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Conservative MP Phillip Lee has defected to the Liberal Democrats ahead of a showdown between Boris Johnson and Tory rebels over Brexit.
Dr Lee, the MP for Bracknell, took his seat on the opposition benches because the PM addressed the Commons.
His defection technique Boris Johnson no longer has a working majority in the Dwelling of Commons.
He acknowledged the federal government changed into as soon as “pursuing a negative Brexit in unprincipled ways… putting lives and livelihoods in possibility”.
Mr Johnson has vowed to plod away the EU on 31 October with or with out a deal, however a series of MPs against no deal possess advance collectively throughout internet collectively political lines to take a find at to stop it occurring.
They’ve submitted a bound for an emergency debate to Commons Speaker John Bercow, and if a hit, they’re going to lift ahead a invoice that might well well force the high minister to position a question to for Brexit to be delayed till 31 January, until MPs approve a singular deal, or vote in favour of a no-deal exit, by 19 October.
‘Hand over invoice’
Talking in the Commons, Mr Johnson told MPs he mandatory a negotiated exit from the EU and insisted there changed into as soon as “true momentum” in the encourage of the talks with Brussels.
He acknowledged he would scoot to Dublin on Monday for discussions with Irish Top Minister Leo Varadkar, targeted on proposed replacement arrangements to the Irish border backstop – a key sticking level in the negotiations.
Requested to present evidence of progress by several Tory MPs, he acknowledged he would no longer negotiate in public however reassured them he would give crucial functions of the UK’s proposals well sooner than the stay of September to meet a closing date living by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
But he acknowledged the moves by MPs, along with Conservatives, to pass legislation successfully blockading a no-deal exit on 31 October would “execute any probability of negotiating a singular deal”.
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EPA
Phillip Lee (entrance correct) has represented the Berkshire constituency of Bracknell since 2010
If the rebels succeeded of their goals, Mr Johnson acknowledged it might well force him to plod to Brussels to “beg for another pointless extend” to Brexit and he would “never” stay that.
“It is Jeremy Corbyn’s renounce invoice. It technique working up the white flag,” he added.
No 10 has acknowledged the high minister will push for an election on 14 October if the MPs reach blockading no deal.
But requested if he might well well simply ignore them and press ahead with a no-deal Brexit regardless, he acknowledged: “We’ll pointless to order uphold the constitution and obey the legislation.”
Final-ditch efforts to internet the Tory rebels on aspect possess been taking predicament, however BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg acknowledged the first assembly on Tuesday morning between the high minister and the group went “decrease than swimmingly” and changed into as soon as “decrease than cordial”.
Extra discussions reportedly began rapidly after the PM’s Commons assertion.
There are regarded as about 15 confirmed rebels. The federal government had hoped the threat of an election – and of deselection and expulsion from the internet collectively – will be enough to lift them into line.
Sooner than Dr Lee’s defection, Mr Johnson simplest had a working majority of 1 in the Commons.
In a letter to the high minister, Dr Lee acknowledged Brexit divisions had “sadly transformed this as soon as great internet collectively into one thing extra equivalent to a narrow faction in which one’s Conservatism is measured by how recklessly one wants to plod away the European Union”.
“Presumably extra disappointingly, it has turn into infected by the twin ailments of English nationalism and populism.”
He acknowledged the Lib Dems – who encourage another referendum on Brexit and desire the UK to stay in the EU – possess been simplest positioned to “heal the divisions” and “overcome the challenges we face as a society.”
Welcoming her most modern recruit, Lib Dem chief Jo Swinson acknowledged they would work collectively to forestall a “disastrous Brexit” which would stay untold wound to the NHS and totally different public services.
Dr Lee’s resolution to unfriendly the floor – following that of ex-Tory MP Sarah Wollaston last month – changed into as soon as greeted with cheers on the opposition benches.
Amid offended exchanges for the length of the PM’s assertion on last month’s G7 summit, Jeremy Corbyn entreated the PM to “replicate on his sequence of language” to portray the rebels’ invoice.
The Labour chief acknowledged the UK changed into as soon as “no longer at battle with Europe” and it changed into as soon as a no-deal exit which would glimpse the UK “renounce” jobs, employment requirements and social protections.
“His is a government with no mandate, no morals and, as of as of late, no majority,” he added.
The SNP’s chief in Parliament, Ian Blackford, acknowledged Dr Lee’s defection capped what he acknowledged changed into as soon as the “shortest-lived honeymoon interval ever” for a singular high minister.
He acknowledged his internet collectively changed into as soon as ready for a general election at any time.
But old school Tory Ken Clarke, a form of living to riot later, acknowledged the PM’s approach changed into as soon as to “living stipulations which make no deal inevitable, to make optimistic as notable blame as that it is most likely you’ll well perchance moreover imagine is hooked as a lot as the EU, and as rapidly as he can combat a flag-waving election sooner than the consequences of a no deal turn into too obvious to the final public”.
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