house to crisis, and i ask this house to reflect on one thing. we have been granted an extension by the european union until the end ofjanuary. it is emboldened on all of us that we have got to end this crisis. time is of the essence, and if we act now, in all our national interest, without playing the game is that the conservatives want to, we can have that election. we can put it back to the people. and i certainly want the people in scotland to have their say on that, and crucially, mr speaker, to recognise that if we want to protect our interest in scotland, that it does mean that we should not and cannot be ripped out of the european union against our will, and mr speaker, that means that scotland has to complete thatjourney that mr speaker, that means that scotland has to complete that journey that we began with devolution 20 years ago, and become an independent member. in conclusion, the snp... there we are, that is the message to the

people of scotland, "sit down and shut up!" that is what we get from the conservatives, that was absolutely loud and clear and it comes over time and time again. i will tell you this, people at home are watching this. they can see that this respect that is shown, and the day when this union comes to an end is fast approaching, mr speaker. the snp will never, not ever, vote for brexit. we cannot and will not trust this prime minister. the scottish national party does not want to leave this prime minister with time in parliament to do anything other than dissolve it. so we will not vote with the government tonight. but make no mistake, the scottish national party are ready to give people back their say, to stop this tory government, to stop brexit, and to demand the right to choose scotland's future as an independent country. mr speaker, our destiny.

william cash. thank you, mr speaker. their situation is very simple. the bottom line is this, that the labour party is scared... the honourable gentleman, the chair of the european scrutiny committee, he has served without interruption for the last 35 years in this house, and he must and he will be heard. sir william cash. asi he will be heard. sir william cash. as i said, the real question, the bottom line is this... i heard the right honourable gentleman talking about this respect. i heard the leader of the opposition talking about trust. what those who are either abstaining or voting against this motion are doing is utterly disrespectful to their own constituents, is utterly disrespectful to our democratic

system. they are not trusting the people, they are not removing the uncertainty. they are not allowing the british people the democratic right that they have to choose the members of parliament in individual constituencies that they wish to elect. that is a denial of democracy. that is what the leader of the opposition and the right honourable gentleman, who hasjust spoken, are doing. it is completely and totally unacceptable, whether they are remainers or leavers. the democratic right of the british people is to have a general election in the situation that we are in now. certainly, yes, we should be supporting leaving the eu, but for those who are remainers, they, too, have the right to vote, and that has been denied to them by the leader of the opposition, and by every single

labour member of parliament and others who are either abstaining or who are voting against this motion today. a total denial of democracy, and when it comes to the general election, i trust that the people who know why they have been denied it, vote against those members of parliament to make sure that they themselves see the damage that they have done to our democratic system. jo swinson. thank you, mr speaker. the liberal democrats want to stop brexit. i appreciate that there are different views on different sides of the house on that matter, but i hope that people will appreciate that at least the lib dems have been consistent on wanting to stop brexit throughout this process. now, we believe... we believe the best way to do this is to put a specific

brexit deal to the public for a final say and a people's vote. we have been leading the campaign for a people's vote for 3.5 years. we stood in the 2017 election in a ma nifesto stood in the 2017 election in a manifesto that argued for a people's vote, and 17 times in this house we have laid amendments for a people's vote, including last week, an amendment to the queen speech. and the official opposition have refused to back that wholeheartedly a people's vote. and, in fact, 19 labour mps voted for the prime minister's deal last week. so, when it comes to the cause of remaining in the eu, and of stopping brexit,

the labour party have not delivered. we have put our best efforts in, but so we have put our best efforts in, but so far, the house has not yet backed those in sufficient numbers. i will give way to the honourable gentleman. actually, not all of our mps have been so unequivocal on this. the member for streatham voted in favourfor this. the member for streatham voted in favour for article this. the member for streatham voted in favourfor article 50, this. the member for streatham voted in favour for article 50, although he never tells the house that, when i voted against it. can i ask her why she believes using an electoral system which our party and indeed i have, her party has always thought does not deliver a fair result, ie through a general election to sort this issue, rather than sticking to the point that we should be seeking a referendum on this issue? 0therwise she could end up delivering a hard brexit and only 30% of the vote, not 51%.|j

