Parties gear up for 12 December election battle - BBC News

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Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll.

The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.

Boris Johnson says he is ready to fight a "tough" general election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the snap poll gave a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to transform the country.

• LIVE: Latest updates as parties prepare for 12 December poll

His shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said the election wouldn't just be about Brexit - telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It will be about austerity [and] about what's happened to our public service."

But Mr Johnson hopes the vote will give him a fresh mandate for his deal to leave the EU and break the current deadlock in Parliament.

He told Conservative MPs it was time for the country to "come together to get Brexit done", adding: "It'll be a tough election and we are going to do the best we can."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was "certainly not yearning for general election", but he believed it was "the only way to move the country forward".

The poll comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs.

The leaders of the UK's main two political parties will face off for Prime Minister's Questions at midday on Wednesday.

What happens next?

• The Early Parliamentary General Election Bill - which prompts the election - will be debated in the House of Lords on Wednesday
• If peers make any amendments to the bill, it will head back to the Commons for MPs to approve or reject the changes
• Once passed, the bill will receive Royal Assent - when the Queen formally agrees to the bill becoming law
• On Monday 4 November, MPs are due to elect a new Speaker to replace John Bercow
• Just after midnight on Wednesday 6 November, Parliament will be shut down or "dissolved" - meaning every seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant
• Five weeks later, the country will go to the polls for the first December election since 1923

What have the other parties said?

The Liberal Democrats and the SNP both see the election as a chance to ask voters whether Brexit should happen at all.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said the poll was "our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit".

Asked if she would form a coalition government with Labour or the Conservatives, she said: "I can't be clearer - neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister."

But deputy Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said the party was in discussions with Plaid Cyrmu and the Green Party "to see if we can work with them".

Mr McDonnell also said there would be "no deals, no coalitions" with other parties if Labour failed to win an overall majority.

For the SNP, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for the country to hold another independence referendum.

"A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said.

But the Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting the deadlock had been "broken" and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed".

But co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley said the poll should be "a climate election" and focus on environmental issues.

The legislation approved by MPs now must be rubberstamped by the House of Lords.

It would be pretty strange if unelected peers up the corridor from the green benches decided to say no or throw spanners in the works of a decision made by the House of Commons last night.

Unless something very strange happens, we are now on for an election.

Both sides are very, very nervous about what might unfold. And both sides are right to be nervous.

The two main party leaders, in a strange kind of mirror of each other, are happy campaigners, but divisive characters.

Both of them will try to set the agenda, but they can't know where this will all take us.

They can't know if it will be their issues they're able to talk about at length, but that's the glory of elections - it's up to voters to set the terms.

They decide the things they care about, they are interested in and they will put politicians on the spot about.

How did we get here?

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On Tuesday Mr Johnson's team tabled a one-page bill proposing a 12 December election to the Commons which needed the support of only a simple majority of MPs.

Labour's amendment to change the date of the proposed election from 12 to 9 December was rejected and MPs voted to back the government's original bill by 438 votes to 20.

• Did my MP vote for a 12 December election?
• Poll tracker: How popular are Westminster parties?

More than 100 Labour MPs did not take part or abstained in Tuesday's crucial vote, while 11 voted against an election. A total of 127 Labour MPs, including Mr Corbyn, supported the election.

The bill, approved by MPs, paves the way for the first December election since 1923.

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2019-10-30 08:40:09Z
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Parties gear up for 12 December election battle - BBC News

Media playback is unsupported on your device

Political parties are readying themselves for a general election campaign after MPs voted for a 12 December poll.

The legislation approved by MPs on Tuesday will later begin its passage through the House of Lords, where it is not expected to be opposed.

Boris Johnson says he is ready to fight a "tough" general election.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the snap poll gave a "once-in-a-generation" opportunity to transform the country.

His shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said the election wouldn't just be about Brexit - telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It will be about austerity [and] about what's happen to our public service."

But Mr Johnson hopes the vote will give him a fresh mandate for his deal to leave the EU and break the current deadlock in Parliament.

He told Conservative MPs it was time for the country to "come together to get Brexit done", adding: "It'll be a tough election and we are going to do the best we can."

The poll comes after the EU extended the UK's exit deadline to 31 January 2020 - although Brexit can happen earlier if a deal is agreed by MPs.

The leaders of the UK's main two political parties will face off for Prime Minister's Questions at midday on Wednesday.

What have the other parties said?

The Liberal Democrats and the SNP both see the election as a chance to ask voters whether Brexit should happen at all.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said the poll was "our best chance to elect a government to stop Brexit".

Asked if she would form a coalition government with Labour or the Conservatives, she said: "I can't be clearer - neither Boris Johnson nor Jeremy Corbyn is fit to be prime minister."

Mr McDonnell also said there would be "no deals, no coalitions" with other parties if Labour failed to win an overall majority.

For the SNP, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said an election was an opportunity for the country to hold another independence referendum.

"A win for the SNP will be an unequivocal and irresistible demand for Scotland's right to choose our own future," she said.

But the Scottish Conservatives claimed voting for their party would keep Scotland in the UK.

Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage welcomed the election, tweeting the deadlock had been "broken" and "Brexit now has a chance to succeed".

But co-leader of the Green Party Jonathan Bartley said the poll should be "a climate election" and focus on environmental issues.

When the House of Lords approves the election bill today then we will be on course for a 12 December winter election.

It is set to be one of the most unpredictable and epic elections of modern times.

Unpredictable, because Brexit totally overshadows it, but also because Brexit has totally reshaped our politics, too.

The main parties can no longer rely on the traditional class party residual loyalty. Instead, we have an emerging sort of identity culture politics which has changed the game entirely.

