The joy is unfinished. David Davis now up in the Commons to update House on Brexit talks.
Like a man living in another world, talks about progress towards trade phase & how talks have now "narrowed" on a "few" unresolved issues.
"Creativity". DRINK.
Davis says will pursue EU cits voting rights bilaterally with EU member states. Interesting.
NEWS: Specific primary legislation on "withdrawal agreement and implementation bill".
That's DD caving in ahead of expected defeat on amendment to repeal bill. This ensures a parliamentary vote on the deal.
But it is NOT a meaningful vote, unless govt commits to petitioning to extend A50 & going back to table in case of a no vote.
As I've said before, in any choice between a deal and no-deal, the deal is always better. Only a psychopath would vote no-deal. But still. Baby steps.
Starmer rubbing it in. 'This is recognition from govt that it is about to lose a series of amendments. They've used cloak of report back from Brussels'.
Starmer wants the Commons to get a vote in event that there is no deal. This is crucial.
No answer from Davis. Dreadful response to Starmer from the Brexit secretary, devoid of any meaning.
Ken Clarke gets up to press same point. Parliament must be able to approve of disapprove of any agreement, or lack of agreement.
Davis promises a meaningful vote, and over and above that there will be legislation putting it into effect. That doesn't answer the question.
DD asked if parliament can amend the bill. Presumably yes, it's primary legislation.
DD confirms that yeah, it's primary legislation so yes amendments possible.
Fuck me that bill is going to the most almighty horror story.
What fun. If only it was happening in another country.
Sit down. IDS has made a valid point. If the amendment goes against the agreement with EU, that's rather a problem.
DD says yes. "House is welcome to express it's view... [but there will obvs be] consequences."
As @WJBarter says, Henry VIII powers in repeal bill wld presumably allow ministers to undo anything Commons says in a vote on withdrawal agreement.
DD says it is "principle policy aim" to bring this bill before the Commons before Brexit day. Madness.
Soubry: "It's all very interesting." Repeats Starmer/Clarke question. Will there be vote in case of no deal?
DD: "If we don't have a withdrawal agreement we can't have a withdrawal agreement bill." So that's a no.
Quite incredible. MPs will be not be given a say over no-deal. They will be given a vote on a deal but can only chose between that and the abyss.
If they amend it, it would undo the deal. And they might only get to vote on it after Brexit has happened.
Tell you what lads this parliamentary sovereignty thing is a bit weird.
Dominic Grieves: Welcomes move."Anxiety heightened" by insistence on Brexit date in bill and idea House could vote after Brexit day.
DG: This surely makes it obvious that in those scenarios Article 50 would need to be extended. DD replies saying that requires universal Council approval.
True, but hardly a viable counter-argument, given the scenarios DD raising are insane.
Oliver Letwin wants a "comprehensive and convincing account" from DExEU of how UK would manage to leave EU without a deal.
There have been lots precise, forensic questions in the Commons today. Many MPs thinking several steps ahead. Really impressive.
Phillip Davies, insufferable, says govt "won't be forgiven" if it pays too much on divorce bill. Makes a shit joke. DD laughing along heartily.
You can tell a lot from who DD attacks, who he seems encouraged by and the journos he chooses to call regularly.
Debate is now over. On what happened this afternoon, this is an interesting point from @sundersays
Let's play that out for a moment. Say for a moment withdrawal bill put to parliament in Jan 2019, three months before B-Day. Govt loses.
Surely govt collapses. Voting against sum total of govt efforts on most important issue it faces is a de facto vote of no-confidence.
So what happens then? Seems likely that either a hastily formed new govt or a delegation of MPs cld visit EU to petition for Article 50 extension.
That quickly turns the EU deal legislation into the most important bill parliament has scrutinised in the post-war era. It opens up lots of possibilities.
