Boris Johnson has refused to back down on his use of the phrase “surrender bill” to refer to anti-no-deal Brexit legislation, after he prompted widespread condemnation by telling MPs they should honour the memory of Jo Cox by delivering Brexit.
But he admitted in a TV interview there was a need to “bring people together, and get this thing done”. Mr Johnson did not turn up to face MPs’ outrage in the Commons on Thursday, after he had dismissed warnings of death threats made against them as “humbug”.
His own sister Rachel Johnson described his remarks as “highly reprehensible”, but far-right activists hailed his comments as “brilliant”. The row comes as the PM lost a vote on holding a recess for the Tory party conference: his seventh straight defeat in the Commons.
Tone was the topic of the day in Westminster as MPs of all stripes admitted they had failed to remain civil amid the chaos of Brexit.
There were mutters of “hear, hear” as John Bercow told the Commons it had done itself no credit during last night’s fractious debate, while the Equality and Human Rights Commission was forced to step in and remind politicians of the advice they were given, in the wake of the Brexit referendum three years ago, to be respectful when discussing the subject.
The PM’s top adviser, Dominic Cummings, said it was not surprising that the public was angry about Brexit and that ”a lot of people in parliament are more out of touch with the country now, than they were in summer 2016”.
He added: ”People on all sides have said things that veered between unwise and very unpleasant, and sometimes criminal. That is true of people of the Leave side and that’s true of people on the Remain side.”
In Brussels, Mr Johnson was given some breathing room when the European Commission said it had not endorsed the negotiating deadline of next week that had been set by Emmanuel Macron. It came as member states’ disquiet grew over the lack of proposals from the UK.
But the good news was limited on a day in which the PM lost his seventh consecutive Commons vote, asking for a recess to allow the Conservative Party conference to take place – maintaining his 100 per cent loss record.
See how we covered the day’s events live
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of events at Westminster and beyond.
Boris Johnson telling MPs they should honour the memory of murdered parliamentarian Jo Cox by delivering Brexit has been called “deeply shocking” by the slain politician’s successor.
There was uproar in the Commons as the PM repeatedly berated MPs, rejected calls to temper his language and said the best way to honour Cox was to “get Brexit done”.
Tracey Brabin, who succeeded Cox as MP for Batley and Spen following her 2016 murder, said: “It got gasps around the chamber, because remember that Jo worked cross-party – she had friends in all parties. And just the crassness of it was deeply shocking.”
Johnson also dismissed the idea of death threats as “humbug”. Read the full story here:
Boris Johnson says best way to honour Jo Cox is to 'deliver Brexit' and dismisses MPs' fears of death threats as 'humbug'
Prime minister told that his 'inflammatory' language is being picked up by people threatening violence against MPs
Diane Abbott, Labour’s shadow home secretary, said the performance by Boris Johnson in the Commons last night had wrecked the chances of MPs offering cross-party support to a Brexit deal.
“I have spoken to people who might want to consider a Boris Johnson deal but that is over,” she said.
Boris Johnson's 'shocking' language in parliament has ruined chances of Brexit deal, Diane Abbott says
The Independent'I have spoken to people who might want to consider a Boris Johnson deal but that is over'
Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, said he “felt sick” after watching events in parliament last night – and was shocked at the tone of the debate.
“It creates an atmosphere where attacks and violence are more likely than they otherwise would've been,” he told the Today programme this morning.
“I was genuinely shocked by the willingness to descend to vitriol and the type of language that was used because I think it does long-lasting harm.”
Asked about Boris Johnson, Cox said: “I think it was sloppy language and the wrong thing to say but I don't think he is an evil man.”
Aside from causing a storm with his Jo Cox remarks, Boris Johnson was in utterly unrepentant mood as he returned to the Commons.
The PM brushed aside repeated demands to resign, criticised the 11 judges who found his suspension of parliament unlawful, and accused Jeremy Corbyn of “running away” from a general election.
Here’s our political editor with the full story.
Boris Johnson ignores demands to apologise or resign, as Tory MPs applaud his dismissal of Supreme Court
Prime minister’s comments branded a ‘disgrace’, as former cabinet colleague accuses him of trying to pit the people against parliamentTory party chairman James Cleverly has defended Boris Johnson’s comments to MPs in the Commons. He denied that the PM labelled opposition MPs “traitors”.
“The accusations thrown at him yesterday were deeply unfair,” he told the Today programme. “He was accused of calling people traitors – he has never done that.”
The party chairman admitted that Johnson had used the word “betray” in Parliament on Wednesday.