And epic in the sense that the sort of promises the two main parties are making are gargantuan huge spending promises.

It is going to be a titanic contest.

How did we get here?

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On Tuesday Mr Johnson's team tabled a one-page bill proposing a 12 December election to the Commons which needed the support of only a simple majority of MPs.

Labour's amendment to change the date of the proposed election from 12 to 9 December was rejected and MPs voted to back the government's original bill by 438 votes to 20.

• Did my MP vote for a 12 December election?
• Poll tracker: How popular are Westminster parties?

More than 100 Labour MPs did not take part or abstained in Tuesday's crucial vote, while 11 voted against an election. A total of 127 Labour MPs, including Mr Corbyn, supported the election.

The bill, approved by MPs, paves the way for the first December election since 1923.

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2019-10-30 08:22:37Z
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Labour to back early general election - BBC News

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says his party will support an early general election as the government makes its pitch for a poll on 12 December.

Mr Corbyn said his condition of taking a no-deal Brexit off the table had "now been met" after the EU agreed to extend the deadline to 31 January 2020.

Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said Labour wanted Boris Johnson "out before Christmas", but did not confirm his party's preferred poll date.

MPs will vote on timings later.

The SNP and Liberal Democrats want a 9 December poll, saying it would prevent the prime minister from pushing his Brexit deal through Parliament.

The government bill published ahead of the Commons debate is for an early election on 12 December.

But No 10 sources have told the BBC they would accept 11 December to get opposition parties on-board.

Mr Corbyn told his shadow cabinet: "I have consistently said that we are ready for an election and our support is subject to a no-deal Brexit being off the table.

"We have now heard from the EU that the extension of Article 50 to 31 January has been confirmed, so for the next three months, our condition of taking no-deal off the table has now been met.

"We will now launch the most ambitious and radical campaign for real change our country has ever seen."

Mr Burgon said Labour would be pushing to get votes for 16 and 17-year-olds, as well as EU nationals so they can have their say.

But he added: "Even if we don't get those things we want, when push comes to shove, we are going to support an election."

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2019-10-29 11:16:51Z
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Brain illness spread by ticks has reached UK - BBC News

An infectious disease that can harm the brain and is spread to people by tick bites has been identified in ticks in the UK for the first time.

Public Health England (PHE) says it has confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks from two parts of England - Thetford Forest and an area on the Hampshire-Dorset border.

PHE says the risk to people is still "very low".

It is monitoring the situation to check how common the infected ticks may be.

What is it?

A tick is a tiny, spider-like creature that lives in undergrowth and on animals, including deer and dogs.

People who spend time walking in countryside areas where infected ticks can be found are at risk of being bitten and catching diseases they carry.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus is already circulating in mainland Europe and Scandinavia, as well as Asia.

Evidence now shows it has reached the UK.

How it got here is less clear. Experts say infected ticks may have hitched a ride on migratory birds.

Earlier this year, a European visitor, who has since recovered, became ill after being bitten by a tick while in the New Forest area, Public Health England says.

Further investigations revealed infected ticks were present in two locations in England.

Should I worry?

Ticks are becoming more common across many parts of the UK, largely due to increasing deer numbers. Being bitten by one doesn't necessarily mean you will get sick.

Dr Nick Phin, from Public Health England, said: ''These are early research findings and indicate the need for further work. However, the risk to the general public is currently assessed to be very low."

Most people who catch the virus will have no or only mild flu-like symptoms. But the disease can progress to affect the brain and central nervous system and can sometimes be fatal.

Ticks can also carry other diseases that can make people ill including Lyme disease.

Dr Phin said: "We are reminding people to be 'tick aware' and take tick precautions, particularly when visiting or working in areas with long grass such as woodlands, moorlands and parks."

What should I do?

• To reduce the risk of being bitten, cover your skin, tuck your trousers into your socks, use insect repellent and stick to paths
• If you are bitten, remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool found in chemists
• Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water
• You should go to your GP if you think you may have been bitten by a tick in the past month and develop flu-like symptoms or a circular red rash

Ticks feed on the blood of animals and people.

They cannot jump or fly but live in vegetation and wait for a passing animal or human to climb on to.

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2019-10-29 09:04:04Z
CBMiKGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJiYy5jb20vbmV3cy9oZWFsdGgtNTAyMDYzODLSASxodHRwczovL3d3dy5iYmMuY29tL25ld3MvYW1wL2hlYWx0aC01MDIwNjM4Mg

Brain illness spread by ticks has reached UK - BBC News

An infectious disease that can harm the brain and is spread to people by tick bites has been identified in ticks in the UK for the first time.

Public Health England (PHE) says it has confirmed cases of tick-borne encephalitis virus in ticks from two parts of England - Thetford Forest and an area on the Hampshire-Dorset border.

PHE says the risk to people is still "very low".

It is monitoring the situation to check how common the infected ticks may be.

What is it?

A tick is a tiny, spider-like creature that lives in undergrowth and on animals, including deer and dogs.

People who spend time walking in countryside areas where infected ticks can be found are at risk of being bitten and catching diseases they carry.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus is already circulating in mainland Europe and Scandinavia, as well as Asia.

Evidence now shows it has reached the UK.

How it got here is less clear. Experts say infected ticks may have hitched a ride on migratory birds.

Earlier this year, a European visitor, who has since recovered, became ill after being bitten by a tick while in the New Forest area, Public Health England says.

Further investigations revealed infected ticks were present in two locations in England.

Should I worry?

Ticks are becoming more common across many parts of the UK, largely due to increasing deer numbers. Being bitten by one doesn't necessarily mean you will get sick.

