hello, i'm ros atkins. you're watching a bbc news special. some british mps are trying to stop a no—deal brexit. they're debating the motion now. earlier, the prime minister told mps to reject it, saying it would "destroy any chance" of an agreement with the european union. that's what they want. to force us to beg, to force us to beg for yet another pointless delay! and borisjohnson‘s task has got harder — with one of his own mps defecting to the opposition. i'm christian fraser live in westminster. tonight's vote could lead to another general election. we will bring you all the reaction

and we'll bring you that vote live. and you can send your questions for christian and for me using the hashtag #bchs. we will bejoined we will be joined by robert watson as well. we think we are less than one hour away from a vote that is pivotal to the future of the united kingdom. the opposition, along with rebel mps from the ruling conservative party, are seeking to prevent a no—deal brexit in any circumstances. to prevent a no—deal brexit if they succeed, the consequences are myriad. if and how brexit happens will be completely unknown, the ruling conservative party will be torn apart as a series of high—profile mps are expelled and boris johnson's government would appear to be untenable, meaning he may well call an election within hours.

and remember — this is parliament's first day back after the summer. the prime minister's argument is that he doesn't want a no—deal brexit, but without the possibility of one, he can't negotiate with the eu. and during a series of bruising exchanges, he's made the case again. if this house were to decide that it was simply impossible for us to leave without a deal, and to make that step illegal, to force us... that's what they want. to undermine oui’ that's what they want. to undermine our negotiations number forces. that's what they want. to force us to beg, to beg, to force us to beg for yet another pointless delay. if that happens, all the progress that we have been making will have been for nothing. but at that point, the prime minister had been dealt a carefully chereographed blow. as he stood to speak, one of his mps, philip lee defected

to the liberal democrats. this was the moment. wto, the world trade organisation. we are on the verge... and just as he walked into the chamber, a letter from mr lee was deliverred to the prime minister — accusing him of "aggressively pursuing a damaging brexit in unprincipled ways". with that defection, the prime minister's lost his working majority of one. now with the dup the government comes in at 319. the opposition is at 20. some opposition mps were quick to react. labour mp wes streeting. .. this is the leader of

the opposition, jeremy corbyn. this bill does not close other options to resolve the brexit impasse. this bill is about preventing a damaging no—deal which this government has no mandate for and for which there is very little public support. the bill is designed purely to provide vital breathing space, to find an alternate way through the brexit mess this and the previous government have created. today, mr speaker, is another historic day in parliament. it's our chance to seize this last opportunity, to stand up to a bullying government that has shown itself ready to dodge scrutiny and silence debate. if we do not act today, we may not get another chance. whether people voted leave or remain, they did not vote to shut down democracy.

as the very large number of people who were on the streets last saturday from both leave and remain views were very concerned about the way in which this government is trying to shut down debate, shut down democracy and lead us into what i believe would be the problems of a no—deal brexit. as always on nights like this — and there been a few of them this year — christian fraser is in westminster guiding us through it all. in the afternoon, some of the more pointed attacks came from the conservatives, the same party as the prime minister. it was a really rambunctious sort of afternoon stop that dramatic moment when philip lee crossed the chamber to sit with the liberal democrats, depriving boris johnson of his majority. we had so many dramatic instalments of this brexit story but i think this next

90 minutes that we are about to face is really one of the more... if the so—called rebel alliance get this through tonight and take control of the palm entry process tomorrow, it's very likely we are going to be heading to a general election. and if they don't get it through, you would have to think the chances of no—deal brexit do rise exponentially. that is why the sta kes a re exponentially. that is why the stakes are so high. to the tory rebels, or stress in the sink sorry, i have to remove the whip from you. —— boris johnson is i have to remove the whip from you. —— borisjohnson is saying. getting wind in the last few minutes 17 or so wind in the last few minutes 17 or so labour mps wind in the last few minutes 17 or so labourmps are wind in the last few minutes 17 or so labour mps are going to amend the motion tomorrow and bring back the deal that was voted for three times, bringing to the house of commons again, ina bringing to the house of commons again, in a way to avert that no deal possibility. let me give you a flavour of the debate tonight. all

let oliver letwin, one of the first to open the debate. the government's intention or willingness to leave the country into a no—deal exit is a threat to our country. the prime minister is much in the position of someone standing on one side of a canyon, shouting to people on the other side of the canyon that if they do not do as he wishes, he will throw himself into the abyss. that is not a credible negotiating strategy. and it is also not a responsible strategy, given that the risk that there is to be dragged over the edge with the prime minister. not a credible strategy, says oliver letwin. responding for the government, jacob reese mogg. the prime minister has said, including in his statement earlier, this government is absolutely committed to delivering brexit on the 315t of october.

we must deliver the largest democratic mandate in the nation's history. delivering the referendum result requires this house to respect the voice of the people, as expressed in that historic vote. and so far, the house has failed to do so. and now, instead of backing the prime minister and giving him the best possible chance of securing a deal before the uk leaves the european union on the 315t of october, we find ourselves debating a proposition that seeks to confound the referendum result again. mr speaker, i wish to be clear. what is proposed today is constitutionally irregular. let's pick up on the point he was making. here is a tweet from our colleague iain watson.

