Westminstenders: Another day of fear and toil

[RedToothBrush]

In a move that surprised no one paying attention, Bercow refused to let Johnson put the WA back to the house today after it had already been presented to the house on Saturday.

This move upset the government but was entirely predictable.

This means that the only way the deal can move forward is through the WA's implementation bill (the WAB). It was published for the first time tonight (all 100 pages of it) and it will be presented to the house tomorrow.

In a lightning fast timetable parliament will be asked to scruntise it. This of course is reckless in the extreme for such an important piece of legislation. The speed at which it is being forced through is the thing that looks most likely to ruffle feathers.

The government is still trying to pretend it can make the 31st October deadline and leave by then. The reality is there isn't enough time for parliament to pass the necessary legislation and the EU will need to also ratify the deal, which in a best case scenario won't happen until next week with an extraordinary EU meeting to do so. This is much more likely to occur the week after at the earliest.

The reality is the EU need an extension themselves which is why we are very likely to get at least a short technical one and remain in the EU beyond next Thursday. It's in the UK and EU's interest if we do want to get a deal done.

Everything that Johnson does though is about optics ahead of a GE. It has to play it all as if he has been prevented from leaving as he promised.

We wait to see the pieces of a deal fall into place. It is in progress now finally it seems. For better or worse.

Reports that BoZo and Corbyn are discussing a new timetable for the WAB rather suggest that neither really has the appetite for a winter GE, I’d think?

Did the get ready for Brexit ad specify 31st October 2019?

They could just keep running it ever few weeks without specifying the year; just in case...

parliament should get on with negotiating an acceptable compromise based on what people voted for two years ago (they voted for hung parliament, which implies that all sides need to compromise)

I disagree - I think if there’s any chance of a second referendum we should go for it.

Not seen this one here yet!

I would have assumed an election in the run up to Christmas is a bit of a logistical nightmare. I could see why parties might favour a spring election.

@Sostenuto I believe the current deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle (elected as Labour) is the leading candidate. The post generally alternates Tory/Labour and Bercow was elected as a Tory.

Oooh, missed this while at breakfast:

Francis Elliott
@elliotttimes

EXCL: I understand Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn are meeting to discuss a new programme motion.

The cast list: Johnson , Corbyn, Brown, Spencer, Milne and Cummings. Is this the moment Brexit got done?

(Re my last post) ... or perhaps rather that Corbyn doesn’t have the appetite for a GE any time soon, as he seems to have been the one pushing for a new timetable.

TheMShip LauraK is saying the talks went nowhere.

If they can agree a timetable, this is good news for Parliament working properly. It's better to have the WAIB properly aired, debated, and amended. As I mentioned earlier, my preference for a GE now was predicated on the government not compromising on this point. Once again though it looks like Diana Ditch (oh how I love that name) is backing down.

Lark Well that's shit.

Laura K
Hear nothing was agreed at PM-Corbyn meeting - Labour wanted to discuss a different timetable for Brexit bill, govt wanted to know what Lab would do if the extension is vetoed - sounds like neither side came away with much

But... lets see what happens at #pmqs and in next few hours, and especially exactly what comes back from the EU

From Nick Eardley:

So @NicolaSturgeon (SNP) and @MarkDrakeford (Plaid) both saying they would welcome a general election - but want to see details of extension agreed by Brussels before committing

If they can agree a timetable, this is good news for Parliament working properly. It's better to have the WAIB properly aired, debated, and amended. As I mentioned earlier, my preference for a GE now was predicated on the government not compromising on this point. Once again though it looks like Diana Ditch (oh how I love that name) is backing down.

100% agree.

This parliament was the will of the people only two years ago. Who are we to say that it does not represent the people? It needs to do its job, and the government needs to start behaving like a minority government that has pissed off its own backbenchers as well as its confidence and supply partners.

norman smith
@BBCNormanS
·
10m
“Jeremy Corbyn reiterated Labour’s offer to the Prime Minister to agree a reasonable timetable to debate, scrutinise and amend the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, and restated that Labour will support a general election when the threat of a No Deal crash out is off the table.”

