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LAST UPDATE | 20 Oct 2019
A SENIOR CABINET minister has insisted that the UK will leave the EU on 31 October, despite parliament forcing Boris Johnson to seek an extension yesterday.
Michael Gove, the minister in charge of no deal planning, told Sky News today that the UK would still be leaving the EU on 31 October.
The EU is currently weighing up how to respond to the prime minister’s extension request, which he sent yesterday after an embarrassing defeat in the House of Commons.
Johnson called Taoiseach Leo Varadkar yesterday to discuss the latest Westminster developments. No further details on that call were released.
This morning, social protection minister Regina Doherty said that she expects that Boris Johnson’s letter to the EU will face a legal challenge this week.
Johnson did not sign the extension request letter, which he accompanied with another letter to EU leaders telling them that his government did not want a delay.
“I think there are very many smart lawyers in the UK looking at the letter and will probably challenge it next week,” Doherty told a special edition of RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland programme.
Doherty also said that she was “disappointed” that the House of Commons had not voted yesterday to approve the deal negotiated between the UK and the EU.
“We sincerely hope that the House of Commons can reach an agreement this week,” Doherty said.
She said that it will be “interesting” to see how the letter is received by the EU, “considering it’s not signed”.
Johnson got a senior diplomat to send an unsigned photocopy of the request by MPs to delay withdrawal from the EU. In a second note to European Council president Donald Tusk, Johnson said a Brexit extension would be “deeply corrosive”.
Labour branded the prime minister “churlish” and “juvenile” in his attitude as Johnson stressed to Brussels he was only sending the communication at parliament’s bidding.
The agreement failed to pass through the House of Commons after the DUP united with Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish National Party to vote against the government to force Johnson to request an extension.
Also speaking on RTÉ Radio One this morning, the DUP MP Sammy Wilson refused to say that Johnson had betrayed his party, which is still officially in a confidence and supply agreement with the UK government.
Wilson said that Johnson could use the deal to hold an election and win a majority in parliament.
“If the arithmetic in the House of Commons was different, I feel his ability to get a better deal would have been enhanced,” Wilson said.
He also said that his party would try and amend the Withdrawal Agreement Bill as it passes through parliament to “deal with some of the issues we feel need to be dealt with”.
The decision on whether to grant an extension will come down to the leaders of the remaining 27 EU nations, but it will be Donald Tusk’s job as head of the European Council to gather their views and he could call a special summit to approve an extension.
Tusk has confirmed yesterday evening that he received the letter seeking an extension.
Reaction
“We are going to deliver by the 31 October. We are going to ensure that we get this deal done,” Gove said.
He said that he had made a bet with health secretary Matt Hancock that the UK will leave before the end of the month.
Labour’s shadow chancellor John McDonnell said also today that Boris Johnson could be in contempt of parliament and the courts over the letters.
“He’s behaving like spoiled brat. Parliament made a decision and hes should abide by it,” McDonnell told Sky News.
“It drives at the heart of democracy that the prime minister must abide by the law,” he said. “A number of lawyers have already commented that this is seeking to undermine a decision of parliament.”
Robert Peston / Twitter.@BorisJohnson says that there may have to be an emergency meeting of EU leaders, probably in nine days, to sort out whether there needs to be a Brexit delay. See the letter he has just sent to EU leaders, which confirms that he does not want the Brexit delay parliament voted for pic.twitter.com/323wMfNErO
— Robert Peston (@Peston) October 19, 2019
Legality of letter
There had been speculation that Johnson, who had committed to leaving the EU on 31 October, would refuse to sign the letter – placing him against the law and potentially in contempt of court.
It remains unclear whether Johnson’s refusal to sign the letter or his decision to send another letter explaining why his government does not want an extension will prompt any legal action.
Some legal experts suggested that the only thing that matters was that Johnson had indeed complied with the law and sent the letter, which was also accompanied by an explanatory letter from the UK’s ambassador to the EU.
Immediately following his House of Commons defeat on the Letwin amendment, Johnson told MPs that he would not negotiate an extension with the EU.
