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PM up in the Commons if you can bear it parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/9b…
She says she's spoken to every EU leader "to explain the UK's position". Impressive, given literally no-one knows what that is.
"Joint work stream" to be set up for "alternative arrangements" in addition to backstop talks. Throwing a bit of unicorn meat to the ERG. Meaningless gibberish.
Incredible. "I believe that if we have to we will make a success of no-deal "
The same line she issued about Brexit when she became PM. And how has that gone.
Here comes the extension U-turn.
Three further commitments. 1) Second meaningful vote by March 12th. 2) If govt hasn't won it by then it'll table a motion for next day on whether House wants no-deal. 3) If House rejects no-deal the govt will on next day bring forward motion on "short limited extension".
"These are commitments I am making as prime minister and I will stick by them as I have previous commitments". Heh.
"Let me be clear: I do not wan to see Article 50 extended."
May confirms an extension beyond June would mean UK takes part in European parliament elections. "What kind of lesson would that send etc"
What May just said is absolutely true. Extending is one time and short. Unless we take part in Euro elections, it can go on no longer than July 1st.
However, it is fictitious by what it omits. We can, and must, take part in those Euro elections, to maximise our room to manoeuvre.
May on Costa amendment now.
"A separate agreement for citizen's rights is something the EU have been clear they do not have the legal authority for".
May now playing the populist violin hard on Corbyn and second referendum. "The very credibility of our democracy is at stake."
How she can say this with a straight face is simply fucking beyond me.
"Leave with a deal, end the uncertainty" etc. She finishes with her usual rampage of lies.
Corbyn now. This'll be interesting.
Very good so far - unusually specific. Asks her to confirm withdrawal agreement not being reopened. DExEU tacitly admitted this recently but hasn't said it out loud politics.co.uk/blogs/2019/02/…
Wants confirmation they've given up on unilateral exit or time limit on backstop. Confirms he'll support Costa amendment on citizens rights.
This is most forensic I've ever heard Corbyn (although he is reading off a sheet, presumably written Starmer). Says EU leaders don't meet until later in March, so will Commons vote be on a deal they haven't signed off on?
"Labour respects the result of the referendum but we believe in getting the terms of the exist right. That's why we believe in our alternate plan." No mention of second referendum yet.
Ah, here we are. "If it somehow does pass in some form at a later stage, we believe there must be a confirmatory public vote to see if people feel that's what they voted for."
Confirmation that Labour plans to only offer second referendum if May deal passed, rather than supporting her deal on the condition of a second referendum. That's quite disappointing.
Once the deal was passed, I think a lot of the pressure for a second referendum would die away. A pathway would have been found. People's Vote will only happen as a reluctant way out the mess.
Far better to adopt the existing Kyle amendment plan - Backing deal on the basis of a referendum.
This way you don't back May's deal, so it doesn't pass, so there's no second referendum, but you can say you've given it a good go.
However, it is still a major concession. Labour is now officially backing a second referendum in certain circumstances. It can be shifted further.
And there is a lot more road to go.
Don't go in for for all this 'IT'S A SOP'. It is a battle victory in a longer war.
The most important issue now is for UK to take part in the European elections in May. Nothing matters more than that.
Hilary Benn: If there's no majority for no-deal in March, there'll be no majority in June. So what the fucking fuck is she extending for?
(He did not say fucking fuck)
May makes it clear that she would use it to keep trying to renegotiate and pass her deal.
We need questions on European election participation.
Nicky Morgan, formerly someone to take seriously, starts babbling away about "alternate arrangements". Did she drink the Kool Aid or just straight up inject it?
Cooper up. "Promised votes have been called before, Commons motions have been ignored before." When Commons voted against no-deal, Brexit secretary said we'd still leave with no-deal. So what assurances do they have?
May suggests she keeps her guarantees, ie on timing of motions and meaningful votes. Quite an extraordinary spectacle really: a PM trying to convince the House of Commons that she is not a liar and can be trusted.
Bill Cash up. How long until he mentions the 72 Act
Holy shit he didn't say it. Undrink.
Undrink is basically puking isn't it.
May says she can't accept Cooper amendment because it changes the relationship between government and parliament. This is the prime minister who tried to trigger Article 50 without even consulting the Commons.
Dodds says "without a legally watertight way out the backstop we could not support the deal". He is sinking her before she's even brought the deal back. Govt has already tacitly conceded it can't reopen withdrawal agreement.
Watching May battle Brexiters on one hand and Remainers on other is like that bit in Indiana Jones where the walls start closing in on him.
Grieve: May's deal is a "second rate outcome for our country". Her "browbeating of the House that she did today" indicating that there's no solution outside her deal except no-deal or no-Brexit is "simply inaccurate". We can ask the country its view.
Soubry: "Some of us that used to sit over there, now sit over here." This is because of her perpetual fudge and the decision to put Tory interests above the national interest.
Fuck, it wasn't Indiana Jones was it? It was Star Wars. I GOT MY HARRISON MIXED UP
I apologise to the nerd gods and ask forgiveness.
I think overall Julian Lewis is the creepiest Tory MP.
God what I wouldn't give to never hear the words 'respect the result of the referendum' again.
Jess Phillips: "I feel so enraged this week with the complete and utter lack of bravery to do the right thing for our country. I will not sit one more day and listen to her crow about employment going up when where I live employment is falling and hunger is rising."
"I have one - one - midwife for the entirety of my constituency currently."
On the verge of tears as she says this. "Will the prime minister for once do a brave thing. Will she be brave and at least answer the question of my colleague. Will she at least vote herself against no-deal?"
Absolutely extraordinary intervention from Phillips.
Prime minister responds with machine-like reiteration of her script.
Spelman: Will govt only leave EU without a deal if parliament explicitly provides consent? This is the killer question. May dodges it by talking only about her series of votes in March.
But according to the obstacles and timelines May herself pointed out, no-deal becomes unavoidable after that point unless we take part in Euro elections.
I know I'm like a stuck record on this, but it really is the central issue.
Fact May dodged it is highly pertinent. Because chances are her plan is to refuse to participate in Euro elections. Then no-deal becomes unavoidable unless Commons passes her deal.