Dr Nick Phin, from Public Health England, said: ''These are early research findings and indicate the need for further work. However, the risk to the general public is currently assessed to be very low."

Most people who catch the virus will have no or only mild flu-like symptoms. But the disease can progress to affect the brain and central nervous system and can sometimes be fatal.

Ticks can also carry other diseases that can make people ill including Lyme disease.

Dr Phin said: "We are reminding people to be 'tick aware' and take tick precautions, particularly when visiting or working in areas with long grass such as woodlands, moorlands and parks."

What should I do?

• To reduce the risk of being bitten, cover your skin, tuck your trousers into your socks, use insect repellent and stick to paths
• If you are bitten, remove the tick with fine-tipped tweezers or a tick-removal tool found in chemists
• Clean the bite with antiseptic or soap and water
• You should go to your GP if you think you may have been bitten by a tick in the past month and develop flu-like symptoms or a circular red rash

Ticks feed on the blood of animals and people.

They cannot jump or fly but live in vegetation and wait for a passing animal or human to climb on to.

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2019-10-29 01:50:16Z
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Brexit: European leaders agree extension to 31 January - BBC News

EU leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 - meaning the UK will not leave as planned on Thursday.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.

It comes as MPs prepare to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December.

The SNP and Lib Dems have also proposed an election on 9 December.

The government has not ruled out getting behind that proposal date, if it fails to get its preferred date through the Commons later.

The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.

The prime minister had repeatedly said the UK would leave on 31 October deadline with or without a deal, but the law - known as the Benn Act - requires him to accept the EU's extension offer.

The president of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, said the extension was "positive", and "gives time for the UK to make clear what it wants".

Boris Johnson's "do or die" pledge to leave by 31 October is no more - it is dead.

Many will see this as a no-deal Brexit being taken off the table, at least until 31 January.

So it will increase the arguments in the Commons that with no-deal parked, Parliament now has to make a decision on an election.

And that is what Mr Johnson will be trying to argue over the next few days.

For the PM, there is a risk of calling an election without Brexit being resolved, as he may be punished for it at the ballot box.

So, while it buys more time, it also creates an element of uncertainty for the prime minister.

He will now campaign for an election in the knowledge that he has failed in his signature policy which he campaigned for in the Conservative leadership election.

Mr Tusk will now seek the UK's formal agreement to the decision, before formalising the extension through a written procedure among the 27 other EU nations.

An EU official said they hoped for the process to be concluded by Tuesday or Wednesday.

MPs are due to vote on the prime minister's election call after 17:00 GMT.

Mr Johnson said if Parliament agreed to an election on 12 December, he would restart efforts to get his Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation enacting the Brexit deal he struck with Brussels - into law.

The bill passed its first hurdle last week after MPs backed it at the second reading by a majority of 30.

But minutes later they voted against a timetable that would see it pass through Parliament in just three days, so the PM "paused" its progress.

Labour has repeatedly said it will not back an early general election until a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table.

The party was predicted to abstain in Monday's vote, effectively killing off the government's plans.

The SNP also said it would block the government's election attempt.

But it has broken with the Labour position and joined forces with the Liberal Democrats to push for an election on 9 December, provided there is an extension.

The SNP and Lib Dems have proposed a bill that would tweak the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 - the law which sets the time-frame for elections.

If passed, it would enable an election to take place with only a majority of one, rather than two-thirds of MPs.

Skip Twitter post by @IanBlackfordMP

It is confirmed by the EU that we will not be leaving on the 31st Oct @BorisJohnson has failed to take us off the cliff edge, he has been defeated again. Let us have the election @thesnp will do its job and put across our message that those in Scotland should decide our future

— Ian Blackford (@IanBlackfordMP) October 28, 2019

End of Twitter post by @IanBlackfordMP

Asked about the Lib Dem/SNP proposal, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the government would "always look at every single option".

But he told BBC Breakfast: "The best way is to vote for the motion tonight. This Parliament is totally broken. Let the people decide the next step forward."

MPs have already twice rejected a call from the PM to hold a general election.

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2019-10-28 11:37:50Z
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Brexit: European leaders agree extension to 31 January - BBC News

EU leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 - meaning the UK will not leave as planned on Thursday.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.

It comes as MPs prepare to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December.

The SNP and Lib Dems have also proposed an election on 9 December.

The government has not ruled out getting behind that proposal date, if it fails to get its preferred date through the Commons later.

The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.

The prime minister had repeatedly said the UK would leave on 31 October deadline with or without a deal, but the law - known as the Benn Act - requires him to accept the EU's extension offer.

Boris Johnson's "do or die" pledge to leave by 31 October is no more - it is dead.

Many will see this as a no-deal Brexit being taken off the table, at least until 31 January.

So it will increase the arguments in the Commons that with no-deal parked, Parliament now has to make a decision on an election.

And that is what Mr Johnson will be trying to argue over the next few days.

For the PM, there is a risk of calling an election without Brexit being resolved, as he may be punished for it at the ballot box.

So, while it buys more time, it also creates an element uncertainty for the prime minister.

He will now campaign for an election in the knowledge that he has failed in his signature policy which he campaigned for in the Conservative leadership election.

Mr Tusk will now seek the UK's formal agreement to the decision, before formalising the extension through a written procedure among the 27 other EU nations.

An EU official said they hoped for the process to be concluded by Tuesday or Wednesday.

MPs are due to vote on the prime minister's election call after 17:00 GMT.

Mr Johnson said if Parliament agreed to an election on 12 December, he would restart efforts to get his Withdrawal Agreement Bill - the legislation enacting the Brexit deal he struck with Brussels - into law.

