Opposition MPs have confirmed details of their bid to force Boris Johnson to delay Brexit for another three months.
MPs will seek to take control of the Commons order paper at 3pm tomorrow.
If agreed by the speaker, they will try to pass a law forcing the PM to delay the Brexit deadline for three months if a deal is not agreed by October 19.
That would mean the revised deadline would be January 31.
Labour MP Hilary Benn tweeted the text of the bill this afternoon, just moments before it was revealed Johnson was to make a statement on the steps of Number 10.
Amid feverish speculation he’s planning to call an election, the PM will reportedly use the speech to plead with opposition MPs to back down.
Writing on Twitter , Mr Benn said: “The purpose of the Bill is to ensure that the UK does not leave the European Union on the 31 October without an agreement, unless Parliaments consents.
“The Bill gives the Government time either to reach a new agreement with the European Union at the European Council meeting next month or to seek Parliament’s specific consent to leave the EU without a deal.
“If neither of these two conditions have been met, however, by 19th October – ie the day after the European Council meeting concludes – then the Prime Minister must send a letter to the President of the European Council requesting an Article 50 extension until 31 January 2020.”
He added: “The form of the letter is set out in a schedule to the Bill. If the European Council agrees to an extension to the 31 January 2020, then the Prime Minister must immediately accept that extension.
“If the European Council proposes an extension to a different date then the Prime Minister must accept that extension within two days, unless the House of Commons rejects it.
“The Bill has cross-party support from MPs who believe that the consequences of No Deal for the economy and the country would be highly damaging. No Deal is not in the national interest.”
