Brexit this week: What time does Parliament sit today? When is the next vote on Boris Johnson’s deal?

Boris Johnson will attempt to push his Brexit deal through the House of Commons this week in another crunch week for British politics.

The Prime Minister abandoned a meaningful vote on his withdrawal agreement in the House of Commons on Saturday, after MPs backed a key amendment by Sir Oliver Letwin.

The motion forced the PM to request a Brexit extension from Brussels until the legislation needed to implement his agreement with the EU has been passed.

But Mr Johnson believes can get the necessary withdrawal bill cleared by the end of the week and that he “has the numbers” to push through his “great new Brexit deal”.

As MPs and Lords gear up for more debates, the Standard lays out what we can expect from the Brexit saga over the next few days.

What time does Parliament sit and what is happening in Westminster today?

Parliament will start at 2.30pm today. The Government will try for a second time to hold a meaningful vote on Mr Johnson’s Brexit deal.

No 10 will call for a “pause” on debates and votes on the Queen’s Speech to clear the way for the vote.

However, it is not yet known whether Speaker of the House John Bercow will accept the request, in light of Commons rules.

These state that a motion cannot be put forward if it is “the same in substance” as one which has been tabled earlier in the session.

In other words, you can’t propose the same motion over and over again.

MPs on both sides insist the vote should not go ahead today. They want the PM to table the legislation needed to implement Brexit – known as the Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) – first.

Mr Bercow is expected to announce whether the vote can go ahead on Monday afternoon.

If the vote goes ahead, does the PM have the numbers to secure his Brexit deal?

Much will hinge on the PM securing support from Brexiteer Tories who voted down Theresa May’s deal on three occasions, plus the 21 former Conservatives who lost the whip over the issue of a no deal Brexit.

Former Tory cabinet minister Amber Rudd has indicated she would support Mr Johnson’s deal and thought there was a “coalition for getting the Prime Minister’s deal through”.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said he also believes the Government has enough backing, telling The Andrew Marr Show: “We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons“.

However, the DUP is strongly opposed to Mr Johnson’s deal due to its proposed arrangements for Northern Ireland, so the backing of enough Labour MPs in Leave supporting seats will also be vital.

Forecasts suggest the numbers are on a knife edge.

Losing another meaningful vote on the deal could lead to the PM facing an Opposition motion of no confidence, paving the way for a general election and further clouding the precise future of the Brexit process.

What will happen if John Bercow doesn’t allow a vote on the deal today?

If Mr Bercow blocks the vote, focus will switch to the Government bringing its WAB before MPs on Monday afternoon, with a vote on its second reading on Tuesday.

What exactly is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

The WAB is the legal part of the PM’s Brexit deal that will take the country out of the EU. 

It enshrines in law any agreed transition period, fulfils requirements on the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, and enables the payment of the “UK’s divorce bill” will the EU.

But it will need the backing of a majority of MPs before it can be passed by peers in the House of Lords. 

MPs will be able to vote on amendments or add-ons to the bill during its second reading on Tuesday, when a number of key changes are expected to be put forward by the Labour Party.

If the Government can’t get the bill approved by Parliament, the default legal position is that the UK will not be able to ratify the PM’s deal. Therefore, the country will face a no-deal crash-out from the EU on October 31.

That is, unless the EU first agrees to extend the Brexit deadline beyond that date.

What’s happening in Brussels this week?

The EU must consider a letter, sent on Saturday night by Mr Johnson, begrudgingly requesting a delay to Brexit.

He was vehemently against the move – refusing to sign the letter – but was legally obliged to send it under the terms of the so-called Benn Act.

The Act forced the PM to seek a three-month extension to Article 50 if he had not secured a deal by 11pm on October 19.

All 27 EU nations must agree to this extension and, on Saturday night, European Council president Donald Tusk said he would now start “consulting EU leaders on how to react”.

The EU could set a different length to an extension, either shorter or longer than the three-month one cited in the Benn Act.

But it is understood Brussels is waiting to see whether the WAB makes it through its second reading, scheduled for tomorrow, before deciding whether to offer an extension.

If the PM gets the Bill through, there could be a special gathering of EU leaders on October 28.

If the deal needs more time to get through Parliament at that stage, leaders could agree to a short “technical” extension.

If they refuse to grant Britain a delay to Brexit, Parliament will have until October 31 to pass a deal, and the associated legislation, or crash out of the EU without a deal.

What’s happening in Westminster tomorrow?

Depending on whether today’s vote goes ahead, tomorrow will be crunch time, with two crucial votes expected to be held. 

The first will be on the PM’s proposed timetable to get his deal through the Commons.

The motion, which is still being drawn up by ministers, includes provision for late evening and weekend sittings in the Commons in a push to get through all stages of the legislation by the end of the week.

However, opposition parties are expected to vote down this programme motion. 

If they can secure the support of the DUP, which has said it will do everything it can to block the PM’s deal, it is unlikely Mr Johnson will be able to get his deal through the Commons on time.

The second vote will be held following the second reading of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.

This second reading will see opposition parties put forward proposed amendments to the bill, which could radically alter Mr Johnson’s deal.

What key amendments to the deal can we expect?

Second referendum

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer has said he will whip Labour MPs to support an amendment that would put any deal to a second referendum.

Sir Keir has suggested that such a referendum would offer the British people a choice between staying in the EU and Mr Johnson’s deal, as amended.

However, this amendment is unlikely to pass. As many as 20 Labour MPs could rebel and vote it down and the DUP has confirmed it will oppose it.

Customs union

Labour is also expected to table an amendment calling for Britain to stay in a customs union with the EU. 

This would amount to a major upheaval in Mr Johnson’s current deal, which commits Britain to leaving the EU customs union so it can strike independent trade deals after Brexit.

The amendment is already attracting the support of Labour rebels who were expected to back th PM’s deal but would prefer closer alignment with the EU. 

The DUP is also considering giving the deal its support, saying it wants a deal for the “whole of the UK”.

Most of the 21 Tory MPs who had the whip removed are expected to vote against it, but they will require further assurances about the future relationship with the EU.

What will the Prime Minister do if his deal is amended?

He could either take the unlikely step of accepting the deal as amended or withdraw legislation on his deal entirely. 

If so, a long Brexit delay will be almost certain, unless the EU refuses to grant the UK an extension.

In which case, the UK will leave without a deal on 31 October.

Will there be a general election?

If Brexit is delayed, the Government is expected to ask the House of Commons, again, to back an early general election. 

This would require a two-thirds majority in the House of Commons.

Alternatively, the Government could introduce a short new law specifying the date of an early general election – this would require simple majority rather than two-thirds of MPs.

A more dramatic alternative would be for the Prime Minister to call a vote of no confidence in his own government.

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