The bill passed its first hurdle last week after MPs backed it at the second reading by a majority of 30.

But minutes later they voted against a timetable that would see it pass through Parliament in just three days, so the PM "paused" its progress.

Labour has repeatedly said it will not back an early general election until a no-deal Brexit is taken off the table.

The party was predicted to abstain in Monday's vote, effectively killing off the government's plans.

The SNP also said it would block the government's election attempt.

But it has broken with the Labour position and joined forces with the Liberal Democrats to push for an election on 9 December, provided there is an extension.

The SNP and Lib Dems have proposed a bill that would tweak the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 - the law which sets the time-frame for elections.

If passed, it would enable an election to take place with only a majority of one, rather than two-thirds of MPs.

Skip Twitter post by @IanBlackfordMP

It is confirmed by the EU that we will not be leaving on the 31st Oct @BorisJohnson has failed to take us off the cliff edge, he has been defeated again. Let us have the election @thesnp will do its job and put across our message that those in Scotland should decide our future

— Ian Blackford (@IanBlackfordMP) October 28, 2019

End of Twitter post by @IanBlackfordMP

Asked about the Lib Dem/SNP proposal, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the government would "always look at every single option".

But he told BBC Breakfast: "The best way is to vote for the motion tonight. This Parliament is totally broken. Let the people decide the next step forward."

MPs have already twice rejected a call from the PM to hold a general election.

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2019-10-28 10:10:45Z
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Brexit: European leaders agree extension to 31 January - BBC News

EU leaders have agreed in principle to extend Brexit until 31 January 2020 - meaning the UK will not leave as planned on Thursday.

EU Council President Donald Tusk said it was a "flextension" - meaning the UK could leave before the deadline if a deal was approved by Parliament.

It comes as MPs prepare to vote on proposals by Boris Johnson for an early general election on 12 December.

The SNP and Lib Dems have also proposed an election on 9 December.

The government has not ruled out getting behind that proposed date, if, as expected, it fails to get its preferred date through the Commons later.

The UK was due to leave the EU on Thursday, but Mr Johnson was required to request an extension after Parliament failed to agree a Brexit deal.

Boris Johnson had repeatedly said the UK would leave on 31 October deadline "do or die", but the law - known as the Benn act - also requires him to accept the offer.

Mr Tusk will now seek the UK's formal agreement to the decision - before formalising the extension through a written procedure among the 27 other EU nations, which he hopes to conclude by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The BBC's assistant Political Editor Norman Smith said the decision saw a no-deal Brexit taken off the table - which will increase the pressure on MPs to decide on a general election.

MPs are due to vote on the prime minister's election call after 17:00 GMT.

Mr Johnson said if Parliament agreed to the vote, he would bring back his Withdrawal Agreement Bill for MPs to scrutinise.

The bill passed its first hurdle last week after MPs backed it at the second reading by a majority of 30.

But minutes later they voted against a timetable that would see it pass through Parliament in just three days, so the PM "paused" its progress.

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2019-10-28 10:07:54Z
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MPs to vote on Boris Johnson's 12 December election call - BBC News

MPs are due to vote later on Boris Johnson's call to have an election on 12 December.

The prime minister says he will restart moves to get his Brexit deal bill into law if the motion is passed.

But he looks unlikely to get the support of the two-thirds of MPs he needs by law to agree to an election, with opposition parties against it.

The UK is due to leave the EU on Thursday, but the bloc is considering an extension to that date.

They agreed to delay Brexit in principle last week, but EU ambassadors are meeting again this morning, with BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming saying there were "high hopes" of a final decision.

A draft text of an agreement for the 27 ambassadors includes multiple possible dates for Brexit - 30 November, 31 December or 31 January - and an option for the UK to leave earlier if and when a deal is signed off.

There will also be a commitment that the Withdrawal Agreement on the UK's exit from the EU cannot be renegotiated in future.

Adam Fleming said if the ambassadors and the UK agreed, the extension process could completed in writing without the leaders of each of the EU states needing to be present.

Vote for a vote

In Westminster, MPs are due to vote on the prime minister's election call after 17:00 GMT.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party is not prepared to support it until a no-deal Brexit is ruled out, with his party's MPs expected to abstain in the vote.

The SNP has also said it will block the government's election attempt.

But the party has joined forces with the Liberal Democrats to push for an election on 9 December - provided the EU grants a Brexit extension until 31 January.

They have proposed a bill which would tweak the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011 - the law which sets the time-frame for elections - and enable a poll to take place with only a simple majority of MPs voting for it, rather than two-thirds of MPs.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said she wanted to stop Mr Johnson from "ramming through his Brexit bill".

She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme setting the date in law would also remove any "wriggle room" the PM had around his own proposals.

Ms Swinson said she had written to the prime minister but was yet to get a response.

Asked about the Lib Dem/SNP proposal, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said the government would "always look at every single option".

But he told BBC Breakfast: "The best way is to vote for the motion tonight. This Parliament is totally broken. Let the people decide the next step forward."

Labour's Lucy Powell also criticised the SNP/Lib Dem plan.

"What we've seen from the Liberal Democrats and the SNP is trying to shape the terms of that election in a way that would favour them the most. It's pure playing of politics," she told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour.

MPs have already twice rejected a call from the PM to hold a general election.

Mr Johnson has sent a letter to the EU requesting a Brexit delay until 31 January. He was compelled to do so by a law passed by MPs - known as the Benn Act.

Before this, the prime minister repeatedly insisted the UK would leave the EU on 31 October, with or without a deal.

The decision by the Lib Dems and SNP is basically to abandon a "People's Vote" in this Parliament and to campaign now for a general election.

