We should know sometime around 2.30ish if Bercow will let govt have the straight vote it craves on the Brexit deal today - it seems unlikely because govt didn't pull the vote on Saturday they walked away from it (negatived anyone?)
So theoretically Commons DID give a view on the issue, so can't be asked to give a different one today - let's see - govt is desperate to have a vote on the whole shebang asap to show momentum, before getting into days of scrutiny where MPs will try to make changes to the deal
That's not just because they are worried about losing more votes, this govt has barely won any! But because if MP s make any major changes to the legislation, then it might mean PM would have to go back to EU + ask for a different deal - you can imagine how much No 10 wants that
And, it of course eats up time, making it harder and harder and harder as the hours tick by for govt to be able to stick to Oct 31st deadline - still not impossible but looking increasingly unlikely
If bill ends up not getting through or being changed significantly then there is v little chance govt will be able to avoid delay, then the smart bet is that No 10 will just go back to pushing very hard for an election
Once delay agreed, hard for opposition parties to block election - lots of individual MPs don't want it, but govt is prepared to hold vote of no confidence in itself, or go for a simple majority vote if they can't get it thro under fixed term parliament act two thirds bar
Also today watch Court of Session and what they have to say about the PM's two letters
