Boris Johnson has sent a series of letters to the EU after he was forced by MPs to seek a further Brexit extension.
The prime minister sent two letters to European Council president Donald Tusk – an unsigned message relaying parliament’s request for an extension to Brexit and a letter from him setting out why he does not believe delay would be in the interests of the EU or UK..
Downing Street said it believes the move fulfils the requirements of the Benn Act, which required the prime minister to seek an extension beyond his 31 October deadline if he was unable to secure parliamentary approval of his Brexit deal by the end of Saturday.
You can relive our coverage of a historic day in Westminster below:
Good morning and welcome to our politics liveblog on the day of a crucial House of Commons vote which is set to decide whether or not the UK leaves the EU on 31 October.
Boris Johnson says ‘get Brexit done’
Boris Johnson has appealed to MPs to back his agreement with Brussels to “get Brexit done” - the phrase he has used repeatedly since he replaced Theresa May as prime minister.
Writing in The Sun, Johnson said: “Today can be the day we get Brexit done. There have been any number of false dawns. Deadlines for our departure have come and gone.
“I ask everyone to cast their mind forward to the end of today - and imagine what it could be like if the new Brexit deal has been approved.
“In less than two weeks, on October 31, we would be out of the EU. “A difficult, divisive and - yes - painful chapter in our history would be at an end.”
Johnson told the BBC on Friday night there is “no better outcome” than his deal.
“I just kind of invite everybody to imagine what it could be like tomorrow [Saturday] evening, if we have settled this, and we have respected the will of the people, because we will then have a chance to move on.
“I hope that people will think well, you know, what's the balance, what do our constituents really want?”
What happens in the Commons on ‘super’ Saturday?
However it is not as simple as a vote for or against the deal, on what is the first Saturday sitting of the Commons in 37 years.
Proceedings are expected to get underway at 9.30am – with Boris Johnson making a statement – but the vote may be delayed into the early evening by a series of proposed amendments: most notably the crucial “Letwin Amendment”.
An uphill battle has been made more arduous by Sir Oliver Letwin, the former Tory Cabinet minister who now sits as an independent, whose motion allowing for amendments to the Government's proposals was narrowly passed.
The MP subsequently put forward an amendment that, if selected by Speaker John Bercow and approved by MPs, would withhold approval of the deal unless and until implementing legislation has passed.
Sir Oliver explained his move, stating: "In short, my aim is to ensure that Boris's deal succeeds, but that we have 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."
Here is our full explainer on the day ahead.
Everything you need to know about the emergency Saturday Commons sitting
From amendments to planned protestsAre you going on the march for a Final Say vote?
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to swamp central London to demand a Final Say referendum on the deal.
It could be one of the largest political protests Britain has ever seen, reports political editor Andrew Woodcock.
Hundreds of thousands to flood streets of London for giant Brexit protest
Demonstrators from all over the country gather under Together for the Final Say banner as MPs vote on Johnson’s dealTUC boss urges MPs to vote against deal
Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, called on MPs to vote against Boris Johnson’s deal.
In a series of tweets, she posted: “It seems govt will today announce these proposals, claiming they’ll protect workers' rights. We've looked at them and this is our analysis. These are paper promises that fail to mitigate the damage that this deal would do to working people.
“These proposals are entirely based on process rather than substance. A rehash of the flimsy offer Theresa May’s govt made in March. They do nothing to protect or improve workers’ rights, now or in the future.”
Bank of England governor says prospect of a deal ‘good news’
Bank of England governor Mark Carney said Britain’s planned Brexit deal would help the country's economy, but “almost existential” worries about global trade wars might prevent the BoE from raising interest rates.
Carney said the deal was “good news” because it means Britain could avoid what the BoE has warned would be a major economic shock: dropping out of the EU with no transition.
In an interview with Bloomberg Television at a meeting of the International Monetary Fund, Carney said clarity on Brexit would help to revive business investment that has fallen sharply since the 2016 referendum.
In a separate interview with the BBC, Carney said the deal “takes away the tail risk of a disorderly Brexit”.
He said it might not help the economy to the same extent as his predecessor Theresa May’s plan, which proposed closer ties with the EU but was rejected by parliament.
Asked if securing a Brexit transition meant the BoE would resume raising rates, Carney said: “Not necessarily. I’m not going to pre-commit, there is a lot of contingencies there.”
Steve Barclay refuses to rule out pulling big vote on Brexit deal
Brexit secretary Steve Barclay repeatedly failed to rule out pulling the vote if a rebel amendment to delay Brexit succeeds.
The prime minister’s plans could be thrown into disarray by an amendment from Sir Oliver Letwin, which would withhold MPs approval until all the legislation for the Brexit deal has been passed.
This would mean the PM has to seek a delay from Brussels, after MPs passed a law compelling him to seek an extension if he had not struck a deal by 19 October.
Asked if the vote would go ahead, Mr Barclay said: “It’s always for business managers and we are focused on winning the deal, the vote and not having the Letwin amendment.”
Pressed again, he said: “We will address that if that vote passes.
Asked if it might not pass, he said: “But we are committed to defeating that because it will add further delay, further dither, further uncertainty, which is bad for investment and the economy.”
Brexit: What does Super Saturday have in store?
Could the government be ready to pull Brexit deal vote?
Speculation that No 10 is set to pull the big vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal, if the Letwin amendment passes.