That is the only way, they believe, that you can change the maths in Parliament to make a People's Vote more likely.

It points to the break-up of the so-called Rebel Alliance, which has hung together through thick and thin and has stymied Mr Johnson.

The Lib Dems and the SNP appear to be moving in on one direction - and Labour and the Greens in the other.

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2019-10-28 09:39:01Z
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Brexit: EU considers flexible three-month extension - BBC News

The EU is due to meet on Monday to consider a Brexit extension until 31 January, with an option for the UK to leave earlier if a deal is ratified.

A draft text to be shown to ambassadors from the 27 member countries includes multiple possible dates for Brexit: 30 November, 31 December or 31 January.

There will also be a commitment that the Withdrawal Agreement cannot be renegotiated in future.

Unless the extension is approved, the UK will leave the EU on Thursday.

Under the proposed legal decision to extend the Brexit process, the EU would also retain the right to meet without the UK to consider future business during the extension.

The EU has so far agreed to an extension after Boris Johnson was forced by Parliament to request it, but has not specified the new deadline date.

If EU members approve the request for a three-month extension, Mr Johnson would have to accept it, under the terms of the law passed by MPs to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Any extension to the Article 50 process is technically flexible, meaning that it can come to an end as soon as a deal is approved by both parties.

But by writing this flexibility into the legal decision to delay Brexit, EU leaders aim to underline their neutrality from the political debate in the UK.

A short delay could be seen as risking a no-deal Brexit by those who support remaining in the EU, while a long delay could be seen by Brexit supporters as attempting to prevent the UK from leaving.

As part of the extension, the EU is expected to say the UK has "an obligation to suggest a candidate" to represent it on the EU Commission.

Mr Johnson has previously said "under no circumstances" will he nominate anyone to take over from Julian King when the new commission takes office on 1 November, arguing that officials need to focus on the UK's future outside the EU.

'Look at all options'

The decision from Brussels is set to come as the UK debates how to use any potential extension to break the Parliamentary deadlock.

The prime minister will put forward a motion calling for a 12 December election on Monday, which needs the support of two-thirds of MPs to succeed.

But the Liberal Democrats and Scottish National Party want to see a bill introduced that enshrines a 9 December election in law, as long as the Brexit deadline is extended to 31 January.

Conservative MP James Cleverly dismissed this plan as a "gimmick" and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called the move a "stunt".

But a Downing Street source said the government would "look at all options" if its own election motion failed.

Unlike the government plan, the Lib Dem-SNP bill would only require a simple majority to pass.

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2019-10-27 22:01:39Z
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UK ministers deny plan to weaken workers' rights after Brexit - Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain’s government denied a newspaper report on Saturday that it will seek to weaken workers’ rights after Britain leaves the European Union, with one minister describing the idea as “completely mad”.

FILE PHOTO: Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson poses for a photograph with workers at the Wight Shipyard Company at Venture Quay during a visit to the Isle of Wight, Britain June 27, 2019. Dominic Lipinski/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

The Financial Times published extracts of leaked documents from the government’s Brexit ministry which state that a so-called “level playing field” commitment to the EU “leaves room for interpretation”.

The EU is concerned Britain may try to loosen regulations, including workers’ rights, after it leaves the bloc and says it is likely to impose trade barriers unless rules remain similar, to avoid what it views as unfair competition.

In the shorter term, Britain’s government also needs support from at least some rebel members of the opposition Labour Party to pass Brexit legislation, which has said their votes will hinge on the preservation of workers’ existing protections.

In the Brexit transition deal Prime Minister Boris Johnson has negotiated with Brussels, the political declaration which sets out the framework for trade talks says “the future relationship must ensure open and fair competition, encompassing robust commitments to ensure a level playing field”.

According to the FT, Brexit ministry officials wrote that the UK’s and EU’s “interpretation of these commitments will be very different”, and that the text represented a “much more open starting point for future relationship negotiations”.

Government ministers rejected the FT’s suggestion that this meant British labor standards would diverge significantly from those in the EU.

“This story is not correct. UK will maintain (the) highest standards of workers’ rights and environmental standards when we leave the EU,” business minister Andrea Leadsom said on Twitter in reply to the FT report.

However Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said the FT report showed members of parliament would be unwise to trust government promises on workers’ rights.

“These documents confirm our worst fears. Boris Johnson’s Brexit is a blueprint for a deregulated economy, which will see vital rights and protections torn up,” he said.

Junior business minister Kwasi Kwarteng said it was not in the government’s interest to seek to loosen employment rules.

“I think this is completely mad, actually,” he said when asked about the FT report by the BBC. “Nineteen Labour MPs have come with us and voted for a second reading (of Brexit legislation). It would not make any sense at all to dilute workers’ rights.”

Under the Brexit deal negotiated by Johnson’s predecessor Theresa May - which parliament rejected three times - the United Kingdom as a whole would have been bound by some “level playing field” commitments as part of a customs agreement.

According to Johnson’s deal, only Northern Ireland will be obliged to continue to follow rules similar to those in the EU, and the rest of the UK can diverge if it is willing to accept greater barriers to trade with the EU.

Most economists think preserving trade ties with the EU should be a priority after Brexit, and see few obvious gains from significantly different regulation.

Reporting by David Milliken; Editing by Alison Williams

Our Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2019-10-26 10:58:00Z
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Vietnam working with UK police to identify 39 bodies - CNN

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Vietnam working with UK police to identify 39 bodies  CNN
https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2019/10/26/essex-truck-39-deaths-new-arrests-mclean-pkg-vpx.cnn

2019-10-26 08:27:27Z
CAIiEJLgTLtIrIcS1lvLcpmcn-oqGQgEKhAIACoHCAowocv1CjCSptoCMI29pgU

Essex lorry deaths: The Vietnamese risking it all to get to the UK - BBC News

An hour's drive inland from the French coast, a dozen Vietnamese men nurse tea over a smoking campfire, as they wait for a phone call from the man they call "the boss". An Afghan man, they say, who opens trailers in the lorry-park nearby and shuts them inside.

