Brexit: Government sticks firm to its October 31 deadline
Senior cabinet ministers are insisting the UK will leave the European Union on 31 October, despite the prime minister’s letter to Brussels requesting an extension.
Boris Johnson was forced by parliament to send the letter – which he left unsigned – to Brussels asking for an extension last night.
It was accompanied by a second letter saying he did not want an extension to be granted.
Read more: Brexit: When will MPs vote on Boris Johnson’s deal?
The prime minister’s Brexit deal was passed yesterday, but with an amendment attached by Sir Oliver Letwin.
The amendment forces parliament to vote through all the accompanying legislation, before passing the deal.
This meant a letter had to be sent to the EU asking for an extension by 11pm last night as mandated by the so-called Benn act.
However, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove told Sky News this morning it was the government’s “determined policy” to leave the EU this month.
“If we get the legislation through [the House of Commons] then there is no extension and October 31st is in sight,” he said.
“I believe we do [have the numbers].”
“We’re introducing this legislation, parliament can get it done, it has shown in the past when it respects a particular mandate it can get the law through.”
The Letwin amendment was approved by parliament 322-306, after it was supported by all opposition parties and several ex-Conservative MPs, including former cabinet members Phillip Hammond, David Gauke, Amber Rudd.
Rudd said today she would vote with the government to vote through legislation to eventually pass the Brexit deal.
Letwin also said he would back the prime minister and his Brexit deal next week.
“All I did was support Letwin’s amendment, because I want to make sure we leave with a deal, not on no-deal,” Rudd said.
“I will support the prime minister’s deal and I’ve told him I’ll support it next week.
“Most of us former Conservatives will support it as well.”
The government will still need to persuade more opposition MPs than just ex-Conservatives to vote through its Brexit legislation.
Five Labour MPs voted with the government yesterday and a further eight abstained.
Johnson will need to convince more Labour MPs to side with the government if he is to get a majority for his deal.
Foreign secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC today that the government has the numbers to pass through all the necessary legislation in parliament next week to leave the EU this month.
“We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons,” he said.
“A lot of people say get this done and move on.”
Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer, meanwhile, told the BBC that Labour would make a last-ditch attempt next week at forcing a second EU referendum.
He said it was likely a backbencher would attach an amendment that would put Johnson’s Brexit deal to a confirmatory public vote.
“Whether it’s this deal or any future deal needs to go back to ask ‘do you want to leave on these terms’,” he said.
“If so then we do and if not we remain.”