Thread by @LordCFalconer

A thread on the effect of the Benn Bill.
Boris said a Corbyn delay would cut his negotiating strategy off at the knees. And he said he would not ask for an extension. The Benn Bill does not require PM to ask for any extension before the end of the Council meeting on 17/10.

If he gets a deal which Commons approves by then no need to ask for an extension and no delay. If he fails to get a deal by then he only has to ask for an extension if he fails to get commons approval to crashing out with no deal.

The disagreement between Boris and the Benn Bill is not about whether he should have a shot at negotiating a deal before he has to ask for any extension - he should have that opportunity and the Bill gives it to him.

It’s about whether if the negotiations fail he should automatically be allowed to crash out with No Deal. The Bill provides before a No Deal crash out he has to have the approval of Commons. If he can’t get it, or won’t seek it only then does he have to ask EU for extension.

EU could not be sure until the commons fails to back a motion authorising no deal - which would be after any negotiations have failed - that no deal is off the table.

So they could not be sure whilst any negotiations were going on up to and including the Council meeting on 17th October that no deal had gone.

Benn Bill does not prevent or hamper or cut off at the legs Boris’ negotiating strategy. It gives him the opportunity to negotiate with No Deal still in play. He says the chances of a deal are going up.

He should stop threatening his own colleagues, and preparing an election and instead he should go off and try to get that deal. The Benn Bill doesn’t stop him. If he fails and he can’t persuade the commons to crash out with no deal, then and only then should he think Election.