Duc paid €30,000 ($33,200; £25,000) for a prepaid journey from Vietnam to London - via Russia, Poland, Germany and France. It was organised, he says, by a Vietnamese contact back home.

"I have some Vietnamese friends in UK, who will help me find jobs when I get there," he told me. "These friends help me get on lorries or container trucks to go across the border."

Security is much less tight in the nearby lorry park than around the ports further north. But few people here have managed to get past the border controls.

We were told there is a two-tier system in operation here; that those who pay more for their passage to Britain don't have to chance their luck in the lorries outside, but use this base as a transit camp before being escorted on the final leg of their journey.

A Vietnamese smuggler, interviewed by a French paper several years ago, reportedly described three levels of package. The top level allowed migrants to ride in the lorry cab and sleep in hotels. The lowest level was nicknamed "air", or more cynically "CO2" - a reference to the lack of air in some trailers.

A local volunteer in the camp told us that they'd seen Vietnamese and British men visiting migrants here in a Mercedes. And that once migrants arrived in the UK, some went to work in cannabis farms, after which all communication stopped.

Duc tells me he needs a job in the UK to pay back the loan for his journey.

"We can do anything," he says, "construction work, nail bars, restaurants or other jobs."

A report by one of France's biggest charities described smugglers telling Vietnamese migrants that refrigerated lorries gave them more chance of avoiding detection, and giving each of them an aluminium bag to put over their heads while passing through scanners at the border.

No one here had heard about the 39 people found dead this week.

This journey is about freedom, one said.

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2019-10-25 23:51:01Z
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Two more arrested after 39 victims found in Essex truck container -- live updates - CNN International

Police officers drive away a lorry, with black plastic visible at the rear, in which 39 bodies were discovered in Essex. BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday said the 39 bodies that were discovered in a refrigerated lorry in Essex have yet to be identified as Chinese at this time.

"The British police expressed that the identity of the victims is still being verified. It is not yet possible to confirm whether they were Chinese nationals," spokesperson Hua Chunying said.

"We hope that the British side will confirm the identity of the victims as soon as possible, find out the truth, and severely punish the criminals involved in the case."

The spokesperson added that consular officials from the Embassy in China are working closely with UK authorities and that British police are "still in the process of verification."

When asked by CNN about the possibility of Chinese citizens being illegally trafficked, the question was rebuffed by the spokesperson.

"Chinese people have gained an unprecedented level of gratefulness, safeness, fulfillment and happiness over the past, over the past seven decades," Hua replied.

"If you look around the globe you will find more and more foreign friends wishing to work, study and holiday in China even more they hope live in China for a long time, so I think this is not an appropriate question for you to raise here."

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2019-10-25 12:19:00Z
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Bodies in truck container identified as Chinese nationals: Live updates - CNN International

The driver of a truck that was found with 39 bodies inside in the town of Grays, England, on Wednesday has been identified by a local councillor as Morris Robinson.

Paul Berry, the local councillor for Armagh (the area where Robinson lives in Northern Ireland), told CNN he learned of the arrest after speaking with Robinson’s father.

Berry confirmed to CNN the identity of the driver, saying that he was known locally as “Mo." He said Robinson’s family is “salt of the earth and clearly we need to give them space”.

Earlier Wednesday, Essex Police said a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland remains in custody on suspicion of murder.

“I will not be commenting on the identity of the suspect of this man,” Deputy Chief Constable of Essex Police Pippa Mills said during a news conference. 

Here's a photo of Robinson:

Facebook / Mo Robinson

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2019-10-24 12:20:00Z
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UK Won't Deport Lucy Dutton, Girl With British Parents - TIME

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2019-10-24 09:59:41Z
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UK Won't Deport Lucy Dutton, Girl With British Parents - TIME

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2019-10-24 07:59:28Z
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39 bodies found in truck container in Essex: Live updates - CNN International

UK authorities were called to the scene in southeast England shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, where they found the bodies of 39 individuals inside a truck.

Part of the line of inquiry for UK authorities is working out where the truck came from and how it ended up in an industrial park east of London.

Local police have said that they believe the truck originated from Bulgaria and that it entered Britain through the Welsh port of Holyhead over the weekend. A regular ferry service connects Holyhead with the Irish capital of Dublin.

"If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route,” Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) told PA news agency. 

"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased a places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

 "It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey,” Leheny added. 

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2019-10-23 12:38:00Z
52780417201700

39 bodies found in truck container in Essex: Live updates - CNN International

UK authorities were called to the scene in southeast England shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, where they found the bodies of 39 individuals inside a truck.

Part of the line of inquiry for UK authorities is working out where the truck came from and how it ended up in an industrial park east of London.

Local police have said that they believe the truck originated from Bulgaria and that it entered Britain through the Welsh port of Holyhead over the weekend. A regular ferry service connects Holyhead with the Irish capital of Dublin.

"If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route,” Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) told PA news agency. 

"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased a places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

 "It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey,” Leheny added. 

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2019-10-23 11:55:00Z
52780417201700

39 bodies found in truck container in Essex: Live updates - CNN International

UK authorities were called to the scene in southeast England shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, where they found the bodies of 39 individuals inside a truck.

Part of the line of inquiry for UK authorities is working out where the truck came from and how it ended up in an industrial park east of London.

