hurt global growth and bring renewed violence to Northern Ireland.

To win, Johnson must persuade enough Brexit-supporting rebels in both his Conservative Party and the Labour Party to back his deal. His Northern Irish allies and the three main opposition parties oppose it.

Some influential hardline Brexit supporters have said they will support the deal.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brit ... SKBN1WX2M2

Our ELECTED government was elected to serve the wishes of the UK population - MPs work for us the VOTERS it is time they remembered that

We, the public, voted to leave the EU - our MPs should be working together to make this happen

[Anthea]

Johnson rejects delay to Brexit

Boris Johnson was warned on Saturday that he risks a fresh challenge in the courts after he reacted to a humiliating Commons defeat over Brexit by calling on EU leaders to reject any extension of Britain’s membership of the European Union

After MPs voted by 322 to 306 to withhold approval of his EU exit deal, the prime minister was obliged to write to Brussels by 11pm on Saturday to request an extension until 31 January 2020, in order to comply with the law under the terms of the Benn act.

But with the deadline approaching, Johnson wrote to Tory MPs saying he would tell the EU that “delay is not a solution”.

A government source reinforced the message, saying that “the PM will not negotiate for an extension – he will tell EU leaders this weekend that there should be no delays”. The source suggested that Johnson would palm off responsibility for the letter to parliament and ask the EU to “reject parliament’s letter”.

Downing Street indicated that Johnson would write one letter to comply with the Benn act, requesting an extension, but also “an additional letter” making clear that delay is not necessary as he still believes the Brexit legislation will pass by the current 31 October deadline for leaving.

A former Tory cabinet minister said Johnson was clearly behaving in a way that was “against the spirit of the Benn act”, which required him to have asked for an extension by 11pm on Saturday if no Brexit deal had been approved by parliament by then, or parliament had not given its backing to a no-deal outcome.

The former minister said: “I think this will end up in the courts again. This is clearly against the spirit of the Benn act and is not consistent with the assurances that were given by Downing Street to the Scottish courts about applying for an extension. It will also put government law officers in a very uncomfortable position.”

Earlier on Saturday, in a day of high parliamentary drama, MPs withheld approval for Johnson’s new Brexit deal until legislation on the UK’s withdrawal has been debated and passed through parliament. The result was announced as an estimated one million people marched on Parliament Square to demand a second referendum as a way to break the three-year Brexit deadlock.

As the news of Johnson’s latest, and arguably most crushing, defeat was broadcast to the marchers, a huge roar went up from those who had travelled from all over the country to take part in the protest. Supporters of a second referendum now plan to table an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which will have its second reading in the Commons on Tuesday, to make approval of any deal conditional on another public vote.
MPs hit back after PM says he will not ask for Brexit delay – video

Immediately after the vote Johnson said he was “not daunted or dismayed” by the defeat but would push on with the bill in order “get Brexit done” by 31 October

Pre-empting questions about whether he would comply with the Benn act Johnson chose his words carefully saying: “I will not negotiate a delay with the EU, and neither does the law compel me to do so.”

The Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, told the Commons: “The prime minister must now comply with the law. He can no longer use the threat of a no-deal crash-out to blackmail MPs to support his sell-out deal.”

The vote was swung by a decision by the 10 DUP MPs, who have propped up the Tory administration since the 2017 general election, to vote for the amendment demanding approval of his deal be withheld.

MPs said the DUP only decided to vote in favour of the amendment tabled by Oliver Letwin, rather than abstain, one minute before the doors of the voting lobbies were shut.

Ten former Conservative MPs, including the former cabinet ministers Philip Hammond and David Gauke, supported the amendment. Six Labour MPs rebelled against the party line to vote against the amendment: Kevin Barron, Caroline Flint, Ronnie Campbell, Kate Hoey, Jim Fitzpatrick and John Mann.

Another three abstained: Melanie Onn, Rosie Cooper and Sarah Champion.

After the vote, the leader of the house, Jacob Rees-Mogg, said the government would attempt to hold another “meaningful vote” on the Johnson deal tomorrow in an attempt to seize back the initiative, though the Speaker,

John Bercow, suggested that if the purpose was to override Saturday’s vote then he might not allow it. Saying he would reflect over the weekend on what to do, Bercow described the move as “curious” and said pointedly: “The government is not the arbiter of what is orderly.”

Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, tweeted on Saturday that it would “consider the outcome of today’s vote for the Letwin amendment on Monday”. He appeared to applaud those who had marched in favour of another referendum adding: “Whatever happens next, the marches outside the parliament show just how important a close EU-UK future relationship is.”

A spokeswoman for the European commission called for clarification from Downing Street. “The commission takes note of the vote today on the so-called Letwin amendment meaning that the withdrawal agreement itself was not to be put to the vote today,” she said. “It will be for the UK government to inform us about the next steps as soon as possible.”

Under the terms of the Benn act any extension granted by the EU will end as soon as a Brexit deal has passed through the Commons and Lords.

There are signs that the passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill will be difficult and lengthy, with some MPs even predicting it could be voted down. MPs opposed to the Johnson deal and those in favour of a second referendum are expected to table numerous amendments, meaning it may not pass by 31 October.

Johnson has insisted numerous times that he will not ask for an extension to Brexit under any circumstances. Last month he said he would rather “be dead in a ditch” than do so.

On Saturday evening there was speculation that the DUP – which came out strongly against Johnson’s deal because it establishes a customs border in the Irish Sea, and deprives it of a veto over future arrangements for Northern Ireland – might come round to the idea of a second referendum.

After spelling out the reasons why his party rejected the Johnson deal, the party’s Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson told MPs that the DUP would do everything it could during the passage of the withdrawal agreement bill to protect Northern Irish interests while the party leader at Westminster Nigel Dodds said it would scrutinise all amendments very closely.

“We would be failing in our duty if we do not use every strategy which is available to try to get guarantees, changes, alterations which will safeguard the interests of the United Kingdom,” Wilson told the Commons.

Johnson had described his Brexit plan, approved on Thursday by EU leaders, as “a great prospect and a great deal” and urged MPs to vote for it. “It is my judgment we have reached the best possible solution,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/20 ... exit-delay