help me out here, christian. isn't this the same deal defeated by record margins repeatedly? yeah, but stephen kinnick who i spoke to on beyond 100 days, he was fearful it would lead to borisjohnson taking overin would lead to borisjohnson taking over in number ten, it would raise the prospects of no deal and i think he was regretful maybe they had not voted through the withdrawal agreement. i had another labour mp here tonight who said, i have no problem with the withdrawal agreement. she wanted more flesh on the bone. there are some labour mps are disposed that way. are there enough consumer to make mps who think, actually, it wasn't as bad as all that? -- actually, it wasn't as bad as all that? —— conservative mps who think?

maybe we grab her nose and seeks to amend what happens through. it will be interesting to see where that debate goes tomorrow, whether it falls flat on its face or whether there is an appetite for it. see if we get there as well. help us understand what has been voted on this evening and that what might follow if it goes against boris johnson. it is important to make the distinction. obviously they're trying to get the legislation through to stop the no—deal brexit. tonight is holy about the process. it means it would give the so—called rebel alliance the opportunity to put their business motion forward, their bill forward. it would be debated in the comments tomorrow if they win the debate tonight. the hope is they could get it through the chambers by end of week and take

no—deal off the table. weaver tonight theirfriends no—deal off the table. weaver tonight their friends and allies of borisjohnson in the house of lords who want to filibuster the process, so an who want to filibuster the process, so an awful long way before the bill gets his royal assent towards the end of the week if it gets there. and christian, a quick word about borisjohnson. this and christian, a quick word about boris johnson. this is and christian, a quick word about borisjohnson. this is the most pressure he's been under since becoming prime minister. how did you assess his performance? becoming prime minister. how did you assess his performance ?|j becoming prime minister. how did you assess his performance? i didn't think it was a terrific performance today. he has had a very good few weeks from a conservative point of view, going to the g7 to beginning some sort of pick—up from emmanuel macron and angela merkel, but the day started in a pretty disastrous way from his point of view. you have the telegraph, saying, actually there is no negotiation in brussels. the negotiation is a sham. that has been vehemently read

rejected by number ten. i think the central nub of this in the house of commons, that there really is not any trust for what boris johnson is doing, which is why they want to pin him down. just before i give you a breather, christian, when we get this vote, do we know?” breather, christian, when we get this vote, do we know? i think between some time, 9:30pm, 10pm. between sometime, 9:30pm,10pm. that will tell you, if you get in early votes trying to bring the proceedings to an end, that they have the numbers. it is the second vote which is the emergency order, the one we are looking at. christian, think you very much indeed. those of you watching, if you have questions, #bbcos is the

hashtag. christian is going to be behaving help from rob watson as well. our chief political correspondent, vicki young, is in the central lobby of the houses of parliament. ican i can only imagine what the mood is in there. i think... i can only imagine what the mood is in there. ithink... he is i can only imagine what the mood is in there. i think... he is probably about to lose his first vote as prime minister. there are about 15 tory mps who have publicly said they are prepared to fight the government to vote for the tonight, allowing mps to take control of the agenda tomorrow, and have actuallyjust spoken to the couple of others who have not gone public but say that they are willing to rebel as well. what has happened today is that forcejohnson has what has happened today is that force johnson has met what has happened today is that forcejohnson has met with some of these mps, looking for reassurances from him that he genuinely is trying to get a new deal out of brussels. some of them believe him and will give them another chance but there

are others who simply don't. they think that he is wanting to go for a no—deal brexit and theyjust cannot stomach that, so they are prepared to go against their party, they are risking being shut out of their party. and we could be in a situation in a couple of hours' time where borisjohnson situation in a couple of hours' time where boris johnson is situation in a couple of hours' time where borisjohnson is going to chuck out of the party a couple of former chancellors, including ken clark, the longest serving mp in the house of commons, and winston churchill's grandson. it is pretty incredible evening. that is even before you to the point tomorrow, where mps think they can get that bill through. does boris johnson stand up immediately to say i have tabled a motion to call a general election and their labour and opposition parties to vote for it? we will see. he says he will not ask for another delay to brexit. he wa nts a for another delay to brexit. he wants a general election. for the moment, thank you very much indeed.

there are 58 days to go until october 31. it was said by the european union, by the time the uk... i hope christian, bring you back in. i wa nted christian, bring you back in. i wanted to ask you earlier, what is going on behind you? we have two protests going on, the stopped the coup, and the people's assembly. my colleague dan johnson has coup, and the people's assembly. my colleague danjohnson has been on the green. what is the mood like there? it's been a noisy, boisterous day. quite a few different protests groups that have gathered together today in opposition to no—deal brexit democrat,