Local police have said that they believe the truck originated from Bulgaria and that it entered Britain through the Welsh port of Holyhead over the weekend. A regular ferry service connects Holyhead with the Irish capital of Dublin.

"If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route,” Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) told PA news agency. 

"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased a places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

 "It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey,” Leheny added. 

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2019-10-23 11:27:00Z
52780417140138

39 bodies found in truck container in Essex: Live updates - CNN International

UK authorities were called to the scene in southeast England shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, where they found the bodies of 39 individuals inside a truck.

Part of the line of inquiry for UK authorities is working out where the truck came from and how it ended up in an industrial park east of London.

Local police have said that they believe the truck originated from Bulgaria and that it entered Britain through the Welsh port of Holyhead over the weekend. A regular ferry service connects Holyhead with the Irish capital of Dublin.

"If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route,” Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) told PA news agency. 

"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased a places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

 "It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey,” Leheny added. 

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2019-10-23 11:06:00Z
52780417201700

Essex Police: 39 people found dead in lorry container - BBC News

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The bodies of 39 people have been found in a lorry container in Essex.

Police were called by the ambulance service shortly before 01:40 BST after the discovery at Waterglade Industrial Park in Eastern Avenue, Grays.

The lorry driver, a 25-year-old man from Northern Ireland, has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Essex Police said the vehicle travelled from Bulgaria and entered the UK via Holyhead, Anglesey, on Saturday. There were no survivors.

Early indications are that 38 adults and one teenager have died, the force said.

Essex lorry deaths: Latest updates

Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills said identifying the victims "remains our number one priority".

She appealed for anyone with information about the route the lorry may have taken, or anyone who had seen the vehicle or knew about its journey, to get in touch.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was "appalled by this tragic incident".

He said: "I am receiving regular updates and the Home Office will work closely with Essex Police as we establish exactly what has happened. My thoughts are with all those who lost their lives and their loved ones."

Home Secretary Priti Patel said she was "shocked and saddened by this utterly tragic incident", while Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price said it was "sickening news".

"People trafficking is a vile and dangerous business," Ms Doyle-Price tweeted, adding that she hoped Essex Police could "bring these murderers to justice".

Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association, said if the lorry had come from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead was an "unorthodox route".

He said: "People have been saying that security and checks have been increased at places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

"It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey."

The National Crime Agency said it had sent officers to assist the investigation. Ch Supt Andrew Mariner, from Essex Police, said he expected identifying the victims would be a "lengthy process".

Glen Freeland, from GSF Car Parts, which is close to where the bodies were found, said staff could not access their premises on Eastern Avenue.

"The manager went to get into work this morning and it was cordoned off and we've been moved to a different area," Mr Freeland said.

In June 2000, 58 Chinese immigrants were found suffocated to death in the back of a lorry in Dover. There were two survivors.

A Dutch lorry driver was jailed the following year for manslaughter.

---

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2019-10-23 09:58:42Z
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39 bodies found in truck container in Essex: Live updates - CNN International

UK authorities were called to the scene in southeast England shortly before 1:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning, where they found the bodies of 39 individuals inside a truck.

Part of the line of inquiry for UK authorities is working out where the truck came from and how it ended up in an industrial park east of London.

Local police have said that they believe the truck originated from Bulgaria and that it entered Britain through the Welsh port of Holyhead over the weekend. A regular ferry service connects Holyhead with the Irish capital of Dublin.

"If the lorry came from Bulgaria, getting into Britain via Holyhead is an unorthodox route,” Seamus Leheny, Northern Ireland policy manager for the Freight Transport Association (FTA) told PA news agency. 

"People have been saying that security and checks have been increased a places like Dover and Calais, so it might be seen as an easier way to get in by going from Cherbourg or Roscoff, over to Rosslare, then up the road to Dublin.

 "It's a long way around and it'll add an extra day to the journey,” Leheny added. 

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2019-10-23 10:42:00Z
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39 people have been found dead in a truck container in southeast England, UK police say - USA TODAY

Sean Davies (Basildon, England) Echo

Published 6:17 AM EDT Oct 23, 2019

LONDON — Police in southeastern England said that 39 people were found dead Wednesday inside a truck container believed to have come from Bulgaria.

The truck, which is said to have entered the country on Saturday, was found by ambulance workers at Waterglade Industrial Park, Grays.

“This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened,” Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said. “We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process.”

A cordon has been put in place and access to and from the Waterglade Industrial Park remains closed.

“We are working with Thurrock Council to mitigate against any impact our investigation scene will have locally.” Mariner said.

When did this happen?

Emergency services rushed to Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, at roughly 1:40 a.m. local time. 

Have the bodies been identified? 

All 39 people found were pronounced dead at the scene. Early indications suggest 38 are adults and one is a teenager.

"We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process," Mariner said.

Is there a suspect?

A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland who is the truck's driver has been arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in custody.

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted: “Shocked & saddened by this utterly tragic incident in Grays. Essex Police has arrested an individual and we must give them the space to conduct their investigations.”

 Contributing: AP

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2019-10-23 09:22:00Z
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Brexit: Boris Johnson in last push to get deal through - BBC News

Boris Johnson will urge MPs to back his Brexit deal in a final bid to get the UK to leave the EU in nine days' time.

MPs will vote on the PM's Withdrawal Agreement Bill and if they back it they will be asked to approve a three-day timetable to consider the legislation.

But the decision to curtail the scrutiny of the bill to three days has sparked anger from opposition MPs.

The BBC's Norman Smith said the PM looks set for a "deeply damaging" defeat over the timetable.

However, the prime minister seems on course to win an important symbolic victory with MPs poised to back his Brexit bill in principle, our assistant political editor added.

