John Bercow has ‘damaged the standing’ of the House of Commons in the eyes of the public to ‘the lowest point in modern history’, Jacob Rees-Mogg said today in a visceral attack on the Speaker.
The new Commons Leader used a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester to tear into Mr Bercow’s handling ofBrexit.
The Speaker has attracted criticism and support over a series of pro-Parliament decisions that have infuriated the governments ofBoris Johnsonand Theresa May.
Mr Rees-Mogg was greeted by cheers and a standing ovation as he walked on stage – in stark contrast to the atmosphere outside, where Remainers and anti-austerity marched through the city and chanted ‘Tories Out .
Demonstrators banged drums, blew whistles and held placards saying ‘Defy Tory Rule’, while being accompanied by a six-meter tall inflatable Boris Johnson blimp.
In the conference hall, the hardcore Brexiteer, told the audience: ‘As a parliamentarian, I have been in many ways and remain a great admirer of the Speaker.
Describing the Speaker, the hardcore Brexiteer told the audience: ‘in my view, he has now flown too close to the sun and I hope that as he comes to his retirement he will not allow the good he has done in his earlier years to be forgotten ‘
The Speaker (right) has attracted criticism and support over a series of pro- Parliament decision that have infuriated the governments of Boris Johnso n and Theresa May
Protesters representing the largest trade unions in the country take part in a large scale demonstration against austerity and the Conservative government
A Boris blimp is inflated at Castlefield Bowl, Manchester as part of the Reject Brexit defend our democracy protest in Manchester today
Angela Raynor, Shadow Secretary of State for Education joins protesters as they take part in a large scale demonstration against austerity today
Anti-Conservative activists, including children, wrap up in ponchos and brave the rain in Manchester to rally against the supposed austerity
A collection of protesters braving the sodden weather to proest against the Conservative party. One marcher is holding aloft a placard saying ‘Mogg Off’
A protester stands with the Boris Johnson blimp , and carrying a placard that asks the Prime Minister to leave Manchester
Protesters take part in a large scale demonstration against austerity in Manchester this afternoon, the placard shown by one of the protesters says ‘Tories are just daleks out of their tin cans’
Protesters take part in a large scale demonstration against austerity and the Conservative government in a rainy Manchester on Sunday
‘He has helped MPs hold the Government to account and to seek redress of grievance.
‘But in my view, he has now flown too close to the sun and I hope that as he comes to his retirement he will not allow the good he has done in his earlier years to be forgotten.
‘But his recent mistakes have to my deepest regret as Leader of the House of Commons damaged the standi ng of the House in the eyes of the British public to the lowest point in modern history. ‘
Mr Bercow has been criticized by Brexiteers who have accused him of siding with Remainers and other MPs trying to block a No Deal Brexit.
He has announced that he intents to quit Parliament on October 31 – Brexit day.
Earlier, during a panel discussion on Brexit, Mr Rees-Mogg dismissed the idea of a government of national unity as being a ‘Remainer coup’.
He said: ‘It is not unity at all, it is a Remainer coup, isn’t it?
‘It’s to try and frustrate and stop what 4 million people voted for. )
‘And the comeuppance they will get if they defy the electorate will come in the ballot box when we come to a general election.
‘ So fear nothing that they do, fear nothing of their schemes and strategies, because ultimately we will have ag eneral election and parties that deny democracy get into great trouble when people have the chance to vote. ‘
A number of anti-austerity protesters in the middle of Manchester on Sunday. One is holding a sign saying ‘Capitalism is killing us. Resource based economy now! ‘
Protesters holding placards saying’ Tories Out. ‘ Protesters chanted the same mantra as they marched through the city
A protester holds up two placards, one saying ‘What a headache’ with the Prime Minister clutching his head, and the other saying ‘High Dry’
Momentum Manchester, who landed themselves in hot water this morning for praising a threatening banner about the Tories, marched behind a large figure of Karl Marx
People march behind a banner which reads, ‘No more austerity, we demand the alternative’ and ‘no more cuts’, led by Labor MP Angela Rayner
A protester holds a banner (left) during a demonstration against the Conservative Party held by the People’s Assembly Against Austerity. Laura Pidcock, (right) Shadow Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy addresses the crowds during a large scale demonstration against austerity
Mr Rees-Mogg (pictured today in Manchester) also dismissed the idea of a government of national unity as being a ‘Remainer coup’
He also took a swipe at the EU, suggesting more nations will follow the UK’s example and quit the bloc to go it alone during a panel discussion with Michael Gove (right) and Steve Barclay (left)
A protester braving the rainy weather to protest the Conservative party conference this afternoon, and holding a placard saying ‘#StopBoris’
Police watch on as the Brexit protesters gather in opposition to the Conservative party conference that is taking place in Manchester
He also took a swipe at the EU, suggesting more nations will follow the UK’s example and quit the b loc to go it alone.