—— to no—deal, some of them opposed to brexit, some of them... many different messages, voiced with a lot of passion, some very strong language we have heard today. and this is really the tail end of protests that have gone on the route the day, so this group is curtly blocking the street right outside parliament. parliament square has just reopened and the traffic is starting to flow again but certainly this part of london is still blocked by protesters, and they say force johnson is prepared to shutdown parliaments, they are prepared to block the streets —— if boris johnson is prepared. let's see if we can have a quick word. johnson is prepared. let's see if we can have a quick wordlj johnson is prepared. let's see if we can have a quick word. i am from london! why are you here? i am here basically because borisjohnson is a prove n basically because borisjohnson is a proven liar. a good leader is meant to be someone we proven liar. a good leader is meant to be someone we can proven liar. a good leader is meant to be someone we can trust, someone who is confident and someone who is,

can lead the country. borisjohnson isa can lead the country. borisjohnson is a liar. he is a proven liar. have a look at how iwas... i was... its boris johnson buzzing leadership your... 100%. not i was... its boris johnson buzzing leadership your... 10096. not brexit? i will be honest with you. if we had a party and a leader who could deliver brexit without making a mess and making the country complete shambles, like the tories have done over this period, then yes, i may be would go free leaving that you. under the tories, they have bested up. —— misted up. under the tories, they have bested up. -- misted up. thank you very much. good to talk to you. lots of

different messages, lots of different messages, lots of different motivations that have brought people onto the streets today. they have talked about bringing people together. you can be sure a majority of the scott are anti—brexit, and hope mps will be able to do what they need to do to make sure there is a block on no—deal. make sure there is a block on no-deal. noisy, dan. i hope you can so no-deal. noisy, dan. i hope you can so hear me. we had messages from different people if they would support a general election if boris johnson put forward a motion tomorrow. how many of them would welcome that election will within a canjeremy welcome that election will within a can jeremy corbyn decided welcome that election will within a canjeremy corbyn decided he did not wa nt canjeremy corbyn decided he did not want the election? lots of people here say they are up for a general election that is what they want to see. we heard from two members of labour's shadow cabinet who said they were prepared for a general election, ready for that committed they should bring that election on.

although there have been some mixed messages from within the labour party on whether they would actually support a general election, that was the message given to ground here, something that seems to have been well received by a majority people in this crowd generally inside the conservative government, and whatever their stance on brexit, there are lots of people who want borisjohnson removed there are lots of people who want boris johnson removed from there are lots of people who want borisjohnson removed from office, that he is is not democratically elected, the moves he has made to suppress parliament and its debate as they said. "stop the coup," that is deathly something people feel strongly about. we can expect to see more protests as this carries on. danjohnson, more protests as this carries on. dan johnson, parliament green, more protests as this carries on. danjohnson, parliament green, inc. you very much. in some polls come in they were chilling the conservatives, but look what

happened in 2017, and they lost the majority. quite a few questions coming in, which we will put christian's way in a few minutes. #bbcos is the hashtag. the deadline is october 31, and borisjohnson‘s as it is happening that way. borisjohnson... limits boris johnson. .. limits how borisjohnson... limits how much time boris —— members mps have. as we are seeing, opposition parties are working with some conservative mps and they have worked together to produce this bill. the one that, in the end, will be voted on. it would

force the prime minister to delay brexit. that date is important. it is day after a european union summit which borisjohnson is day after a european union summit which boris johnson has is day after a european union summit which borisjohnson has repeatedly said will be the moment when an agreement is possible. one thing we should add, though. before trondsen and the eu were to reach a new agreement, the uk parliament would still need to vote it through, and theresa may can tell us how hard it is to do that. three times her deal was defeated. defeat this evening would appear to point towards the prime minister calling and election. we will see how that goes.

well, passions were running high before the debate even started. conservative mps backing mrjohnson questioned speakerjohn bercow‘s decision to allow the emergency session to take place in the first place, by implying he was reinterpreting the rules. that didn't go down well with mr bercow. i have taken advice of a professional kind and i am entirely satisfied that the judgment that i have made is consistent with that advice. my attitude is simply to seek to facilitate the house. the leader rightly referred to my responsibility, which was grave and solemn. i completely accept that, as well as accept his right to his own view about my judgment in this matter. i have sought to exercise my judgment in discharging my responsibility to facilitate the house of commons, to facilitate the legislature. i have done it, i am doing it, and i will do it to the best of my ability, without fear

orfavour, to coin a phrase, come what may, do or die. you might remember it was mr bercow who called borisjohnson‘s proroguing of parliament a "unconstitional outrage". the issue of proroguing has been central in tonight's debate. here's one of the rebel mps — former attorney general dominic grieve. he says that the house's was one of scrutiny, and i agree. and yet does not see there is an impala —— incompatibility with that... of carrying it out. and when considering that, he may also agree with me that so much in this house depends on trust. how can we have trust when they revert even a number of exa m ples trust when they revert even a number of examples of the government making inaccurate statements, such as for example the papers prepared for its

briefing were the products of the previous admin attrition when they we re previous admin attrition when they were not come and secondly and perhaps most pertinently over her gratian, when your first two facts as to the reason the prorogation, they haven't turned out to be entirely inaccurate. —— they have turned out to be entirely accurate. the westminster leader of the scottish nationalist party is ian blackford. he accused the government of running away from the powers the house has. this is a blind power grab, showing total ever against and contempt for the electorate —— total arrogance. the prime minister has robbed people of all power. 0f of course, the prime minister is saying that is absolutely not the case. a few minutes ago, krishan was telling us about some labour mps wanting to bring back theresa may's deal, the one borisjohnson is been so rude about in the last few weeks.

