Brexit: Boris Johnson urges MPs to ‘heal rift in British politics’ in vote on new deal – live news – The Guardian, Theguardian.com

The debate on motions is beginning now.

Stephen Barclay is met by cries of “How dare you?” After he invokes the name of the late Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam.

The speaker intervenes urging MPs to calm down. Barclay continues saying he was referring to her ability to unify.

Barclay says he respects the intentions of Oliver Letwin

But his amendment would render today’s vote meaningless … The public would be appalled by pointless further delay.

He asks Letwin to withdraw it.

Johnson says it cannot be right to delay beyond 31 October so it is his deal or no deal.

In response to a question about how he would appeal to remainers, he repeats that it is an opportunity for people who love Europe to move forward.

This is what BBC Newsnight’s political editor is saying about the impact of the Letwin amendment.

The former Labor MP, Frank Field, says only one vote should be necessary today.

The PM says it would be a good thing if the house had what was promised, a meaningful vote tonight.

My fear is that the vote we have will not be meaningful.

And Sky News says:

The Conservative MP Nigel Evans asks the prime minister what message he would have for MPs representing leave constituencies.

I think you can guess the answer ….

The Tory MP Jeremy Wright says it is incumbent on all MPs to settle the debate and accept a “good deal” rather than delay in expectation of a “perfect deal”.

Johnson says it is as perfect a deal as you can get in the circumstances, while accepting “there are difficulties with it”.

Let’s knock it through if we possibly can tonight.

Labour’s Pat McFadden says PM is promising Tory MPs the deregulated future they dream off while promising opposition MPs a road to better workers ’rights, interests Johnson rubbished while a journalist. Both cannot be true, he insists.

Johnson says both are possible.

The Lib Dem MP Luciana Berger asks how MPs can vote on a deal today when the PM’sBrexitsecretary, Stephen Barclay, was on TV this morning saying no economic assessment of the deal had been done.

Johnson responds by saying the deal has been welcomed by a broad range of people, includingthe governor of the Bank of England, Mark Carney.

The Tory MP John Baron stands up and says he will back the deal because it abolishes the “anti-democratic backstop”. The abolition also makes a free trade deal more likely, says Baron.

Johnson – unsurprisingly – agrees.

Another former Tory, David Gauke, says Johnson has done well to agree a deal but asks whether he will ensure that a “deep and special relationship” is agreed with the EU before the implementation period comes to an end.

The PM says the 14 – month period to reach a free trade deal with the EU is sufficient even though it is “a blistering pace”. He says detractors said he would never be able to reopen the withdrawal deal or get rid of the backstop (some would suggest he has not achieved the latter).

The Green party’s Caroline Lucas says the deal takes a “wrecking ball” to our social and environmental standards and that is why the PM will not put it to the British people.

Johnson says she has misread the deal, as parliament makes a commitment to uphold standards. He says he hopes standards will be even higher.