The Letwin amendment, a cross-party bid to seek an extension in order to ensure legislation backing up the new deal is through the House before Brexit happens, was passed yesterday afternoon by a margin of 322 to 306.
It forced Johnson to seek an extension under the Benn Act, passed through parliament against the wishes of the government in September.
That vote followed hours of debate as MPs convened for what was being billed by the UK media as ‘Super Saturday’. It was the first time parliament had been convened on a Saturday for 37 years.
Hilary Benn, the Labour MP who gave his name to the act, said on Saturday: “After all the bluster, the Prime Minister has tonight sent a letter to the EU asking for an extension.”
“A bit churlish not to sign it though,” he added.
John McDonnell MP / TwitterMessage to Johnson. Nobody, no matter how high, is above the law and has the right to tear up our parliamentary constitution.
— John McDonnell (@johnmcdonnellMP) October 19, 2019
Leader of the House of Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg announced in the House of Commons yesterday afternoon that there will be another Meaningful Vote on Monday.
However, it remains unclear whether Speaker John Bercow will allow the motion or not. He told MPs he would rule on it on Monday.
Second referendum
Thousands of people took to the streets of London yesterday to demand a second referendum.
Speaking on the BBC Andrew Marr Show today, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said that he was inviting the DUP to talk to the Labour Party.
Starmer said that his party will next week back any amendment brought forward calling for a second referendum on Johnson’s deal.
There has been speculation that the DUP might even back an amendment on a second referendum when the legislation is brought before parliament.
“Anybody who wants to improve on the situation, and they do, should be working together,” he said.
“If you want to work with us on this to improve the situation we’re in, the door is open.”
However, in a statement released this morning Wilson said that the DUP was not seeking a second referendum.
“The people of the United Kingdom were asked whether the UK should leave the EU, not whether Great Britain should leave Northern Ireland behind. We want to leave as one nation. That remains our goal,” he said.
With reporting from Press Association and Daragh Brophy
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And this sorry saga continues…..
@tottkingham: They should have voted yesterday, it was a pretty good deal imho, but at least vote! The Eu are fuming not just Boris, don’t blame them.
@Damian Moylan: Absolutely ridiculous that these EU lovers are still acting like spoilt children. Leave won thats the bottom line and its time to grow up and accept the referendum result.
@John: Astonishingly the DuP voted against the new deal even though NI stays in the Uk customs union and can benefit from new trade deals while still enjoying Eu single market benefits!
@John: “EU lovers”? Really? Being pro-EU is a bad thing? A “spoilt child” would try to circumvent the law by sending letters asking for the first legally mandated letter to be ignored. Who’s done that again? And yes leave did win, no ones saying they didn’t. But they won on lies and with no description of what leaving would actually mean. If they’re so sure they’re right and, I assume, would win again why not have a second referendum where the consequences are actually known?
@Damian Moylan: the DUP don’t want a deal. They want to drag the people back to a border of the past against the wishes of the majority in the North of Ireland.
@John: the dodgy referendum whose ramifications were not mentioned to the public. Not going to be a Great Britain for much longer if the Eaton tw*at gets his way.
@Damian Moylan: it’s a terrible deal for the U.K.
@John: Effectively 33% of the population voted to leave as the “when we wuz back in the woar” brigade came out in force to vote as the younger voter didnt believe Britain would be stupid enough to leave and didnt turn up. Also the lies told by Johnson and Farage coloured the referendum. I believe if another vote was held it would be a totally different outcome
@John: people change their minds! It’s as simple as that. I know several people that voted to leave an now want to remain as they’ve seen what leaving really means!
@GrahamMManning: pro eu is a bad thing. Only sensible thing you’ve said there.
@Thomas Maher: that was a question not a statement
We all know how this ends .. It’s going back to the people of Britain for another vote in 2020.
@Joe Shea: Not a snowballs chance in hell Joe. The UK values democracy unlike the Irish who dance to Brussels tune and see the electorate as an inconvinience. The remoaners are fast running out of ideas and their march yesterday was a complete failure, 200k out of a nation of 65m tells its own story.