Asked if he believes any more countries will vote to leave the EU, Jacob Rees-Mogg replies: ‘Well, they would if they had any sense, wouldn’t they ? ‘
‘I think the problems with the euro are so deep-seated that the current Euro project, European Union project, can’t last long into the future. But things often last longer than one anticipates. ‘
But fellow panellist Michael Gove disagreed, saying:’ I don’t think so … I think there are particular reasons why Britain was right to leave the European Union at this time, and I respect the right of other nations to forge their own future.
‘So, my own hunch is Britain will leave, other countries will stay, but 10, 15, 20 years on, I think we may see a very different European Union from the one we have now. ‘
Meanwhile Michael Gove said he believes a no-deal Brexit will cause’ some turbulence ‘, but warned not leaving the EU would damage democracy for
The minister in charge of no-deal preparations also predicted no other countries will follow Britain in exiting, although suggested the EU will look ‘very diffe rent ‘in the next 10 to 20 Years.
An anti-Brexit protester holds up a sign saying ‘Sorry, Conference, but you’re in the wrong city. Mancs don’t do Tory ‘
A number of protesters at the Castlefield Bowl, in Manchester, with a number of EU flags and placards, with one saying ‘Tory scum’
Speaking in Manchester, Mr Gove told members: ‘The level of our preparations has accelerated massively since Boris (Johnson) became Prime Minister’
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay also questioned how much delays to Brexit have cost the country in opportunities.
Their remarks came on the opening day of the Conservative Party conference.
Speaking in Manchester, Mr Gove told members: ‘The level of our preparations has accelerated massively since Boris (Johnson) became Prime Minister.
‘ Now, of course, we can’t anticipate every risk, we can’t guarantee against some turbulence and that’s why we’d much prefer it to secure a deal with the EU before October 31. ‘
Mr Gove said the r isk to trust in politicians if the UK does not leave the EU is greater than any from a no-deal Brexit.
He added: ‘While the difficulties caused by leaving without a deal will pass, the damage to our democracy in not getting Brexit done would endure and resound for much longer.
‘Our democracy is precious and depends on people trusting us as politicians.’
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster later responded to a question on whether he believes other countries will leave the EU after Britain does.
He said: ‘I don’t think so.
‘The American baseball coach Yogi Berra said never make predictions, especially about the future.
‘ I think that there are particular reasons why Britain is right to leave the European Union at this time, and I respect the right of other nations to forge their own future.
‘So my own hunch is Britain will leave, other countries will stay – but 10, 15, 20 years on, I think we may see a very different European Union to the one we have now. ‘
Mr Barclay, in his speech to members at the conference, said: ‘Delaying Brexit has come at a cost.
‘ It has cost us trust in our democracy.
‘For those who in good faith at the last general election believed the promises of MPs who said they would honor our vote to leave the EU.
‘ And it has a massive financial cost – in extra payments to the EU.
‘It costs an extra £ 1 billion in payments to Brussels every month we delay.
‘ And how much has the delay cost us in lost opportunities?
‘The very opportunities which we voted for – to lower living costs by forging new trade deals around the world.’ ) Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg highlighted the importance of the DUP’s support to any new deal.
He said: ‘I think if the DUP is happy with the deal, there’ll be very few Conservatives – including those who are without the whip – who are then against a deal, and at that point there are a number of people in other parties who think ‘yes, we must now just finish this ‘.’