MPs will begin a number of votes on Mr Johnson's Withdrawal Agreement Bill, which was published on Monday, at about 19:00 BST.

Elsewhere, European Council President Donald Tusk has told the European Parliament in Strasbourg he is consulting the 27 EU leaders on how to react to the UK's request for a Brexit delay and "will decide in the coming days".

"I have no doubt that we should treat the British request for extension in all seriousness," he tweeted.

Ministers have insisted they are confident they have the numbers to get the Withdrawal Agreement Bill approved, despite losing a crunch Commons vote on Saturday aimed at ruling out a no-deal Brexit.

MPs believed by ministers to be ready to back the prime minister include pro-Leave Labour rebels and former Tory MPs now sitting as independents who would rather leave with Mr Johnson's deal than no deal at all.

If MPs back the bill, they will then vote on the government's "programme motion", which sets out the timetable for the legislation's passage through the Commons.

On Monday, Leader of the Commons Jacob Rees-Mogg said: "People who do not vote for the programme motion will not be voting for Brexit on October 31."

---

Here it is. And here we go. The government has now published the pages and pages of new laws that need to be passed to make our departure from the EU happen.

Forget the meaningful vote, to get Brexit done - as the prime minister never tires of saying - this whole bundle of legislation has to pass.

The European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill is a document of 110 pages that details exactly how Parliament is expected to put the deal that the prime minister agreed with his counterparts around the continent into UK law.

For Brexit watchers it is a big moment.

Read more from the BBC's political editor.

---

If the programme motion is approved, the bill will then move to the committee stage - which will continue on into Wednesday - when MPs will have the opportunity to put down amendments.

These are expected to include attempts to keep the UK more closely aligned with the EU through a customs union and to stage a second referendum.

Both are bitterly opposed by the government, raising the possibility that it could pull the bill altogether if either gets through.

Ahead of the debate, Mr Johnson said: "The public doesn't want any more delays, neither do other European leaders and neither do I.

"Let's get Brexit done on 31 October and move on."

However, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, accused ministers of trying to "bounce" MPs into approving a bill that could cause "huge damage" to the country.

What is the proposed timetable for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

Tuesday - second reading - MPs' first chance to debate the bill and vote for its continued passage. If passed at second reading, committee stage begins the same day.

Wednesday and Thursday - committee stage - where detailed examination of the bill takes place and specific amendments - on a fresh referendum, for example - can be tabled and voted on. The bill then moves on to report stage, which offers further opportunities for amendments before it moves to third reading. This is MPs' final chance to debate the bill before voting on whether to approve it.

If approved, it then moves to the Lords to begin a similar scrutiny process.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said Labour was "outraged" by the government's attempt to push the bill through in a short time.

"When I did the Health and Social Care Act, which was a major piece of legislation, it took three months," the Labour MP told BBC Breakfast.

"In order for politicians to do their job properly, we do need to have time," she added.

The SNP's Pete Wishart also condemned a lack of economic impact assessments of the deal ahead of the attempt to pass the legislation.

Ex-Tory MP Rory Stewart, who lost the party whip when he voted in support of the Benn Act, said he would back Mr Johnson's bill in principle but wanted to ensure Parliament had a "normal" amount of time to debate it.

"We need to finish this in the proper way, and if we're going to deliver Brexit, we need to deliver it in a way that Brexiteers and Remainers believe was taken through Parliament fairly," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

But Mr Rees-Mogg said other acts had been brought and passed with short notice.

"A king emperor left in 24 hours, and we are removing an imperial yoke in over a week," he added.

And Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick told BBC Breakfast that Parliament "can move pretty quickly" and has already had 500 hours of debate on Brexit.

"So most MPs, frankly, are very familiar with the vast majority of issues that are in this bill," he said.

What is in the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

The 110-page document will give legal effect to the withdrawal deal negotiated by Mr Johnson.

His plan ditches the backstop - the controversial measure designed to prevent a return to physical checks on the Irish border.

Instead it essentially draws a new customs border in the Irish Sea, as goods which could travel onwards to Ireland will have to pay a duty tax.

It also will see the whole of the UK leave the EU customs union, meaning it could strike trade deals with other countries in the future.

The WAB will also turn any agreed transition period into law, fulfil requirements on the rights of EU citizens in the UK after Brexit, and allow ministers to make "divorce payments" to the EU foreseen under the current deal.

But MPs will be able to vote on amendments - changes or add-ons - to the bill.

If the government cannot get the bill through Parliament, the default legal position is for the UK to leave without a deal on 31 October, but that will change if the EU grants an extension.

• What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

Boris Johnson's Brexit deal

KEY POINTS: What's new in the deal?

PEOPLE'S VIEW: Do voters support the deal?

EXPLAINED: What is the Withdrawal Agreement Bill?

IN GRAPHICS: What happens now?

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Tuesday's votes come after Mr Johnson failed to get the agreement he reached with the EU last week signed off in the Commons on Saturday.

MPs instead backed an amendment withholding their approval until the bill has faced the scrutiny of both the Commons and the Lords and been passed into law.

The amendment worked alongside the so-called Benn Act, which required the prime minister to ask the EU for an extension to the 31 October deadline to prevent a no-deal Brexit.

Following Saturday's developments, Mr Johnson sent an unsigned letter asking for the delay, along with a signed letter saying why he did not agree with any further delays.

There has been no official word from the EU yet on whether the bloc will grant a delay or what length it would be.

Mr Tusk said the result of his consultation with EU leaders "will very much depend on what the British parliament decides or doesn't decide".

---

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2019-10-22 08:03:45Z
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