@John: Value democracy? are you joking, Parliament is doing everything they can to ensure the peoples democratic vote is not happening, 3 years of delays and refusing to implement the wishes of the referendum. That is not democracy
@John: ‘remoaners’ well we can see where your thinking likes so would say your comment is biased
@Trevor Donoghue: the UK is not a democracy.
@John: 46 out of the last 47 polls show a majority for remain.
@John: oh ffs. The EU is more democratic than the UK. Google it. Theres no unelected house of lords type thing in the EU, all democratically elected state leaders and MEPs decide what happens within the EU. And where Scotland and NI want to stay but london tells them to pi55 off, that would never happen in the EU. We dont dance any EU tune. Your bitterness is going to be the end of you.
@John: so it’s undemocratic to go to the people? Did you ever hear such bullshit. They have a deal to vote on, they know exactly what it will mean for them, let the people decide.
What are you afraid of John?
Also, 200k? Even the Daily Mail, of which I’m sure you’re a fan, has it at almost 1 million. At least try to be honest.
@DJ François: Only one result mattered Francois and its time to respect it.
@John: the bleedin waffles ourra you on this issue everyday. Why don’t you go and live in England if it’s so great
@Joe Shea: No it won’t. That would be a pointless exercise.
@John: democracy didn’t stop in 2016
@John: the UK won’t exist much longer if this continues.
@John: so many inaccuracies in all you say. Just like the the gutter press that you obviously get your information from.
@Trevor Donoghue: John hasn’t a clue about the British border (yes not asked for by the Irish back in 1922) but what would he know about Northern Ireland ? Most British people would throw the whole Provence under the nearest bus.
@John: there was substantially more than 200K Brexit will go down in history as the biggest cluster fcuk of all time
@John: Values? Don’t make me laugh. This has been all about unelected charlatans and carpetbaggers trying to engineer a scenario where they benefit from shorting ordinary working people. Yes it has shown up the folly on an unwritten constitution, but no election or verification by referendum can be regarded as undemocratic. This is a long way from being finished.
@John: Values, respect and democracy in the same sentence with ‘The UK’. Silly bot John, silly silly bot.
@DJ François: the poll that sctually counts says they’re leaving
@John: But..the Guardian, that pillar of openness, truthfulness and transparency said this morning that there were 1million people at the march. They would never lie, mostly because they are unbiased purveyors of truth. Or so they say.
The EU will give the extension. There is no way that they want to be blamed for a hard Brexit.
He has an election on the way, he swore that he wouldn’t ask for an extension and has now been forced to ask for it by Westminster. The people of Britain (and Ireland) want this over with. he now gets to campaign for re-election telling the people he has been forced into denying the people’s wishes by the Labour Party, who seem to think that the democratic decision of the people is something that they have the power to deny if they don’t agree with it. Something tells me the excuse “it’s not a good deal for Northern Ireland” is not going to go down well with the rest of the UK, they couldn’t give a toss about the north and the union, something the people off the north should be aware of, before a no deal Brexit destroys their economy and brings the gun back to the streets of their city’s.
@Devilsavocado: I agree with you,big difference between Northern Ireland ‘unionism’ and English ‘nationalism’,something Arlene can’t seem to get her head around
@Devilsavocado: Exactly. Conservatives will clean up in next election. Labour finally taking a position but will pay heavily for 3 years of invisibleness.
@Phil Quinn: The Conservative vote will be split. The Brexit Party will take seats away from them and a few from Labour. The Big winners will be the Lib Dems, SNP, Greens and Plaid. They will pick up a lot of the Remain Vote areas in their relevant constituencies. So what will happen is another Hung Parliament even more divided than now.
@Phil Quinn: yep….and the masses will seemingly not pay any attention to the clusterf**k that is Brexit created by the Tory Party….such is the stupidity of the masses.
@dick dastardly: Arlene cant get her head around much after all its still buried in the 1800′s like the rest of her ilk
Britain will not leave the EU
Boris Johnson? Juvenile? Never!