‘History will NEVER forgive you’: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warns Tory Remainer rebels against helping make Jeremy Corbyn temporary PM to stop Brexit as Boris Johnson faces no-confidence vote
by James Tapsfield, Political Editor for the MailOnline
Dominic Raab today delivered a stark warning to Tory Remainer rebels that ‘history will never forgive’ them for makingJeremy CorbynPM.
The Foreign Secretary insisted the hard-Left Labor leader must be kept out of power at all costs as he turned up the heat on 21 MPs ousted from the party for joining a Commons mutiny against No Deal.
Accusing Mr Corbyn of taking the Kremlin’s side in the Salisbury nerve agent atrocity, and praising the ‘failed socialist experiment’ in Venezuela, Mr Raab said ‘some things are bigger thanBrexit‘- adding:’ Keeping that lot out of Downing Street is one of them. ‘
The saber-rattling came amid mounting speculation thatBoris Johnsonwill face a confidence vote in the Commons – perhaps as early as this week while Tory conference is taking place in Manchester.
Upping the ante today, Mr Raab told Tory conference in Manchester that ‘history will never forgive’ any Remainers who put Jeremy Corbyn in power
Boris Johnson (left on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show today) is facing the threat of Jeremy Corbyn (right on a visit to Chingford yesterday) triggering a confidence vote during the Tory conference this week
David Gauke (left in Westminster last week) and Ken Clarke (right) wer e among 21 Tory MPs stripped of the whip after rebelling over legislation against No Deal
The SNP has been urging Labor to try to evict Mr Johnson from Downing Street, saying they would back Mr Corbyn as a temporary PM with a mandate to get a Brexit extension from the EU.
However, Mr Corbyn has so far resisted triggering a contest, saying he wants a Brexit delay in place before taking action that could result in an election.
How could Corbyn get a Commons majority?
No single party has had a majority in the House of Commons since the 2017 election.
The Tories are the biggest single group with 287 MPs out of the total 650.
They are allied with the DUP, which has 10 MPs.
Before Boris Johnson stripped 21 Remainers of the whip – and Amber Rudd resigned in solidarity – he was on the threshold of the magic number of 320.
That is enough to control the House, factoring in the seven Sinn Fein MPs who do not take their seats and the Speaker and deputy Speaker who do not vote.
But Mr Corbyn’s path to a majority in a confidence vote is much slimmer.
There are currently 245 Labor MPs, and not all of them want to see him as PM.
Even with support from the SNP’s 35 MPs, Mr Corbyn would still be well short.
He would need the 18 Lib Dems MPs, and then another 22 votes.
That would come from a configuration of four Plaid, one Green, five Independent Group , and 32 independents – which includes the 22 former Tory Remainer rebels.
If Mr Johnson lost a confidence vote, there would be a two-week period in which another politician could try to put together a majority.
Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, an election is only held if that proves impossible.
It is still far from clear Mr Corbyn could secure a majority in the Commons to replace Mr Johnson in No 10.
Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has insisted she would never put the veteran left-winger in charge of the country, and he would also need at least tacit support from the exiled Conservative rebels.
But there would be immense pressure on her to fall into line if the Opposition won an initial confidence vote. Remainer MPs have told MailOnline they were concerned Ms Swinson is getting ‘itchy feet’ about the potential seat gains the party could see at an early election, given it is riding high in the polls.
If Mr Corbyn could get the SNP and Lib Dems on board he would be getting close to the magic 320 votes he needs.
However, he would still require support from some of the 21 former Tory Remainers – plus Amber Rudd who quit in solidarity – to get over the line.
They include nine former Cabinet ministers, and many have said they would not contemplate putting Mr Corbyn in power.
Upping the ante today, Mr Raab told Tory conference in Manchester: ‘Labor, once a mainstream party now hails the failed socialist experiment in Venezuela where the population starves and dissidents are shot in the street.
‘A party that chooses to believe the Kremlin over our own intelligence services, when Putin’s assassins poison people on the streets of Salisbury.
