it's ten o'clock and you're watching a bbc news special from westminster as mps vote on a fast—track lot that would require the prime minister to seek an extension to the brexit process to avoid a note field brexit. let's take you straight to the house or mps have already begun voting on a series of amendments to the main belt this evening is a highly procedural hour in front of us highly procedural hour in front of usi highly procedural hour in front of us i think where mps will go in and try to add these amendments to that bill that was put forward earlier today. strictly speaking, we are in the committee stage of the process, so we are the committee stage of the process, so we are waiting to see for a third reading of the bell and at that point, you expect the house of commons if they follow the pattern for the evening, to pass the bell onto the house of lords, it's not

totally unusual to fast—track a bell in one day, but it's not something the comments guys as a matter of course and so there's lots of argument in the house this evening on both sides about what that bill should do an attempt to do and because of the dispute on the conservative benches this evening we had around ten amendments to get through before the main event which is at the boat on the third reading. very pleased to say thatjill is with me and also sebastian from the financial times, i land on your lap there, it's an explanation if you cut out what we are seeing at the moment. not quite sure what and then at their voting on at the moment but basically the event cabrera bello is trying to force the government —— event cooper, an extension, so this is conceived before the prime

minister made a statement yesterday, but mps have a track record that if they just take the but mps have a track record that if theyjust take the prime minister to her worried they don't particularly trust her any more, so they decide they use this time secured for themselves to bring forth legislation, denied procedure in itself to a blank the prime minister day after that bill gets a royal assent and so it is the prime minister day after that bill gets royal assent so it is good to stages tomorrow, passes to come in today, divorce and read for a motion to tell comments what date she is actually going to ask for the extension. some short-term its insurance policy, not much trust in the prime minister they want to ensure that there is disagreement over the course of the next two days, they can dictate to her how long this extension should be stopped live exactly and the prime minister has oscillated between no deal and deal,. and it seems that she's not going to proceed without a deal but asjill said, the

she's not going to proceed without a deal but as jill said, the whole bill came together before the prime minister decided she wasn't going to do no deal and mp5 minister decided she wasn't going to do no deal and mstust don't trust them and so on the conservative side and the labour side, they are doing and the labour side, they are doing an extraordinary procedure to push the bell through and one day and this is a bell that's coming from mps, not from the governmentjill knows better than i do, it's so rare to have legislation coming from the government because the tradition in britain if you had mps forming the majority and then back towards government and they run the country this is turning that onyx had so really, this piece of legislation is being led by the temporary prime minister yvette cooper, and get going in different ways to fiddle with it but ultimately we think this is going to get through, but it does work for theresa may because she wants to say to her sceptic mps, if you don't back my deal, it's going to bea you don't back my deal, it's going to be a long extension and this is a va ca nt to be a long extension and this is a vacant character push in that direction. if you notice at the picture is of the speaker is not in

his normal position and that's because the deputy speaker has been looking after the committee stage. there was a problem this evening that the chamber printer wasn't working properly so they could not get details of the bell to know what they were debating on, and he sorted out and they were debating on, and he sorted outand i'm they were debating on, and he sorted out and i'm told reliably that we are currently voting on a monday 21, which was put forward by —— and then at 21, it says it takes out the requirements to put the chosen extended date. so what you see here is really the brexit elderly through, those within the bench is trying to limit the scope of the bill and restrict what it does, and those like yvette cooper trying to ensure that they have as much face account the length of the delay. there were a whole loads that went down from the erg all of which was

trying to limit the capacity of the comments of getting in the way of no deal, which puts limitations on it, stop us and participating in european elections and parliament and making sure the extension does not go beyond 22nd of may, so there isa not go beyond 22nd of may, so there is a big attempts to limit the scope because one of the things that's quite interesting, when the government lays that motion, which is required for that to pass, that means it's on the government to save the extension we are looking to is to ask, but pcs a vehicle to say not ask but why, so that's interesting they could say, let's give us two yea rs they could say, let's give us two years we consider ourselves out, so we see lots of —— attempts by the sort of an please who want brexit to limit the capacity for this to get in the way of a quick brexit. 0k, let's talk generally, it's been a funny day for the conservatives, not to say the least. for all of us.