Where’s the ditch
Petulant, just like his boss in Washington.
Time for a “Brexit For Dummies” for some of us. This is more complex and involved than an Icelandic saga.
They are having fun and leaving us all alone in the process. My flight was delayed out of London last week and it took them hours to arrange my Brexit so expect further delays.
…arrogant sense of entitlement …. above the law and above accountability
If Britain had a written constitution,would this uncertainty not be resolved immediately at this stage?
The wheels on the bus goes round and around
@FlopFlipU: I think the wheels have fallen off that particular bus!!!!
@FlopFlipU: Off the cliff…
Any delay to Brexit is a good thing and makes it less and less likely to happen . It’s lunacy
It works both ways. EU never said the letter had to be signed, just sent by the PM.
Regina Doherty commenting on the legality of anything ! SNORT
@Kayleigh Corcoran: Her department are experts at sending out important letters………..
UNsigned!!
I don’t get such opposition to a 2nd referendum. This is a pretty huge Change for Britain, so if there is a fear that people voted based on information that they did not have or understand, why not vote again. Measure twice and cut once. Should the agreement go to the vote of people rather than House of Commons? Let people then vote on that, and also stay or remain on the same ballot?
And so it continues…. Boris will get his election and won’t need the DUP support. Meanwhile the DUP are now solely responsible for destabilising the union to a point of no return and the British mainland are sick of them and just want them to go away.They have overplayed their hand and thrown everyone else under the bus to punish Johnson and hold on to the dinosaurs of the past. The British establishment still has not realized that the EU will not change the rules and beg them to stay just because Britain says it should… I pity the good people of Britain who are sitting on the sidelines watching their parliament make fools of themselves in the eyes of the world… and we all lived happily ever after………. Sorry lads I’m just explaining brexit to my 3 year old…. and he seems to understand it better than Westminster at the minute.
Minister knew as did FFG , that this was never gonna happen. You can never leave… Democratic vote is never respected until correct by EU … We got loads of chances …
@Willy Mc Bride: / John. The EU has signed every withdrawal agreement the UK has come up with. The UK government keeps rejecting it. I know it’s your job to spin this as the fault of the EU, but surely you can even see how ludicrous your attempts are
Hope he finds his dummy
I think the EU should kick GB out now. It’s not beneficial to us, and it’s what johnson wants. However, it may cause a general election and possibly a second referendum, which by the time the referendum comes up people will have gotten a taste of Brexit and see it’s not what they signed up for. Remember they still need emigrants each year to keep the economy going.
https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/18/news/economy/brexit-immigration-uk-eu/index.html
Just go for FS
I honestly think that Boris doesn’t know what he’s doing and relies on the media discussing what he might do next to get his ideas. There was discussion that he could prorogue parliament in the media, something that he might not have independently considered and next thing he decides to do just that. Some days ago I read an article saying he could get around the extension by being cheeky and sendIng two letters and he does just that. Is the media helping him by working out his next steps?
If its not signed its legal
AND I WOULD SAY THEY ARE VERY WORRIED OVER THERE BY WHAT SHE THINKS??????? MUPPET
If he was someone of real importance maybe, but it’s not up to him now, is it?
Why don’t we do them a favour and call for a border poll
Michael Gove back on the crack pipe again
Gove just move on man love to see the back of your pomposity
Arrogant elite dont listen to their public
Just leave already, if there not gone by the 31st we should just kick them out
Oh no they won’t….
Interesting to see all the brand new accounts commenting on thejournal that are pro brexit. It’s almost as if they are bits trying to influence people.
@Barry Somers: Reminds me of the mess over the Lisbon and Maastricht treaties all over again?
If they think they can reclaim the Empire and stop immigration they may think again.
I’ll believe it when I see it
All the UK has to do is not pay the EU its monthly bill to be part of the EU, that would be the fastest way of getting out lol.
Yawn!!!
Democracy doesn’t mean that a result lasts forever. If it did there should never be a new general election
have your say