there is this... let's go back to christian fraser, alsojoined by rob let's go back to christian fraser, also joined by rob watson. let's go back to christian fraser, alsojoined by rob watson. if let's go back to christian fraser, also joined by rob watson. if you question for the two of you, one that has come up a lot. this is from richard watching on the bbc news channel. if force johnson loses tonight, doesn't get a backing for a two thirds election, what then happens? it is very nice to see you ain! happens? it is very nice to see you again! no, he is not out of options. one option he still has is he can put forward a simple bill at the end of the week or on monday which says,

notwithstanding the parliament act, two thirds of the vote, he could set a date. that might be... she said some of her colleagues are quite gung ho about it. there are splits within the labour party at the moment, as to what they want to do. there are, but i don't thing there is any doubt that if mrjohnson was to lose this motive or you go on blocking no deal and then cannot get an election at the time of his choosing, i think he's definitely in a trickier spot than he would like to be, let me put it that way. yes. question from melody, watching us from the us... shalli question from melody, watching us from the us... shall! have a question from melody, watching us from the us. .. shall i have a go at doing that? it's just from the us. .. shall i have a go at doing that? it'sjust not for bidding in the british system. it's

not common and it's very difficult, and mp5 do it rather reluctantly, because it tends to rather annoy the people who voted for them thinking, hang ona people who voted for them thinking, hang on a minute, when i voted for you when you are a liberal democrat, labour, conservative or whatever. you when you are a liberal democrat, labour, conservative orwhatever. it does happen. the reason why it is unusual is party loyalties, tribal loyalties are extremely strong in this country, just as they are very much in the us. give fierce party loyalty he re much in the us. give fierce party loyalty here just as republicans and democrats do —— you have. crossing over doesn't happen very often. that's why it is in the news. over doesn't happen very often. that's why it is in the newslj spoke to some liberal democrats today who, up until the last minute, we re today who, up until the last minute, were unsure fillable he would join the liberal democrats. they thought he might be an independent. heidi allen, she is still standing as an independent, but she wants to win her seat in the next election.”

thought you meant he was going to sit somewhere in the middle! that would be rather uncomfortable — no chair! one more. could the eu unilaterally extend the deadline... it must be requested, as i understand it. let's say there was a general election going on in the middle of brexit. you can imagine the european union, by the way, just in case you want to do it, we would be happy to kind of hold off on brexit happening on the 315t until after you sorted out your election. presumably you would... but the problem it would have a vote on whether they want to accepted. you can see them offering it. you would have to have the executive request

an extension. but i could see it happening. i could see the eu being the one to extended. at the end of the one to extended. at the end of the day can adjust on a separate issue, the eu... if they were to offer borisjohnson something, they do not know if they could get into parliament. we may be able to do because we think we can get it through, or they are dealing with a different type of british government. from their perspective, i would think they would do anything they needed to do to facilitate it. thank you very much. one more question here from sandy. if the government doesn't become a minority government, which it lost its majority today at least, can they just continue to govern? in any normal circumstances, a government who lost the majority would call a general election. they need a two

thirds majority to be able to call that election, and that anyway finds its hands. yes. unless the opposition call for a vote of confidence or the government itself tries to precipitate a general election, they could link on... one can see there's going to have to be a general election in this country sooner rather than later, because whatever happens with brexit, let's say britain reaches a deal, doesn't reach a deal, the amount of legislation that would be needed, you cannot possibly do it with this parliament, without any one particular party having a clear majority. i was gaining tonight the scenario with one labour mp, and i said if you vote for the fixed term parliament election or you did not vote for that bill describing a little earlier, what are the scenarios, next week? they have not discounted, some within labour, that

there could be a vote of confidence and they might put a unity government in place and then have an election. a unity government would not have done micro at some point, you have to come to an election. it does not follow that is the first thing done micro briefly, to make a broader —— the first thing... -- the first thing... the... on all sides, all the politicians, they are making it up as they go along. there is no rule book here. those of you watching, keep those questions coming, e—mail is on the screen and we are talking about the rebel alliance and we will get to hearing from them in a moment. one person definitely not rebelling against the prime minister is the