BREAKING: Speaker John Bercow selects Letwin amendment
Sir Oliver Letwin’s amendment has been selected for a vote. If it passes it looks as though the government will pull the big vote on its Brexit deal.
According to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg it could be put back until Tuesday.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson says Withdrawal Agreement Bill vote will happen ‘next week’
The prime minister has begun his statement in the Commons. He says his deal is a chance to “bring the country together”.
He confirms he will bring his Withdrawal Agreement Bill forward “next week”.
Johnson says he will “meet with anyone on any side” if they consider backing the bill next week.
Johnson says ‘now is the time’ to get deal done
Boris Johnson finishes his statement by telling the Commons that “now is the time” to get his “great” Brexit deal done.
He said the agreement “provides for a real Brexit”, adding: “Taking back control of our borders, laws, money, farming, fisheries and trade - amounting to the greatest single restoration of national sovereignty in parliamentary history.
“It removes the backstop, which would have held us against our will in the customs union and much of the single market.
“For the first time in almost five decades the UK will be able to strike free trade deals with our friends across the world.”
Jeremy Corbyn says ‘people should have the final say’
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has begun speaking.
“This government cannot be trusted and these benches will not be duped,” he says advising his MPs to vote against Boiris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
He says the deal would “fire the starting pistol on a race to bottom”.
Corbyn said one Tory MP “let the cat out of the bag” yesterday when he said the deal could still allow Britain to crash out of the EU without a deal at the end of the transition period in December 2020.
He finished by saying: “Voting for the deal won’t end Brexit … The people should have the final say.”
Jo Swinson urges MPs to reject Johnson’s ‘bad deal’
The Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has spoken about the prime minister’s Brexit deal.
She said she people would “reject his bad deal” if given the chance at a referendum.
“According to the government’s own analysis, [the deal] will damage the economy on a scale greater than the financial crash.
“Today, hundreds of thousands of people will be outside demanding a final say in a people’s vote. Isn’t the truth that the reason prime minister refuses their calls because he knows that given the option people will reject his bad deal and remain in the European Union.”
Protesters descend on London to demand a Final Say on Brexit
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to arrive in the capital today to march on Westminster.
Will there be a meaningful vote on Brexit deal today or not?
I’m afraid we’re still not sure whether there will definitely be a “meaningful” vote on Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal today.
A No 10 source told The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman and ITV’s Robert Peston that if MPs vote for the Letwin amendment – designed to make the PM abide by the Benn Act – would “render the entire day …. meaningless.”
But can they actually pull the vote today? We’re still waiting to hear.
Boris Johnson did say earlier that Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) – the actual legislation necessary to enact this Brexit deal – would be brought forward “next week”.
In theory, his “meaningful” motion today would only have proved he had the support for his deal and then the legislation would have been debated in the coming days to carry it out.
Join The Independent calling for a Final Say
Writers, editors and journalists from The Independent are marching through London today calling for a Final Say on the Brexit deal. Come and say hi and pick up your very own placard from Marble Arch and all along the protest route.
BREAKING: Boris Johnson will tell Tory MPs to abstain on Brexit vote
The prime minster will order Conservative MPs to boycott the vote he had hoped would secure the necessary Commons backing for his Brexit deal – if a last-ditch delaying amendment is approved beforehand, The Independent understands.
The impact of the Letwin amendment getting approved looks like it could make today’s “meaningful” vote on the Brexit deal “meaningless”.
Our political editor Andrew Woodcock has all the details of this breaking story.
Boris Johnson to order his own MPs to boycott Brexit deal vote if delaying amendment passes
Boris Johnson will order Conservative MPs to boycott the final vote he had hoped would secure the necessary Commons backing for his Brexit deal
Sign our letter from the people to the powerful demanding Final Say Brexit referendum
As hundreds of thousands of people prepare to take to the streets to call for a Final Say referendum on Brexit, here’s how you can demand it directly from the people in power.
The Independent is uniting with People’s Vote to ask everyone – whether taking part in the march or not – to sign a letter to MPs, MEPs, the Prime Minister and the elected heads of government among the 27 other member of the European Council.
Sign our letter from the people to the powerful demanding Final Say vote
The IndependentFollow the link below to tell your MP that you want the Final Say on BrexitNext week’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill becomes ‘meaningful’ vote
As ITV’s Paul Brand explains, if the Letwin amendment passes, No 10 will essentially be asking Conservative MPs to go home for the day – rendering the rest of the day meaningless.
The next big moment will come on Monday – when the government is expected to bring its Withdrawal Agreement Bill – which would be taken as the “meaningful” vote on PM’s deal with the EU.
Mr Johnson’s decision follows a tumultuous day in Parliament.
MPs backed a rebel amendment during a special Saturday sitting, throwing Mr Johnson’s Brexit plans into disarray by forcing him to seek the extension.
As hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets to call for a Final Say referendum, MPs used the historic sitting to approve amendment from Sir Oliver Letwin, which withholds Commons approval until legislation to ratify the Brexit deal has passed.
The prime minister insisted he “would not negotiate a delay” – despite being legally compelled to do so – prompting speculation No 10 might try to get around a law forcing the PM to send a letter to the EU asking to delay Brexit beyond the 31 October deadline.
In a letter to all MPs and peers, sent on Saturday evening, Mr Johnson repeated his claims.
“I will not negotiate a delay with the European Union,” he said.
“I will tell the EU what I have told the British public for my 88 days as Prime Minister: further delay is not a solution.”
Additional reporting by agencies