like and angry conservatives, division clearly in the cabinet i what's happening in the moment, what did they specifically say about let's discuss tonight about the extension and taking part in the european elections? it's very difficult for the conservative party because you see, it's three years since britain voted to leave the eu and we are now facing the prospect of fighting the european parliament elections because we are having a whole debate in westminster on would be like an extension or participate in european parliament elections and it's not up to us in this extension has to be agreed by the 27 eu nations, they will meet next wednesday to consider what ever request the prime minister makes that you have to get it by monday which is why the bill is rapidly put through the comments, within the cabinet data base through the comments, within the cabinet database big splits on how long extension should be, there is a general content is yesterday a general content is yesterday a general consensus general content is yesterday a general consensus yesterday and cannot be too long, i think it's longer than the end of this year, it's a very problematic, but if it

goes beyond the 22nd of may as i said before, that means european parliament elections and nobody is prepared for the 22nd of may as i said before, that means european parliament elections and nobody is prepared for these elections at all. conservatives, neighbour, no one is ready to fight, but the does get together, next week on fourth, the final attempt, it's a long extension and it's going to be european parliament election, and it's the whole thing getting kicked once again. of christ last week, saying getting ready for it, if you need to be. why is parliament talking to itself here because i was under the understanding that it's the eu that will decide the length of the delay and the times i go with it. except maybe to parliament, if you think it's a three—way debate, we had the european council watching a what happens here, the got mps who don't necessarily have faith in the prime minister or worried that she will be derailed by the forces within her

cabinet or party, and government something they don't want. so we had seen throughout this, a struggle between that if you like, the erg would describe as her main majority in the comments for control of the brexit process versus the prime minister. that this is a bit of chipping away at it people are saying actually what is it about is just a bell about extension. no, actually does a much more interesting and that meant i think it's come back again, but not read selected for the snp, it's very and —— interesting one that was debated monday when we did the last round of votes which actually said if it looks like we are heading out with no deal the day before april 12, you have to just revoke article 50. that really, really if you want to take control of the process away from the prime minister and parting that would have been the way to do it rather than sort of slightly second order set of debates about who have

to come positively say what you're getting the extension for. there's been interesting arguments because if you're a that they debated the statute of instrument which was last week i think, when they debated that on debate, there are a lot of complaints from prime minister bank managers, that she had agreed this in europe so it took effect straightaway, and european life at the moment but they hadn't come from preauthorization from parliament. they had not told parliament for us but they were asking for, and indeed it would been impossible to consider a different number than the prime minister was asking for, so some of those attempts today you actually have to tell them parliament friends but i don't think they will be selected. the lawyer and conservative member of the ig put forward for i think, tonight he's not very strong words to say about the spell that yvette cooper put forward , the spell that yvette cooper put forward, of course he has been

questioning the prime minister throughout about what authority she had to go to the european union change the date. while you watch this and you see the chamber is filling up, it's been empty through the evening while debating at committee stage but not everyone is getting ready for the third reading. of the bell. in fact we mightjust be about to get results alexis select refinance. order, order! de ayes to the right, 304, the noes to the left, 313. the ayes to the right 304, the noes to the left, 313. the noes have it, unlock. i call the minister to move and then at 22

formally. the question if the government and then at 20 to be made as many in that opinion i —— as many as many in that opinion i —— as many as are of the opinion, say "aye". to the contrary, "no". division, clear the contrary, "no". division, clear the lobby. going to amendment 22 table by the brexit secretary and sharing nothing in this bill rolls out the government extending article 50 in out the government extending article 50ina out the government extending article 50 in a different way. so this is the fifth amendment of the evening thatis the fifth amendment of the evening that is before the house and now the division, spring and ian watson watching as well as lobby and annual income a are saying earlier you had 15 pages of these amendments, let me just... it's dog—eared. i similarly am going through all of them trying to understand what they would need. i knew what we seen there in that first vote is really the vote going as per the other votes on this bill,

we think probably that cooper will get it through the third reading? you have to do that i now the d states on brexit i don't bet him very much, but yes the so—called second reading at this bill was around seven like this evening as you know, and he cooper won by five votes. is that lots of votes on the very narrow margin in the past few weeks in the house of commons that given that she went back, less of commons that given that she went back, let some the above taken themselves at the party here, they should be d —— going through and therefore it will be telling trees and a shaft asked for an extension to article 50 but of christ, there's been of debate in the past two hours about how long that extension should be. so it's a defeat for george eustis, effectively saying there should be no obligation for the prime minister to come back with anything she agrees with the european union, but the house of commons subsequently with mps deciding no, we didn't want a further say said that's been checked out at the moment, the government wa nt out at the moment, the government