leader of the house jacob rees—mogg. the leader of the house has rebelled against the conservative led government more than 100 times and has been rewarded with a place on the front bench. criticism of jacob rees—mogg criticism ofjacob rees—mogg as he sat in the comments earlier on and defended that approach the premise that was taking and argue to support the option to take no—deal brexit off the table would a and at the prime minister's ability to a deal. that clip highlighted what we have known for a long time. the conservative party has been divided over europe for many years but has never reached a breaking point. it's getting closer by the day. among the rebels who will vote against the government today, you'll find the former attorney general dominic grieve, formerjustice secretary david gauke, former minister rory stewart and former chancellor philip hammond. if you know if you are watching in

the uk... philip hammond's nickname while chancellor was "spreadsheet phil". but the nickname is going to have to change. his approach to politics seems to have shifted in the last few weeks. there is plenty of fire in his belly. listen to what he told the bbc‘s today programme. i think we will have the numbers. many colleagues have been incensed by some of the actions over the last week or so and i think there's a group of conservatives who feel very strongly that now is the time when we have to put the national interest ahead of any threats to us personally or to our career. i am going to defend my party against incomers, entryists who are trying to turn it from a broad church into a narrow faction. people who are at the heart of this government who are probably not even members of the conservative party, who care nothing about the future of the conservative party... who care nothing.

that is a reference to the vote leave campaign in 2016. the stakes are high for the rebels. borisjohnson says anyone who votes agaisnt him will lose the whip. this means they can't represent the conservatives in parliament. there have also been behind the scenes threats to stop the rebels standing as conservatives in the next election. well, some have jumped before being pushed. as we have been talking about, as today's house of commons debate got under way, tory mp philip lee went to sit with the liberal democrats. in his resignation letter, he says borisjohnson is "pursuing a damaging brexit in unprincipled ways". and he says the conservative party has become "infected by the twin diseases of english nationalism and populism." here he is speaking to the bbc after he defected. i strongly believe and have done, it is why i was the first to resign

as a minister last year if you recall, that brexit, the brexit the public are going to get is not the brexit they were promised. and i do not think that is acceptable and that is why i think that brexit should be taken back to the public in a peoples vote in a final say. and i still strongly believe that. and the liberal democrats have been the party that have backed that approach longest. it was really quite shocking and i think that in tandem with this language, that is invoking battles and wars and the late, i am sorry but it is wrong. i think it is about time that we raise the bar and politics. his defection is significant in itself but it also meant that borisjohnson lost his working majority — not that it was really working anyway. the conservatives along with partners the dup now have 319 seats.

the opposition has one more. so threats of explusion, defections — and now also high—profile departures. two tory moderates announced they won't seek reelection. one of them is alistair burt, who blames the "unresolvable disagreement with our party leadership on the manner in which we leave the eu, and the consequences going forward of doing so." former cabinet ministerjustine greening is the other. in her letter to the prime minister, "like many people locally, i am deeply concerned by the brexit approach taken by your government." here she is again today. overwhelmingly people are deeply concerned about the potential for a new deal brexit. and the bill that will be brought through parliament tomorrow is aimed at simply allowing mps the chance to vote either for or against a no—deal brexit and that vote counts so it is about essentially protecting our

parliamentary democracy. and of christ we are trained to work out what is going to happen depending on how this vote goes. the two roads opening up today are — the government defeats this bill, and so continues its negotiatations with the eu but with the no—deal as an available option, or the government loses. if that happens, it's widely expected that borisjohnson will call an election. he can't do it alone, though. two—thirds of parliament must give their approval. if that happens, october 1a is a date being widely circulated. we do not know if that is definitely the case. if that doesn't happen, we'd have gridlock — with a prime minister saying he can no longer negotitate properly with the eu, a parliament which has failed to find a majority for any form of brexit or for stopping it, a government with no working majority to do any other business and no election to reset

the parliamentary arithmetic. that is a situation that will probably not last long before something had to give. one thing that will affect all the parties' calculations is current polling. john curtice is a professor of politics, and the uk's leading expert on polls. here's his analysis. forrestjohnson plus forrest johnson plus my forrestjohnson plus my conservative party is the lead in the polls that they have no more than 33% of the pole but it is an bigger problem and running atjust pole but it is an bigger problem and running at just 25%. pole but it is an bigger problem and running atjust 25%. that is what over 15 points down on what they got two years ago. definitely and the stronger position is the liberal democrats and very strongly programming party who had suffered badly from being in competition with the conservatives in 2015 and recovered up to 19% as many remain vote has gone in their direction and

nigel farage's brexit prydie, pro brexit is running at 12%. so we have four parties with substantial shares of the votes. of course we have the electoral system so i'll come and see us electoral system so i'll come and see us do not necessarily reflect the votes but much more will depend on the votes but much more will depend o n exa ctly the votes but much more will depend on exactly where the geography of the votes fall but if you are to assume for the purposes of argument that the geography were to be the same as in 2017 the last time they had an election, those kinds of figures point to the conservatives possibly being just over the three to six mark needed for a majority but also being below. something like a 50-50 but also being below. something like a 50—50 shot. we've been focusing on efforts in parliament to stop a no—deal brexit. there will be too votes a little later. the second of which will be most significant. we think it will happen in the last half an hour or 45 minutes. timing is imprecise. there also also been attempts to do

