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!!)

Pmk. Thanks all for contributing.

PMK from Spain

Which way is Rory the Tory voting? I suspect with the government- but if he ever wants to be mayor of London - surely he needs to oppose?

It's a dilemma for Rory all right. Hard to imagine London electing him if he votes for the deal. He's gone very quiet.

I suppose it depends whether he sees the London run as a stepping stone or whether he's serious about being Mayor.

Hope the turnout is massive, happy marching to everyone who is going. I considered a last minute trip but the French train strike yesterday put paid to that so I will be watching from afar.

Could this be the most likely outcome in all this:

1. Letwin amendment passes, ensuring WA isn’t passed today, rather we get an indication of support for it in the House.
2. BJ reluctantly signs the Letter
3. Labour call a VONC once the letter is sent, which with DUP support would very likely pass (Labour rebels who supported the WA would be in an invidious position, but if they kept the whip after today’s vote would likely fall in line).
4. With no-Deal averted, we have a GE whilst still in the EU.

With gullible idiots like Caroline Flint around, my very, very narrow sliver of hope is that some rebels (either amongst the 21 or amongst the eejit Labour fools) have let it be known that they'll be voting with BJ to lull him into a false sense of security and think he's got the votes.

Esther Webber
@estwebber
·
8m
Parliamentary source texts: "Letwin has fucked it"

norman smith
@BBCNormanS
· 16m
Aaaargh..... Steve Barclay refuses to rule out pulling today's vote if Letwin ammdt is passed #godot #r4today

Thanks to Red et al.

I've been following these threads since the beginning but if the deal passes today - I'm done. Let the fuckers have want they voted for.

Thank you to all of the regular posters. I started reading about a year ago and it has been so helpful and informative.

I'm marching today. Not sure it will make any difference but I've got to do something.

Feeling a bit hopeless today.

I’ve had moments like that Oliphant, I know how you feel ☹️

Even if Rory Stewart only sees London as a stepping stone (which I think he does,) he's in a bit of a hole now.

Anything other than a vote against this is going to look bad - especially since he's been merrily tweeting about his conversion to Remain.

And, yes, he has gone very, very quiet. 😆

This deal actually scares me more than no deal.

It is completely immoral and unforgivable for any MPs to pass this deal without proper scrutiny.

If they were in any other profession they could be dismissed for gross misconduct I am sure.

I really hope the Letwin amendment passes.

Quick place mark before I head to the station

if you see a mad old lady on the march with 7 red toothbrushes on her coat
tap me on the shoulder and say hi

GingerPCatt - that is one awesome outfit! Thank you to you and all the other marchers today, on behalf of me and everyone in the UK.

LittlePickleHead :
Feel on verge of tears today. It really does feel like it's all over and not sure I can face following the news. It's like waking up to the news of the referendum and trump all over again - except this really is it this time.

Sorry very defeatist now but I'm really feeling like all hope of compromise and a even vaguely not bad outcome has gone.

I so agree with you. I feel sad, angry, frustrated. I have been glued to the news as well as these threads, for weeks, even when on holiday abroad, and even when at work (sorry boss!). Now? I can't face anything except these threads. Glad I'm going to be out all day, to distract me from this head-on slow-mo car-crash.

Anxious placemark. Good luck and stay safe anyone heading to London to March.

Pmk - usual lurker - feeling very upset today - 2 under 4s means I won’t be marching but will follow and hope for a miracle but expect the worst

Esther Webber
@estwebber
·
8m
Parliamentary source texts: "Letwin has fucked it"

norman smith
@BBCNormanS
· 16m
Aaaargh..... Steve Barclay refuses to rule out pulling today's vote if Letwin ammdt is passed #godot #r4today

So the latter is explaining what the former means?

And the only reason the government doesn't want Parliament to have time to conduct due diligence is that they know the WA and PD will be quite rightly ripped to shreds. And they don't want Saj to have to provide his financial forecast for it either.

Shady government much? (No surprise!)

Good luck to those marching ❤️

At son's house, need to do a few things before heading off, will shout loudly for anyone who can't attend and wave toothbrush & flag. Hi @TheNumberfaker! It would be nice to bump into you again but not sure when we will get there!

PMK from bed with a rotten awful cold.

Good luck everyone 🇪🇺

Heading off to the march soon. Unfortunately have to abandon part way through as I've got something else on later, but I'll be there for the start.

Will keep an eye out for red toothbrushes. If you see a random woman in a sling smiling oddly at you it's probably me!

Tim Farron
@timfarron
· 9h
Replying to @CarolineFlintMP and @PM4EastRen
During the coalition we put out statements like this sometimes to try and kid ourselves that we’d got some kind of meaningful concession before voting in a way we felt wasn’t right. We weren’t fooling anyone, and neither are you...

Suggested that DUP may vote for Letwin amendment.

They really have got themselves in a hole. They should have supported May's deal.

But I am scared of the trouble they could create and not necessarily in Westminster.

I'm late to the party. Just settling down with breakfast and the tv. I'm very nervous and the cat hasn't come to us this morning. Need to catch up.