want more leeway and say perhaps will have to delay brexit further and extended further we want to do in ourown and extended further we want to do in our own way not dictated to by yvette cooper that's what they're voting on in the moment but there will be further votes on whether that extension should be limited to may 22 to avoid european elections are perhaps limited at the end of june which is a prime minister's original idea at the moment are concerned that he that cooper is leaving it open ended so while i expect her to win this vote ultimately tonight, could be a long night. nonetheless, there still a possibility that this would be amended and a very specific extension will be asked for by mps rather leaving it open because of because i see know some mps are saying in order to get a brexit deal we might want a much more open and extension perhaps a longer extension thanif extension perhaps a longer extension than if we get a deal we back out at the european elections of the last minute. junko farley will come back to you, thank you very much. picking up to you, thank you very much. picking up on it thought he had, it's been

treated, who says brexit delay will inevitably be long and the uk will have to prepare to participate in european elections and cabinet hopes uk will be allowed to brexit earlier if the deal fast in the coming months. so that idea is they will be a sort of closet and what of the agreement and the eu can get things there by may 22. then maybe the uk could duck out before the vote took place it'll be interesting to see what they european council leaders make about because it'll bring with ita make about because it'll bring with it a great uncertainty right up until the day of the vote. as we we re until the day of the vote. as we were saying the prime minister and the labour leaderjeremy corbyn met today to break through the lodge and different exchanges said to be constructive and agreed to find a way forward, for the discussions are planned for tomorrow. mr corbyn said the meeting was useful but inconclusive, this evening, mps have as we have been saying considering the new legislation which would

force the prime minister to seek a longer extension to the brexit process , longer extension to the brexit process, and all of that, laura has been looking at. a thunderclap, lightning strike to enemies and a piece to make brexit happen. westminster has nine days to work it out. jeremy corbyn now and his team had been asked to help. out. jeremy corbyn now and his team had been asked to helplj out. jeremy corbyn now and his team had been asked to help. i want the government to understand that the house does not support the deal that she has agreed, she has to come up, even had a late stage was something thatis even had a late stage was something that is except that's acceptable to the house, which does move in the direction that i had set labour party wa nts direction that i had set labour party wants in order to reach an agreement with the eu. a normal life, compromises, well, normal. for the prime minister is, can be toxic. many of her colleagues are a little short of appalled. the prime minister said the biggest threat to our standing minister said the biggest threat to ourstanding in the minister said the biggest threat to our standing in the wild and our

defence and economy is the leader of the opposition. in herjudgement, what now qualifies him for involvement in brexit? awkward does it begin to cover at. every member in this house is involved in brexit i want to deliberate and in order way and as soon as possible and without having to fight european parliamentary reaction. labour had his own stresses, but whether it backs to remain a referendum or not... labourers policy is to secure the single market and crucially to get a people's vote on any dull. evenif get a people's vote on any dull. even if teresa manjeremy corbyn can find common cause, it's even if teresa manjeremy corbyn can find common cause, its huge for the prime minister to move away from her redline after digging in for so long. the view at the top of the government seems to be do whatever it takes. very nice to see you. for

me, it's an article of faith that we might leave the european union, we promise a country that we would do so, and the only way unless the prime minister deal is to be voted through, is to seek would labour some common ground so that we can have a swift exit. but you also promised to conservative voters that would be no moves getting away some of her redline. if we were not to leave, because we were unprepared in a situation that we now face, to move any of the redlines that we had set, then we would effectively mean we would never leave it all. he would not offer legal guarantees compromises a blast, but might accept labours plan for a custom union so long resisted by the tories. that's a prize, and if you offered it to my colleagues five yea rs offered it to my colleagues five years ago, we would have bitten off the arm of the prime minister to get it back. hasn't the failure to