delivering a hard brexit and only 3096 of the vote, not 51%. i will a lwa ys 3096 of the vote, not 5196. i will always welcome any converts to the cause of electoral reform, or indeed long—standing supporters. this is an issue where we are looking for the best way to protect our constituents and our place in the european union. but mps should not kid themselves. that by hanging on that there is somehow going to be a different outcome. i am somehow going to be a different outcome. iam responding somehow going to be a different outcome. i am responding to the previous question. the reality of the situation is this. we have secured an extension to article 50. that goes to the 31st of january. it was not automatic. it was not guaranteed. and it was not given by return of e—mail. it was deliberated over, it was agonised over by our eu friends. and certain members of the eu were pushing very hard for a short extension of article 50, and

they said very clearly that they are needed to be a clear purpose for article 50. so, if the house of commons can make it clear that the purpose would be to have a people's vote, i would be delighted. we have been campaigning for this for 3.5 yea rs, been campaigning for this for 3.5 years, and this afternoon, i have tabled at the table office an early day motion, calling again for a people's vote. so, if mps really wa nts to people's vote. so, if mps really wants to demonstrate that the numbers are now present, go to the table office and sign it. but do not give me wishful thinking that the numbers are present, when the real risk is that we could crash out on the 31st of january, instead of the sist the 31st of january, instead of the 31st of october, and that is no better. i give way. thank you. if the election goes ahead and she is successful in stopping brexit, would she share government with the leader

of the opposition? because i don't see how else it would work. of the opposition? because i don't see how else it would worklj of the opposition? because i don't see how else it would work. i have been very clear that i do not believe the leader of the 0pposition, or the prime minister, 01’ 0pposition, or the prime minister, or —— 0pposition, or the prime minister, 01"— are 0pposition, or the prime minister, or —— are the right people to be leading the country and government. i have been very clear about that. and any general election, i will go to the country, make my case that we should have a lib dem government. a lib dem government would revoke article 50 on the first day, and thatis article 50 on the first day, and that is the best way to start brexit. we need to see the path forward , brexit. we need to see the path forward, and if it is not going to be for a people's vote, if there is not the support for a people's vote in this parliament, then we need to look at the other way to do that. and right now, that is through having a general election. i will give way to my honourable friend. having a general election. i will give way to my honourable friendlj am give way to my honourable friend.” am grateful. the honourable lady knows that i was a founding member

of the people's vote, and she knows the cost that i and many others have paid for our belief at a time when it was certainly not popular or fashionable to say that. but she also knows, because of the meetings that she has attended, that there is no doubt that across this house there is a majority at the right moment for that confirmatory referendum. and does she agree with me... well, the honourable gentleman who has not attended those meetings has not been informed. would she not understand and consider that this is the best way forward now, for a living that process to continue, because it is obvious that that moment is coming, when there will finally be that majority for a people's vote, and that she is pre—empting that, and nobody needs to be told, especially not me, and

others, who have been so courageous and brave, and i pay tribute to them. —— are living that process to continue. this is not the time for a general election but it is a time for a people's vote and it is within oui’ for a people's vote and it is within s . for a people's vote and it is within our grasp. my right honourable friend and i have worked together well on the people's vote campaign andi well on the people's vote campaign and i pay tribute to the courageous decision that she took earlier this year to these heart party. and the work that she has done in this campaign. buti work that she has done in this campaign. but i would say to her, i dearly wish it was the case that we we re dearly wish it was the case that we were at a majority situation for a people's vote, and if we are, mps consign emotion and demonstrate that is the case. but perhaps she would make an exception for this, but in the absence of that support being clearly demonstrated, then we have to act. we cannotjust wait, because