this in the british courts. the former conservative prime ministerjohn major has been given permission to submit evidence in a case that seeks to overturn the government's decision to temporarily suspend parliament next week. to reiterate a former conservative prime minister is trying to stop at the current prime minister is doing. his efforts are to support a challenge put forward by the businesswoman and anti—brexit campaigner gina miller. she already has a huge part in the brexit story — she successfully went to court to ensure parliament's role in the brexit process. of her latest effort, she says... she tweets but it is not there in a moment, she says it is a vital democratic purpose and it would set a precedent to prorogue in the future and stop scrutiny of their actions. that is happening in london. but we should also focus on edinburgh. in edinburgh, politicians

from a number of parties are asking scotland's highest civil court to rule that borisjohnson acted illegally and unconstitutionally by proroguing parliament. remember, when the suspension of parliament was announced last week, senior government ministers denied it was to prevent mps intervening on a no—deal brexit. here are two examples. the prime minister is going to bring forward a new queen's speech and i will reflect the priorities we have asa will reflect the priorities we have as a government and let the country has as well. there will be lots of time to debate before the 31st of october and parliament will be sitting then and it will have whatever emotions we want. there prompted plenty of scepticism. the speaker of the house of commons. today, in the court in edinburgh, we heard that the prime minister approved plans to prorogue parliament on the 15th august — two weeks before the move became public.

and well before number 10 responded had described reports that the prime minister was considering such a move as tbc. here's the lawyer representing the politicians challenging the government. this prime minister says in his own words and handwriting that the further sitting of parliament is simplya further sitting of parliament is simply a rigmarole for mps to show they are earning their crest. the co nte m pt they are earning their crest. the contempt for our constitution that betrays is breathtaking. lorna gordon has been watching the case in edinburgh. the lawyer for the government at the arguments being made where academic as it was not for the courts to decide if parliament can be prorogued and the resolution must be found in the political arena and thatjudge said he will attempt to

make a decision overnight and reach a ruling tomorrow morning. whatever that position is, it is likely to be appealed. let's go back to westminster and bring christian and we have company for the analysis. we have top cat that guests. with me now is laura trott, former advisor to theresa may and joe owen from the institute for government. we heard tonight that the chief whip is coming in the chief rebels, it is something to think that they are being stripped of the wet. something to think that they are being stripped of the wetm something to think that they are being stripped of the wet. it is a great shame that people of that aperture and a question of how far we have come that this is being considered. i boris johnson we have come that this is being considered. i borisjohnson is desperate to reach to where he feels to make a deal with the european union and it is actually impeding

at. theresa may within the chamber and it was the first time i saw her ta ke and it was the first time i saw her take a seat in the chamber and she sat next to king clark. what did you make it back? she was a very deliberate persons i doubt it was accidental and i think it was a slight of solidarity. ian watson, the corresponding to eat tonightjoe says there are 17 labour mps who are considering putting in an amendment and an amendment to the notion tomorrow with potentially bringing back the withdrawal agreement and the must endemic much—maligned withdrawal agreement in went to make of that? this is the kind of labour mps he never really came through for theresa may who she recorded time and time again and never gave her their votes or at least most of them did not. now realising that actually there prydie shifting towards the second referendum position with the leafs eats all of a sudden actually may be the deal was not quite a good

compromise and they —— they get them what they wanted and we are now in a position where on one side no deal and on the other side a new referendum. and it is not quite clear where a deal comes from.“ referendum. and it is not quite clear where a deal comes from. if we had another vote, and that amendment, effectively that would be amendment, effectively that would be a fourth vote on the withdrawal agreement. the amendment would be for the bill to come back the withdrawal agreement billed to come back which will then obviously have to pass all the ratification process and the pass pieces of legislation implementing eu treaties have had time and sometimes over 100 votes on them so it would not be an easy process but it would possibly indicate a majority support. but given where both of the main parties are you would find it hard to see where a big majority or a majority at all would come from for that deal to come back. i do not want to get

too deep into the minutia and disappeared down the rabbit hole, but to say you cannot bring back the same piece of legislation time and time again, to get a different answer. said the seek rating would be important to explain. the speaker said that he is willing to rip up precedent if necessary but technically you are not allowed to bring back the same thing for a vote over and over again in the house of commons but what they could do is if there is a new session where parliament breaks up for a while and they could bring it back again and it would be an order and there would bea it would be an order and there would be a new vote after the queen's speech. that you would still have the same problem. they would then be opposed to it coming back or what they, what if the numbers start to get a bit closer to where they need to be? the question has always been labour, labour had been the people who had not come through and we were