compromise until this last moment, created months and months of needless turmoil for the people of this country? i think what it shows is the prime minister was determined that she should honour her redlines. full hardy? no, i think that was her attempt to fulfil a duty as she sought. the article of faith that we have signed at the british people is that we leave. that sounds like blind faith, you're saying is an article of faith but it sounds like blind faith you're saying whatever we have to do just to get out is that wise? yes, we got to leave. the snp boat matters hugely as well. but this does not sound like some kind of breakthrough. to be frank it's not entirely clear to me with the prime minister is prepared to compromise. she's keen to know where others may want to compromise, but not particularly open about where

her redlines may be removed if you're in any doubt and how divided displaces, ——... you're in any doubt and how divided displaces, --. .. the you're in any doubt and how divided displaces, --... the ayes you're in any doubt and how divided displaces, --. .. the ayes to the right, 310, the noes to the left, 300 ten. genuine, holding another round of votes on different versions of brexit, the speaker casting ballot stays with the status quo. for now, mps quest to find another solution is stacked so too, are all of us. the first time they'd been deadlocked in the house for a quarter of a century, a division within government and party and division within parliament as a whole and anger and temper, flaring on all sides as well, the former minister nick both quit the conservative party when his common market plan did not get through the house, accused teresa may she spin doctor this evening at seeking to thwart efforts

to find a cross party compromise. this is what he tweeted... he was a question senior figure here at the bbc before he joined the prime minister passed ‘steam, let me bring back sebastian angelle. with some caution i come to you on what those tweets mean because you have to deal with him every day, but is he correct in what he said?” don't think it's rise to comment on anonymous briefings that come from various people, there are ways to do it but when i spoke to people today

it's behind the strategy and they explained and said why they're doing this and the reasoning they give is clear, it did not seem to be a way to get teresa may‘s brexit go through if it was based just on conservative party both in the dup vote, said this is a new strategy, you know, and he has said this and i'm sure there will be a response from downing street and duke chris. he doesn't seem about trying to push blame in one direction or another.” think on that point there was a clear whipping operation going on, when we had this indicative votes on monday. and we do know the conservative website where saying to people, go vote for that market you have to be behind the prime minister, you have to be behind customs union and i think he feels quite sold because he really wanted to have a compromise across the whole piece here and let's not allowed to do it in i clearly possibly influenced his tweets this evening. there are interesting lengths about the common market to

point out that were taken down, could be official accounts for the eu which weren't accurate, when pointed out to them they rescinded them. but steve barkley, at that brexit secretary was asked about them today and he said he was not aware at them, but it's interesting and official government account used two rubbish one of the options being discussed on monday. interesting the play joining discussed on monday. interesting the playjoining us discussed on monday. interesting the play joining us right discussed on monday. interesting the playjoining us right now, us bring up playjoining us right now, us bring up to speed on what's happening in the house of commons this evening. the bill brought forward by yvette cooper is being rushed to the house, we are also almost upon the third reading of the bill but at this point what you are seeing is effectively the committee stage, and there are a whole host of the maintenance to the bill, which of course try to take no deal off the table, we are currently voting on and then at 22 table by the brexit secretary, which amendment, nothing in the bill should rule out anything

extending article 50 in a different way. that is what they are voting on in the moment. ian is in the lobby for us, we werejust in the moment. ian is in the lobby for us, we were just saying here as we watch this, never before surely has the country been so plugged in to the procedure, the arcane procedure at the house of commons, i mean this is a procedural vote tonight that lots of people are interested and so what is happened before? it's hard to say actually people get interested in politics at dramatic times in scandal, i think we all learn something for the parliamentary procedures, like manuscript amendments a last minute things they influence policy, but we are ina things they influence policy, but we are in a unique circumstance, seeing backbench mps taking power away from the government and trying to dictate with the government ought to be doing, so! with the government ought to be doing, so i think it's one for constitutional historians on a day today basis of grace, it's not quite as dramatic as all that when you go through 15 pages of an admin since

we have been talking about earlier, nonetheless, if that bale over all passed, what we have seen is government losing control of legislative programme, backbench mps dictate to the prime minister that she has to extend article 50 or delay the process and in the moment the government is attempting to clawed back a bit and make sure hands are tied to the tightly by yvette cooper, and the former labour from venture behind this, and the farmer conservative minister who has been devising it as well. an offence not surprise people are interested because they are in offence, sense, living through history. mbi because they are in offence, sense, living through history. ms! can also tell you the prime minister is interested because he saw her a few minutes ago taking a seat next to the dispatch box i can't see her right now but you see in the foreground of the picture that we are about to show you in the house of commons there, you've got the erg team, just at the front, and duncan smith, the leader of the house as well, so seniorfigure is eidetic