my fear is that either the government pushes ahead with a withdrawal bill and it is delivered and delivers brexit on the back of labour votes, or that we end up in january a couple of weeks away from the dead of crashing out without a deal and find ourselves in the same precarious position, but that time that you say, i'm sorry, we have extended, extended again and we cannot keep doing so if we do not find a path to resolve this. and thatis find a path to resolve this. and that is why in the absence of those numbers. i want to make progress. in the absence of those numbers for a people's vote, the way forward now is to have an election. but to do so responsibly. not letting the prime minister force responsibly. not letting the prime ministerforce through responsibly. not letting the prime minister force through his responsibly. not letting the prime ministerforce through his bad brexit deal and a small number of days without proper scrutiny. which is what his plan is and why we will not support his motion tonight. because we know that the primary oh brexit deal would be bad for

workers' rights, bad for environmental protections, bad for the economy, jobs, our public services, our security, and bad for oui’ services, our security, and bad for our united kingdom. and it should not be left up to them to have carte blanche, to set the date of the election after the house of commons has dissolved. because we cannot trust what the prime minister says. iam making progress. you trust what the prime minister says. i am making progress. you cannot trust what the prime minister says and we would have no guarantee that he would not be trying to crash us out of the european union. he said he would not prorogue parliament, he did. he said he would not sent a letter to request an extension for article 50, he did that. we cannot trust what the prime minister says. that is why the plan that we have put forward with the scottish national party for a general election on the 9th of december as a plan where we have no deal taken off

the table, with the extension to article 50. we have no withdrawal agreement bell, and there is no wriggle room for the prime minister on the date. and we have worked together on a cross—party basis, and we do not agree on everything, but we do not agree on everything, but we agree that we want to stop brexit, and we have worked together. and that has been important. because the eu have not granted that extension on friday when they said they might. and our eu friends tell us they might. and our eu friends tell us that the letter and the bill that we re us that the letter and the bill that were published were instrumental in making sure they were able to grant that extension. i will give way. thank you. she has set out three conditions i noted very clearly. the leader of the snp pointed out the issue of 16 and 17—year—olds getting the vote. and a number of other issues. does she support efforts to ensure that those things were

attached to any election, and would she support a bill that did not guarantee that those rights to vote we re guarantee that those rights to vote were respected and available?” thank my honourable friend for that intervention, and we have also worked well together on the people's vote campaign, and i welcome the cross— party vote campaign, and i welcome the cross—party nature of that work. i have campaigned for votes for people of the age of 16 since coming into this house. we do that in scotland and it works well, this guy has not caved in and i think that it should be introduced for elections across the house across different elections. what i would say to my honourable friend is that the worst thing we could do for 16 and 17—year—olds is to crash out and to leave the european union. we are in a situation where there is no guarantee of an extension beyond the sist guarantee of an extension beyond the 31st of january, and we need to do everything we can to stop brexit. and if that means an election to stop brexit, to protect the rights

of those 16 and 17—year—olds, we need to deliver that, because leaving the european union is the thing that will wreck the future of young people. i have given way plenty already. the prime minister and leader of the opposition say that they want a general election. if that is the case, and they are not just playing games, if that is the case, and they are notjust playing games, then the government will give time for the bill that we have published, and a leader of the opposition will ask his mps to support it. and i relish the opportunity to take both of them on in the opportunity to take both of them onina the opportunity to take both of them on in a general election and share with the country the liberal democrat positive vision to stop brexit and build a brighterfuture. steve coppell. thank you, i am delighted to make a short contribution. i will support the motion tonight because it is absolutely clear to me that the only

way out of the situation as a general election. this house is in the stalemate, we are in lockdown and cannot move forward from brexit, we cannot move forward with anything else. that is not good for the country, businesses and our country fed with the uncertainty and the challenges they are facing, and who wa nt to challenges they are facing, and who want to know the way forward and what it will be. and it is not good for the democracy, the current state of this house. but there is another reason why i believe it is essential that we have an election as soon as possible. because i believe in the ayes of many voters across the country, this house has lost all legitimacy to set. it has lost the trust of the british people that they invested in it in 2017. and thatis they invested in it in 2017. and that is because, shall we start with the lib dems? i note what the right honourable lady said about an election manifesto for a second referendum and i note that the lib dems only have a passing acquaintance with keeping manifesto promises, but at least half of the