But he attempted to split hairs over the term “betrayal”.
Cleverley said: “He didn’t use the word betrayal yesterday.”
Host Martha Kearney, quoting Johnson, said: “’We will not betray the people who sent us here, we will not’ – that was yesterday.”
Cleverley replied: “Yes, okay ... you said he used the word ‘betrayal’. He said ‘we will not betray’.”
He claimed the failure to resolve Brexit was creating “a highly-charged and uncomfortable atmosphere”.
“The Conservative government and the prime minister, Boris Johnson, are trying to resolve this but the opposition parties are refusing to do so.
“This can be deescalated, the tempers can be taken out of this. But in order for that to happen, there needs to be a balance on both sides.”
Boris Johnson could be jailed for contempt of court if he refuses to request a Brexit extension, according to a senior judge who is an uncle of Downing Street adviser Dominic Cummings.
Former appeal court judge Sir John Laws predicted the Supreme Court will hear a case against the PM within days if he fails to meet the 19 October deadline to seek an extension.
Our political editor has all the details.
Boris Johnson could go to jail if he refuses to ask for extension to Brexit negotiations, according to senior judge
Supreme Court could issue rarely-used 'mandamus' order to require prime minister to go to BrusselsWon’t somebody please think of the poor prime minister?
Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin MP caused astonishment among Newsnight guests with his reply to a question about Boris Johnson’s refusal to temper his rhetoric.
“Think of the strain the prime minister is under,” he said.
Jacob-Rees-Mogg has promised an “exciting announcement” in parliament this morning. What could it be?
The Commons will sit from 9.30am, when it will hear urgent questions and statements.
It will be followed by a motion on whether to recess for the Tory Party Conference this weekend, and a general debate on the principles of democracy and the rights of the electorate.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to meet opposition leaders this afternoon.
This, from culture secretary Nicky Morgan, is the closest a member of the government has come to condemning Boris Johnson’s behaviour in the Commons.
Luciana Berger, who joined the Lib Dems after leaving Labour, will give up her Liverpool constituency to fight for a London seat once held by Margaret Thatcher.
The campaigner against antisemitism will contest the seat of Finchley and Golders Green in North London at the next election.
“As a family, we have had to make a decision about how best to navigate work and raising our young children. After a great deal of thought, we have decided that after the next election – whenever that will be – we will relocate full time to London.”
So, we’re expecting Labour MP Jess Phillips to ask Boris Johnson about his use of language when MPs return to the Commons this morning.
Speaker John Bercow kicks off today’s proceedings in the Commons, saying of yesterday: “The House did itself no credit. There was an atmosphere in the chamber worse than anything I’ve known in 22 years in the House. The culture was toxic.”
Bercow says two senior members of the House have approached him to have a “formal consideration of our political culture”.
The Speaker sounds very keen to help make that happen, but says it will be up to his successor to take it forward.
He asks MPs to “lower the decibel level” and treat each other “as opponents and not as enemies”.
Labour MP Matthew Pennycook – an ardent Remainer – has announced he is quitting as a shadow Brexit minister.
He has written to Jeremy Corbyn stating: “I now want the opportunity to focus my efforts on campaigning vigorously for that public vote and unequivocally for the UK to stay in the EU when it is secured.”
Labour MP Ian Murray asks whether the government will obey the law and the Benn Act in particular – the law that requires Boris Johnson to ask for a Brexit extension by 19 October.
He calls the actions of the prime minister a “national embarrassment”.
Tory MP James Duddridge, a Brexit minister, answers for the government by saying: “We will obey the law … and we will obey the law at every stage and turn of this process.”
Labour MP Harriet Harman confirms she and Tory MP Ken Clarke – the mother and father of the House – were the senior MPs who asked John Bercow about setting up a possible inquiry into the “toxic” culture in the Commons.
Despite all the warnings against violent rhetoric, Tory MP Edward Leigh has just made a very strange comparison between the Benn bill and murder. He suggests the bill is open to interpretation.
“Most laws are relatively easy of interpretation because they prevent you doing something, rather than make you do something ... they prevent you murdering your wife, they don’t make you love your wife.”
Jo Cox’s sister says she was “mesmerised and dumbstuck” by what she watch in parliament last night.
“I think the prime minister needs to be very careful about the language he uses,” Kim Leadbeater told Sky News.
“I think the humbug comment was wrong and I think to use Jo’s name in that way was wrong. What I hope is that he has some time to reflect on that and think about it.”
“I think there is a tipping where the level of civility and the level of respect becomes unacceptable – unfortunately we witnessed that in the chamber last night.”