tonight, just keeping an eye on what's going on. the government indicated its trying to whip against the bill tonight, because it says it sets a dangerous precedent and of christ that prime minister presumably in the house of commons because she's keeping tabs on the working teens both labour and conservative that are going through that detail of the early discussion she had today with jeremy that detail of the early discussion she had today withjeremy corbyn. jill from —— she had today withjeremy corbyn. jillfrom —— injailas she had today withjeremy corbyn. jill from —— injail as a she had today withjeremy corbyn. jill from —— injailas a national still with me, what did you make with me about what the european commission president said because i thought he gave us a little bit more detail on what happens after this week. he offered a small life raft i think because you previously had said if you want to get the deadline extended to the 22nd of may, you will have to pass the deal this week. that is clearly not happening not only because of the parliamentary procedure we are sitting at the moment, but what he

had said it is actually if you pass the bill next week, then we will still not it through and give you the extension 20 and deadname to get this thing through, so what he has done is cheated up for her to have a fourth and may be final vote on her deal next week, because of all of this, there been no time to do it at the moment. but by coming back, here is the vote. the ayes to the right, 220, the noes to the left, 400. thank you. the ayes to the right, 220, the noes to the left, 400. the noes habit. unlock. so that brexit secretary amendment voted down, significant margins. let's listen to the speaker. as many as are of the

opinion, say "aye". to the contrary, "no... opinion, say "aye". to the contrary, "no". division, clearthe lobbies. said this is and then met one table by the tory np, which would limit the government to a 22nd of may extension. 22nd of may extension. you see bear, as he helped through the use of procedural votes that they are likely from the conservative benches trying to limit the scope of the delay so the prime ministers hands are not tied coming back to the point we were discussing though, picking it up, you are saying it's getting little room if you actually read article 50, it says once a withdrawal agreement is ratified, the treaty no longer apply. so even though the european council next week says next week you have to commit, if by some way they get it to parliament, then it stands

to reason there must be ability and clause. i'm not sure quite works like i think what they are saying and with the prime minister as well, and with the prime minister as well, and that, you had earlier about was actually elaborating on it it the promise or had an odd formula and his family yesterday how the uk hoped it would not have to take part in the european elections, she didn't explicitly say we are not taking part, so it always held out a possibility, which i think that hammond statement confirms, that we might appearas hammond statement confirms, that we might appear as though we are going to take part in the selection so we go to procedures and heard about my letter to return obviously making preparations parties go to nominating candidates and stuff like that, but then if she managed to get that, but then if she managed to get that bill through, she agreed to a longer extension with the eu. she can get it there by the 22nd, she can get it there by the 22nd, she can start to swerve off that christ set your member does extensions, the not going to happen any more so it looks like they could not how was i

going to go down in brussels? they may prefer it to the other options. but they're really worried about is that the uk either comes back having failed to get the withdrawal agreement through, without mvps saying by the way guys would have to crash that we need a longer extension but sorry we don't bother to have the election so actually your parliament is slightly legally dodgy ground and things like that they are worried about that. we had not thought team bet that the uk crashes i would bet a bl of the election, so your other world leaders, —— you go and see chaos in your channel crates because they uk has failed to get its withdrawal agreement through, say you don't wa nt agreement through, say you don't want a agreement through, say you don't wanta uk agreement through, say you don't want a uk crashing out with no deal on the eve of the selections you probably don't want that. the interesting thing though is that we have seen in the side couple of

weeks ago, a difference of the line between the commission and the leaders. the leaders came up with a different formula. they offer the prime minister, the one tied it around from the commission. before the council. so i think when they're really interesting thing about the statement today, which did he have cove r? statement today, which did he have cover? because we all know member states to different views on extension, the irs won a prolonged one obviously because it has lots of problems there and the germans had a prolonged one as well they are getting weary with us, the french may be a place like home, but much thinking actually you know, maybe we just get it over with. like it's interesting to know whether you have coverfor interesting to know whether you have cover for that sort a bit of freelancing at parliament.” cover for that sort a bit of freelancing at parliament. i think the key thing is teresa may really doesn't like to have european parliament election becausejill said, the european parliament

election has never