‘ And a party led by a man in Jeremy Corbyn who attends a memorial at the graves of terrorists responsible for butchering Israeli Olympic athletes out of anti-Semitic hate. ‘
‘ I say this as a passionate Brexiteer, there are some things even bigger than Brexit, And keeping that lot out of Downing Street is one of them.
‘So, to any of our colleagues – or former colleagues – tempted to put Jeremy Corbyn and his momentum mob into No 10, as part of some ‘temporary’ anti-Brexit coalition, I just say this: history would nev er forgive you. ‘
Asked on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show earlier whether he wanted to lose a vote of no confidence in order to get an election, the Prime Minister said: ‘We’ve twice asked the Leader of the Opposition to see if you will fulfil his constitutional function and actually try to deprive me of office and form a government.
‘He seems to be curiously reluctant to do so.’
Mr Johnson told the BBC: ‘The people of this country need to have a Parliament that is devoted solely to their good and to their interest, and they need a Parliament with a clear majority Conservative government to get on with a One Nation agenda . ‘
A Remainer law passed earlier this month obliges Mr Johnson to beg the EU for an extension if an agreement has not been reached by October 19.
There have been fears that a no confidence vote could put Mr Johnson in control of the Brexit timetable, as he would be able to dictate the date for a general election if another PM who can secure a Commons majority does not emerge within a fortnight.
What are the confidence vote scenarios and does Corbyn have a path to victory?
Boris Johnson is way short of a majority in the Commons since he stripped the whip from 21 Tories who rebelled over No Deal Brexit – and Amber Rudd then quit in solidarity.
Mr Johnson challenged critics to table a vote of no confidence and face him in an election during stormy Commons clashes earlier this week.
However, up until now opposition parties have refused to take up the offer – saying they want to wait until the Halloween Brexit deadline has been pushed back.
A Remainer law passed earlier this month obliges Mr Johnson to beg the EU for an extension if an agreement has not been reached by October 19.
Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, when a PM loses such a battle there is a two-week period for someone else to win a confidence vote. If that does not happen an immediate election is triggered.
There have been fears that a no confidence vote could put Mr Johnson in control of the Brexit timetable, as he would be able to dictate the date for a general election if another PM who can secure a Commons majority does not emerge within a fortnight.
Here are the scenarios for what happens after the government loses a confidence vote:
Jeremy Corbyn secures a majority
Parliament’s Remainers decide that Mr Corbyn is their only option, making him best placed to succeed as PM.
As the numbers are on a knife-edge, a vote is called and Mr Corbyn scrapes through. All 245 Labor MPs swallow their doubts and endorse him as PM.
They are joined in the division lobbies by the SNP’s 35 MPs, and 18 Lib Dems MPs.
He picks up another 22 votes to take him over the 320 mark from a variety of sources. The four Plaid and one Green MP are relatively kindly disposed.
But the five-strong Independent Group led by former Tory minister Anna Soubry, and 32 independent MPs will be harder work . Ex-Labor MPs John Mann, a strong critic of the leader over anti-Semitism, and Brexit supporter Frank Field, are incredibly unlikely to come over.
It is possible Mr Corbyn could pick up a few supporters from the 22 former Tory Remainer rebels. Ex-Chancellor Ken Clarke has indicated that in extremis he could tolerate a short-lived Corbyn premiership.
Mr Corbyn goes to Brussels and secures a Brexit extension until January 31, then calls an election – which he is able to fight with the advantage of being ensconced in Downing Street.
The SNP appears to be on board with a Corbyn ‘caretaker’ government – but as this chart shows he will need many more MPs to fall into line to get himself over the winning line of 320 votes and into Downing Street. Mr Corbyn could need to pick up seven of the 22 Tory Remainer rebels stripped of the whip, and persuade half the 10 other independent politicians
Another ‘unity PM’ takes over
After Mr Johnson is defeated in an initial confidence vote, Mr Corbyn tries to put together a majority. But it soon becomes clear that he cannot get close to the numbers needed – as even some MPs in his own party will not tolerate him as PM.
Instead, under huge pressure from his own shadow cabinet, Mr Corbyn agrees to support a less controversial candidate as a temporary leader for the country.