ENDS

Reports that BoZo and Corbyn are discussing a new timetable for the WAB rather suggest that neither really has the appetite for a winter GE, I’d think?

Worth reminding ourselves that had Boris got his way, we'd all be discussing this in the wake of an election.

I think the inability of the PM to call a snap election has caused seismic rumblings far below the waterline of public notice. (The bit where 9/10s of the iceberg lives). It's genuinely unprecedented. No serving PM in history has ever been unable to call an election when they wanted. They may have been forced to call one when they didn't, but that's a different situation.

Boris is a trailblazer. He really is going where no man - or woman (and Theresa May is entitled to take credit for getting her election when she wanted here) has ever been.

And where Boris hasn't been, our MSM hasn't either. They really have no idea how to deal with the weird situation where they have to hector the party in opposition for doing exactly what opposition parties do best - oppose. Of course they could have looked around the world where such situations are not only commonplace, but expected. But they're continuing the proud tradition of ignoring the rest of the world where it doesn't form a backdrop for a story with some fruity girls.

Oh clever little Laura K, parroting her 'inside source', thus avoiding having to even pretend to undertake any actual scrutiny of the PM's dismal behaviour or position.

Is she really that 'close' to his the arsehole, @DGR?

The mood of the country seems to be in favour of strongman politics, broadly in favour of a PM with a reputation for racist remarks, and which swallows blatant falsehoods from the media without so much as a hint of indigestion.
What you mean is that the Tories are higher in the polls than Labour. That's because labour's message isn't clear and their leader isn't leading. It's time for labour to sort itself out and get rid of Jeremy Corbyn. I hold no candle for Boris Johnson- he's a despicable individual. But what he is doing is leading.

Hear nothing was agreed at PM-Corbyn meeting - Labour wanted to discuss a different timetable for Brexit bill, govt wanted to know what Lab would do if the extension is vetoed - sounds like neither side came away with much

To my tiny (and ever shrinking) brain, that reads that the Tories are not quite as gung-ho for an election as they are in front of a camera. Although I am having to add a "LauraK" weighting for obvious reasons.

It reads like Tories are looking for a sign that Labour would push for an election if the extension is vetoed, and (hopefully) Labour haven't yet decided. At least not for the purposed of letting Boris know . Assuming Labour are holding to their public declaration of wanting a second referendum before an election, then the Tories know what to do ....

So @NicolaSturgeon (SNP) and @MarkDrakeford (Plaid) both saying they would welcome a general election - but want to see details of extension agreed by Brussels before committing

The Nationalist parties would be happy for an election anytime - they aren't in the same position England is in. Yet another reason to suggest the "Union" - if it is to continue - really needs to be rethought. When - or if - all this is over.

But what he is doing is leading.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......breathe.....its ok I think I've sto.....HAHAHAHAHA

But what he is doing is leading. I'll repeat that for you.

< Anxiously sticks paper bag over poster's noggin >

< Adds tube & funnel, pours in emergency Lindt 🍫🍫 >

Is she really that 'close' to his the arsehole, @DGR?

I don't know, but I know what I think is most likely. I do know - according to Diana Moseley - Hitler had the most blue eyes, and a wonderful sense of humour though.

Boris is very much Byron. He probably could swim the Hellespont with his Turkish bull frame. And he is certainly "mad, bad and dangerous to know ".

Paul Waugh
@paulwaugh
·
6m
PM: "There will be no checks between Northern Ireland and GB"
@NigelDoddsDUP
eyebrows nearly took off at that one. Dearly hope cameras got his reaction. 👀

What he's doing derxa is lying.....a lot

BJ has had his thumb up his arsehole since he became PM

Every now & then he changes thumbs .... and people call this "leading"

Some of us notice the unpleasant smell

Boris is very much Byron. He probably could swim the Hellespont with his Turkish bull frame. And he is certainly "mad, bad and dangerous to know Which will probably appeal to some of the gullible referenced above.

"There will be no checks between Northern Ireland and GB"

Clue:
BJ's weasel lips are moving again ....