talking earlier about during that referendumjeremy talking earlier about during that referendum jeremy corbyn vaguely campaignfora name referendum jeremy corbyn vaguely campaign for a name but not really an labourmps he campaign for a name but not really an labour mps he refused to vote for the deal and they were trained to make a political point. and their was not enough labour in support for as they were saying with either a referendum or no deal at all, as if it felt worse option. one of the big challenges is bringing treason may possibly feel back is to get the cabinet to agree. —— theresa may's deal back. with that in any way back it seems unlikely that this cabinet will be willing to bring back the deal and changed but the question is even deal and changed but the question is evenif deal and changed but the question is even if there are some small changes in the breath of the document that does change whether there are significant enough to get the cabinet's support and if you look at

the cabin and there were only two members of the cabinet and that did not vote for the withdrawal agreement and the last time of asking and theresa may brought it back on the 29th of march and i think it is only tresa billiards and priti patel he did not vote for it and borisjohnson priti patel he did not vote for it and boris johnson voted for it and the question is can they bring something back from brussels that is significant enough to say that they have won and delivered a change but it is not so significant that they nixed any chances of persuading eu partners or practically getting it donein partners or practically getting it done in the time available. that is one element to focus on and the other is general election and if he loses the vote tonight, does it mean politically to lose this boat, does give him the platform he wants? the whole premise is they do not want a general election. and boris wants to

go to brussels and renegotiate a deal which essentially will be a small change and try to get that deal parliament and that has been his whole motivation and that is what he is trained to do and he strongly believes that taking away the option of no deal really handsome back in terms of his negotiation hand and that is what is happening here, he is not able to do that and unable to call a general election. thank you very much for your thoughts, both of you. we could be in your thoughts, both of you. we could beina your thoughts, both of you. we could be in a bizarre situation i suppose where labrie did not vote for the motion on a general election and we are out of parliament at the end of the week and still nowhere closer to knowing what might happen and boris johnson has lost his majority, that would be quite a situation when the net. it would require a lot of scratching at ted's for political leaders and the comments to charge a

way out of it copy at the moment as has been the case all year, the commons is far better at identifying what it does not want done when it does want. let's bring in vicki young who is still in the central lobby in the palace of westminster. explained to us, we will have two votes is that right? there is the first one, the bell goes for the first division and mps will start running and from all parts of the house of commons and i think that is the closure motion said this means this is a boat to make sure that they stop talking. that they bring this debate to an and. this is not the one we are interested in, this is just to say this is the end of the debate and this will take about 15 minutes and then we will move onto the main vote and that is all whether mps can take control of commons business tomorrow in order to try to change the law to change the mac minister to delay brexit if they have not gotten to it by the

middle of october. if that is the crucial vote, that is the next one which will start in about 15 minute's time and the tally of conservative rebels, we think that it is standing at 17 said these are conservatives who are willing to d efy conservatives who are willing to defy the government and go against what force johnson is telling defy the government and go against what forcejohnson is telling them to do in order to make sure they get control of the house of commons business tomorrow. that is despite all sorts of threats and they were told that they would immediately have the web removed and things that they will not be able to stand as conservative mps and that is obviously quite a threat but i do not think it will hurt many of them said that is where we are at the moment and it does look like boris johnson could be about to suffer a defeat. iam being i am being told by colleagues that they think it is the second vote and if it is, how quickly might they turn around the results? it takes 15

minutes per vote so 15 minutes per vote before we get one. we have to wait 15 minutes to get results on that and as he can see behind me lots of mps streaming and dared to make their views known stop at the question is if borisjohnson is defeated tonight how does he react and dessie get up at the despatch box and as he say you are trying to tie my hands and i do not want to do this and i am now going to will the general election and that is not something he can actually do because under the fixed term parliament act he has to get two thirds of mps to vote in favour of it so it is not as easy as it used to be. in the old days for let's listen to john bercow. stuart andrew and ian stewart.

said that was the speakerjohn bercow just announcing that the tellers are and these are the people who count the votes so to confirm this is the second vote and that first vote in the first motion was ignored by the speaker said they moved on the main vote of the day which is the one which if the government is defeated and that means that mps will take control tomorrow of business in the house of commons and they could try to change the law. just to stay with us i want to pull up the law. just to stay with us i want to pullupa the law. just to stay with us i want to pull up a tweet from the former brexit secretary who was involved in early negotiations on brexit and says i've consistently argued that a brexit deal will not be sealed until the final few weeks leading up to the final few weeks leading up to the end of october and attempts to block no deal only serves to weaken the uk prospect negotiating hand at this critical time and reduce the likelihood of a deal. that may or may not be true but to get a new deal or change deal with the eu you have to bring something new and i did not hear anything today from the

prime minister in terms of what he might offer the european union to get something new. that really has been the theme of the day because borisjohnson agreed to meet conservatives who are not happy about all this and i am told that but they were trying to get out of borisjohnson but they were trying to get out of boris johnson really but they were trying to get out of borisjohnson really how but they were trying to get out of boris johnson really how serious but they were trying to get out of borisjohnson really how serious is he about pursuing a new deal and some of them came out of that reassured and they are falling in line with the government tonight but many others are not. they simply do not believe that that is what he is trying to get and they say there was no evidence either that the negotiating team is up and running or that any new proposals have been played and we heard that and putting questions to brycejohnson by the former chancellor of philip hannon and otherformer former chancellor of philip hannon and other former cabinet members saying but can you just outline or publish what the new proposals are to reassure us that you are really forging ahead with these negotiations. borisjohnson says that he feels there has been a difference in mood and that he does think that leading eu figures are listening to some of the things he is saying that thatjust has not

