Westminstenders: Super Saturday

[RedToothBrush]

Parliament sits on a Saturday for the first time since the Falklands.

A deal has been reached with the EU. Its utterly shite and worse for the UK than May's deal. It even leaves no deal as an option after transition.

The DUP don't like it. They got predictably shafted.

Tomorrow is a debate and vote on the deal. Amendments are key, in particular the Letwin amendment which seeks to close a loophole in the Benn Act and stop the Deal being adopted tomorrow, instead forcing the ultimate decision over the deal to a later date and forcing an extension.

Which the EU may or may not agree to.

There is also talk of forcing another ref via amendments but this, unlike the Letwin amendment is unlikely to pass.

The vote tomorrow looks to be very tight. The Letwin amendment passes looks likely to make Johnson fail to have the numbers. However there is talk that enough Labour MPs have decided to back the deal.

There is also a big anti Brexit march in London tomorrow (which runs the risk of having problems with the Extinction Rebellion ban). Good luck to everyone going tomorrow.

See you on the other side (which might now be on this thread!!)

Dr Catherine Haddon @cath_haddon
Govt will introduce Withdrawal Agreement Bill next week. PM hopes EU won’t want delay and will hold off agreeing extension

Just a reminder that's the WAB is as important as the WA. They are two different things. The contents of the WAB are going to be interesting...

Yes!!!!!
On letwin

FFS

How can he refuse to ask for an extension?

Tim Shipman@shippersunbound
So Super Saturday is an utter waste of everyone’s time

In effect nothing will be settled today.

Quick pop-in to ask, ok, delayed the bill, now what? When the hell are our politicians going to bite the bullet and give us that confirmatory referendum?

Me too @flouncyfanny

The lying bastard must send the letter or the letter will be sent on his behalf.

Looking forward to seeing Lady Hale send him to the Tower.

(And so is Queenie, I bet.)

Nice try from Jo Swinson!

Sam Coates Sky @samcoatessky
On losing the Letwin amendment Boris Johnson said that he will not negotiate a delay with the EU...

... No10 think they can get round Benn Act provisions after Court of Appeal ruling yesterday which they believe it allows them to state government policy

These interpretations of the law and recent judgments appear contested, it appears that while a a letter is sent asking for an extension, and a second letter is sent “setting out government policy”

This feels like it is going to end up in the High Court next week

The schedule for the Supreme Court is strangely empty for next couple of weeks...

I'll just leave this lying around in here too. Again, no doubt.

www.peoples-vote.uk/letter

I assume we all just get on 'letter watch' now for the rest of the day? Has it been sent? By whom? And what does it say?

Lock Him Up! Lock Him Up!!!

DH said "some chick" just stood up and asked for parliament to stop so BJ can send the letter then reconvene. Anyone know who this was?

We just want OUT!

Laura Kuenssberg @bbclaurak
There is going to be a lot of arguing over what the difference is between asking for a delay and actually negotiating one - Benn Act is not explicit about negotiation but there is important principle at stake of not frustrating the law

So, Parliament have refused to vote on even an indicative basis to support any form. the maths are simple, 2 Prime Ministers, 2 Deals, 0 Brexit, 1 Failed Parliament.

And the scuttery rats are deserting their sinking ship.

@FlagOfStars nice misogyny there. It was Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats but I'm sure you know that.

@FlagOfStars Jo Swinson. Lib Dems leader

"Help us please"?

We're absolutely deadlocked.
There's no way out of this but a confirmatory referendum. What in the world are they all waiting for? Some sort of lightning bolt or the Messiah reappearing riding a white horse? It has to happen.

Norman Smith @bbcnormans
So if other Tory rebels follow Letwin, the PM cd have decent chance of getting his Brexit deal back on track next week..............

Letwin has said he will now work to back a deal and get it through parliament

PMK.
I wish I could be marching but my disability would make it very hard.
(I'd have to rest totally for a few days either side and I have sole care of two kids so I cant, plus the Police and DWP have been co-operating in 'reviewing the benefits' of those who are caught on camera 'well enough' to march, apparently - ugh)

Does anyone know what time we can expect clarity (ha!) today?

The disrespect shown towards the SNP MPs (such as just now with so many MPs making a point of leaving when Joanna Cherry stood up) is doing wonders for support for Scottish Independence

No misogyny meant at all. Apologies for any offense caused. He was passing through the room the tv is in - I am in another room atm - and that is what he said. He - nor I - are not misogynistic at all, it was just what he said when I asked who it was. Thank you for letting me know who it was - I predicted it would be her.