(veteran) Margaret Beckett and Tory grandee Ken Clarke have both been touted as potential candidates – partly because they are considered too old to want to stay around as premier for long.
No 10 aides believe Amber Rudd has been positioning herself as a Chancellor in a Beckett administration.
The opposition parties mass behind the new PM, who comes into power with a mandate to extend the Brexit deadline and then call an election – possibly after a referendum.
No other PM emerges
Once Mr Johnson loses the confidence vote, the opposition parties think they have the numbers to install a replacement.
But they turn out to be mistaken.
Mr Corbyn finds the resistance to his premiership is stronger than he thought, with the LIb Dems refusing to fall into line.
But he in turn refuses to get behind any ‘unity’ candidate, insisting it is his constitutional right to be the next PM.
In these circumstances, a fortnight goes past with Mr Johnson still in No 10.
At that point an election is triggered under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. Parliament is dissolved, and Mr Johnson gets to set the date of the ballot.
Remainers fear in these circumstances Parliament loses control as it is not sitting, and could be vulnerable to any tricks the government tries to pull to avoid delaying Brexit.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace slaps down armed forces bosses as he dismisses the suggestion that male soldiers should be allowed to wear makeup
by Jack Maidment, Deputy Political Editor for MailOnline
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace today slapped down armed forces chiefs as he dismissed suggestions that male soldiers should be allowed to wear makeup while on duty.
The Ministry of Defense said it was looking at modernizing guidelines about what male personnel can wear after a leaked list of regulations for British soldiers in Canada sparked outcry.
The regulations reportedly banned men from wearing makeup but said female soldiers could wear ‘inconspicuous’ amounts.
However, Mr Wallace today appeared to ridicule the move as he said the only makeup soldiers should be allowed to wear is camouflage.
Ben Wallace, the Defense Secretary pictured at Conservative Party conference in Manchester today, dismissed suggestions that male soldiers should be allowed to wear makeup
Leaked regulations reportedly handed to British soldiers in Canada said male soldiers could not wear makeup but their female counterparts could
The Defense Secretary’s comments at Conservative Party conference in Manchester this afternoon seemingly put him on a collision course with the armed forces he is in charge of.
Mr Wallace had been asked while taking part in a question and answer session what could be done to ensure joining the armed forces remained an attractive proposition.
He replied: ‘I thought you were going to ask me the question on men wearing makeup that I noticed in the news today.
‘ Apparently the Army is consulting on men being allowed to wear makeup.
‘The answer is men will be allowed to wear makeup in the army as long as it’s camouflage color.
‘That will be about as far as they are allowed.’
Liz Truss, the International Trade Secretary who was on stage alongside Mr Wallace, then joked as the audience applauded: ‘Given the amount of time you spend in makeup Ben …’
The leaked guidelines said that for males ‘makeup is not to be worn’ while females may wear makeup if it is ‘inconspicuous’.
An Army spokesman said: ‘Queen’s Regulations currently state that while on duty, male soldiers may not wear makeup.
‘ However, as an inclusive employer that recognises the diversity of its personnel, we are currently in the process of revising our guidance in this area to make it gender neutral. ‘
Liz Truss, pictured alongside Ben Wallace on stage in Manchester today, appeared to poke fun at the Defense Secretary’s makeup comments
One source described the move as ‘bonkers’.
‘There are people sat in a room talking about whether the Army should allow men and women to wear makeup,’ they said.
The regulations were reportedly leaked to ‘fill your boots UK’ Facebook group after being handed to soldiers at the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS) in Alberta, Canada.
Mr Wallace also used his appearance at the Conservative Party conference this afternoon to argue in favor of the armed forces being further modernized.
He told Tory activists: ‘In the armed forces, first of all some things don’t change – the sense of adventure, the sense of belonging to something, the sense of contributing to something greater than them as an individual, is, I think, really attractive.
‘But we also have to modernize how people work together. In my day when I was serving very few partners and wives worked.
‘I think when i joined my regiment there were probably two women in the whole regiment and they both worked in the pay office.
‘Now if I go to a regiment … it is a much more mixed work force and people’s life styles are different as well so we have to recognize that.’
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