been enough for a number of tory mps which is why they feel that they need to take this action to potentially in their careers and change the law and sided with the opposition parties and tomorrow try to bring in the smell. of christ borisjohnson to bring in the smell. of christ boris johnson says to bring in the smell. of christ borisjohnson says if he will go along with the law he has said very clearly that he is not willing to go to the ee to ask for a delay to brexit and he is not willing to do that. as i say normal circumstances and old days that will mean a general election and how we get to that will be much trickier for boris johnson because i was speaking to emily thornberry tonight and she just said we are not going to vote for that and we see it as a trap family think that is a way that boys johnson managing to get to know deal because proudman is going to pack up and go home and they do not trust them so how they get to that general election and how the government gets to that is difficult to see. the issue of trust is a crucial one. thank you very much and i will talk

to you shortly i'm sure and i am bringing up an image that is widely shared online, mainly by critics and boys shared online, mainly by critics and bostohnson shared online, mainly by critics and boys johnson and his shared online, mainly by critics and bostohnson and his government the leader of the house of commons, jacob rees—mogg reclining in his house during the debate and this has become in for a serious amount of criticism with one labour mps saying the physical embodiment of entitlement, arrogance and disrespect for prominent. and people in the government would not be so critical but let's bring in a christian who is live with us from westminster. i bring in at that image because the town adopted by them and others has been discussed as much as the content. and the language and it wasjeremy corbyn who picked up today that he did not like this idea that there was a surrender motion and that some of those tory levels had the words directed at penn and some of the language that has been used on the way has been a concern for some of

those within the government. amber wright who stayed loyal to boys johnson this week that these long—standing conservative figures are going to be drowned out because they are sticking to their guns so it isa they are sticking to their guns so it is a concern and pictures like that tonight will not help. interesting listening to your debate and whether he is serious about getting a deal and i want to pick up a bit of that with those who are still with me. it could be true could it not that he is running down the clock and trying to get a deal and they all want the same thing in the closer you gets the more chance he has of getting a deal if he presents at rates topley absolutely and has always maintained that he has a best chance would be at the last minute at the summit and that he needs to show that he will be ready for no deal. cell and has been his strategy double way through. ironically though he lost the majority and face with no deal, let's say it did not go through the

face with no deal, maybe he would have more chance if he were giving a vague idea of agreement to get into the house. if you send the government because my plan is to get a deal, what seems like a plan would survive these two weeks in parliament and then they would have prorogation and straight run at the european council where they can say to the eu look at is now no deal or you give us something that we can get through parliament. then returned from the european council, finish up the queen's speech and say to you mps you have six sitting days and that is how much time we have laughed and they could take a nap time you have one option to avoid no deal now and that is they still. despite what the naysayers where is saying today that the threat of no deal does not really help him, a nyway deal does not really help him, anyway maybe they are cutting the legs out the uk possession. very interesting. thank you very much. again so some noisy protests here tonight and i think they are hanging

around a bit later waiting for the results. none of us are going anywhere because we are within a few minutes now of getting a result in the house of commons on this boat, but i can have consequences for the uk if not years and decades and you are watching bbc news special with coverage of another historic night in british politics and there is a life page on the bbc news app and also the bbc news website, if you wa nt to also the bbc news website, if you want to follow this online. remember we are awaiting an outcome to this vote, the bell was ringing a few minutes ago so we think the result can come and within the next five or ten minutes but we will see. cell a couple of other things to mention, we are getting reports from the daily telegraph at the concert is may if there is a new election she is to stand against the speaker of the housejohn is to stand against the speaker of the house john greco, is to stand against the speaker of the housejohn greco, that is com pletely the housejohn greco, that is completely out of sync with what is

normally done in a general election. ——john normally done in a general election. —— john bercow. we will turn normally done in a general election. ——john bercow. we will turn back normally done in a general election. —— john bercow. we will turn back to that story and a minute and of christ we are keeping an eye out for this result as well. —— and we are keeping an eye out on that result as well. yet another historic night in his thank you forjoining us. british politics and members of the proudman are debating a measure that will allow them to block a no—deal brexit and prime ministerjoyce bell borisjohnson brexit and prime ministerjoyce bell boris johnson says brexit and prime ministerjoyce bell borisjohnson says he will try to force a general election if he loses and remember the prime minister has said his preference is still to get a deal with the european union. said repeatedly that he thinks it will come on a summit on october the 17th. he says he cannot negotiate with the european union without the possibility of new deal being there. some mps would like to remove that option. let's bring in christian again. we

have heard warning from the bank