Johnson Accuses MPs of Holding U.K. ‘Hostage’: Brexit Update
Johnson Accuses MPs of Holding U.K. `Hostage': Brexit Update
Boris Johnson accused members of Parliament of holding the U.K. “hostage” ahead of a vote Monday on an early general election. The prime minister looks set to lose his bid for a snap poll on Dec. 12, after opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn reiterated he’ll only support it if the risk of a no-deal Brexit is removed. The European Union has said it will announce its decision by Tuesday on extending the divorce deadline past Oct. 31.
Key Developments:
- Johnson needs a two-thirds majority in Parliament for early general election to take place; a vote in the House of Commons is on Monday
- Corbyn said he won’t vote for an election until the U.K. is no longer at risk of crashing out of the EU without an agreement
- Liberal Democrats, Scottish National Party are working together to try to force a snap poll on Dec. 9, reflecting schism with Labour
- Read more: Brexit Twists Point to Election. Here’s How It Works: QuickTake
Cleverly Denies Tories Want to Erode Rights (10:15 a.m.)
Conservative Party Chairman James Cleverly denied the government wants to weaken workers’ rights after the U.K. leaves the EU.
In an interview with the BBC on Sunday, Cleverly was asked about a Financial Times report that the government is open to significant divergence from EU regulations. That’s despite its pledge in the Brexit deal to maintain a “level playing field,” the newspaper said, citing an official paper drafted by the Brexit Department and Johnson’s office.
“Divergence doesn’t mean lessening,” Cleverly told the BBC, saying U.K. regulations are already tighter than the EU’s in many areas.
“If we are saying that we don’t trust the people to vote for governments that will enhance workers’ rights, and enhance environmental protections, and enhance animal welfare, then we are saying something quite negative about the British people,” he said. “And I don’t subscribe to that.”
Cleverly also said the government wants to leave the EU “in good order” with Boris Johnson’s divorce deal, but added that Oct. 31 remains Brexit day until the bloc decides otherwise this week.
Lib Dems Seek Cross-Party Support for Poll (10 a.m.)
Jo Swinson, leader of the pro-EU Liberal Democrats, urged other parties to back her proposal for a general election on Dec. 9 (see 8:30 a.m.)
She told the BBC on Sunday that “time pressure” meant she was not seeking to use the proposed bill -- which is also backed by the Scottish National Party -- to secure amendments such as lowering the voting age from 18. “I think we have to pass this as it is drafted,” she said. “We cannot assume we will keep getting an extension to Article 50. We do need to resolve this issue.”
But Conservative Party Chairman James Cleverly told the BBC the plan was “clearly a gimmick” and the Tories would not support something put forward by two parties who want to see Brexit stopped.
Labour Digs in Over Early Election (9:30 a.m.)
Labour made it clear it won’t support Johnson’s bid for an early general election when the proposal is put to the House of Commons. A no-deal Brexit must be off the table before the party will consider a snap poll, senior officials said.
But speaking on Sky News, Labour’s health spokesman Jon Ashworth declined to say whether the party would back an early poll if the EU -- as is widely expected -- announces a Brexit extension until the end of January. Likewise Diane Abbott, Labour’s shadow home secretary, told the BBC the party will wait to see the terms of delay before deciding.
“It is reasonable for Parliament to wait until the EU decision,” Abbott said.
Both Ashworth and Abbott also said Labour is unlikely to back the proposal for the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party for an early election on Dec. 9, secured by a simple majority in Parliament (see 8:30 a.m.).
“The Lib Dem’s plan is an opportunistic stunt,” Ashworth said. “It would need cross-party support and is subject to amendments.” That’s the same reason the government is unlikely to get behind it.
Morgan: Government Will Keep Seeking Early Poll (8:45 a.m.)
Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said the government will keep seeking an early general election if it loses Monday’s vote in the Commons, pointing out that the government’s motion is to both get the Brexit legislation through and secure a snap poll on Dec. 12.
In an interview with Sky News, Morgan said the government still wants to leave the EU on Oct. 31, but with the bloc expected to announce an extension by Tuesday, the government had been forced to find an alternative way to get Brexit done. The U.K. needs the uncertainty to end, she said.
Morgan also indicated the government would not adopt the proposal from the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party (see 8:30 a.m.) to pass a bill to hold a general election on Dec. 9. Unlike Johnson’s motion, which requires a two-thirds majority to pass, the Lib Dem/SNP plan needs only a simple majority.
But Morgan made clear the risk for the government is that such a bill could be amended, potentially taking the first part of what Johnson wants to get done -- getting his Brexit legislation ratified -- off the table ahead of an election.
SNP, Lib Dems Seek Early Poll as Opposition Splits (8:30 a.m.)
The Scottish National Party said it is working with the Liberal Democrats to secure an early general election, and that they had sent a letter to European Council President Donald Tusk to seek a “meaningful” extension to at least the end of January to ensure the risk of a no-deal Brexit is removed.
Johnson is trying for the third time to secure a snap poll under the provisions of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act, which requires a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons to succeed. But with the opposition Labour Party refusing to support it, the government looks likely to lose the vote on Monday.
So the SNP and Liberal Democrats are trying to persuade the government to adopt a bill that overrides the act, requiring only a simple majority to pass. Both parties want an election on Dec. 9 -- three days ahead of Johnson’s preferred timetable.
“The SNP are ready for an election but it must be on Parliament’s terms -- not Boris Johnson’s,” the party’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford said in an emailed statement. “Opposition parties must work together to remove this dangerous Tory government from office.”
Though much simpler, a so-called one-line bill is risky for the government -- which lacks a majority -- because MPs can amend it to force their will on the Brexit process.
Johnson Says MPs Holding Country ‘Hostage’ (8:15 a.m.)
Johnson said the current Parliament has “run its course” and accused politicians of holding the U.K. “hostage” over Brexit, ahead of the Commons vote scheduled for Monday.
“They must also agree to an election on Dec. 12,” Johnson said in a broadcast statement. “If they refuse this timetable -- if they refuse to go the extra mile to complete Brexit -- then I will have no choice but to conclude that they are not really sincere in their desire to get Brexit done.”
Johnson is likely to fall short of the two-thirds majority he needs to win Monday’s vote, prolonging the impasse over the U.K. divorce from the EU. The bloc said it will announce by Tuesday the length and terms of any extension to the divorce, making it all but certain the prime minister will break his “do or die” pledge to get Brexit done by the current Oct. 31 deadline.
“Parliament cannot hold the country hostage any longer,” Johnson said. “Millions of businesses and people cannot plan their futures, this paralysis is causing real damage and the country must move on in 2020.”
Earlier:
--With assistance from Sara Marley.
To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Biggs in London at sbiggs3@bloomberg.net
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Jon Menon, Amy Teibel
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