lib dem members who currently sit in this house were elected on a ma nifesto to this house were elected on a manifesto to respect the referendum and deliver brexit! and they have switched parties without any reference to their constituents, their constituents voted for an mp to represent them as a member of a party to deliver brexit, and those constituents have had no say, they have not been consulted on the change of position that those mps now hold. i will give way. does my honourable friend share my concern that many young people were duped on tuition fees? there was no straight a nswer tuition fees? there was no straight answer about who they would prop up in the next coalition? they are milking that 16 and 17—year—old vote because they are promising in future, one that they do not necessarily intend to deliver, like they never delivered on tuition fees. i am very grateful to my honourable friend for that intervention and i agree wholeheartedly. i would also add that i do not believe it is a case that i do not believe it is a case that lib dems have also and always

held the wish to have a second referendum. i remember after the win in 2016, liberal democrat after liberal democrat came on the media and said we must respect the outcome of the referendum, we must deliver this outcome. i do not believe it has a ways been their position. what i would also say, mr speaker, is that just i would also say, mr speaker, is thatjust under 600 i would also say, mr speaker, is that just under 600 members i would also say, mr speaker, is thatjust under 600 members of this house were elected in 2017 on a clear commitment to respect the referendum and deliver brexit. and it isa referendum and deliver brexit. and it is a sad reflection on our democracy and on politics in this country today that as we sit tonight, as far as i can make out, there are only about 300 members of this house who are committed to that end. 0ver this house who are committed to that end. over half of the mps who were elected to deliver on the referendum having made on that promise since the 2017 general election. this house does not reflect any longer what people voted on in 2017. people

voted for something they thought they were going to get and as it stands right now, they are not getting what they voted for. i will give way. when he talks about the star —— sad state of democracy and our country, when we go around the world and say that the uk stands for democracy and rule of law, they will say to us, you had a referendum in your country where the majority of the people wanted to leave and your parliament will not deliver that. not being able to deliver on that result shows our position is weakened around the world to deliver on democracy. he makes a great point, and i know he has great knowledge and experience in this area. the ayes of the world are working on this place and seeing if we will be true to what we said we would do. that we would respect what the voters told us to do. i will give way. he talks about members of parliament elected in the last election to deliver brexit and reneging on that promise. at second

reading, did he notice at 217 labour mps reading, did he notice at 217 labour m ps voted reading, did he notice at 217 labour mps voted at second reading. had they voted for it they could have amended it to see it change direction in the way that they would like but they voted to stop brexit. my like but they voted to stop brexit. my honourable friend makes a good point. i would say to the right honourable gentleman, the leader of the opposition, if he wants to take no deal off the table, there are two simple ways to do that. either vote for a deal and let allah secure a smooth exit from the eu, or vote for a general election, and if he wins it, he can then take no deal off the table. —— and let as secure a smooth exit from the eu. they are afraid of the british people, they are afraid they will lose seats and we will be in government. mr speaker, i will be supporting this motion tonight, because i believe my sadly, that

this house has lost all legitimacy. we have lost the trust of the british people and the only way to recover that is to have an election, for this house to be dissolved as soon as possible, to have an election and that the british people election and that the british people elect a parliament that they can trust to represent them. sammy wilson. the prime minister has claimed that anyone who does not support his demand for an early election is first of all trying to stop brexit, and secondly, is running scared of the electorate. cani running scared of the electorate. can i say, mr speaker, we will not be supporting this motion tonight? but not because we are scared of the electorate. in fact, but not because we are scared of the electorate. infact, i but not because we are scared of the electorate. in fact, i can tell you the unionist electorate in northern ireland are so angry, so despairing, so bewildered that the way in which the prime minister has broken his promises to the people of northern

ireland that they would return 100 dup mps if they had the option. so, we are not scared of a general election. secondly, we are not trying to stop brexit. in fact, there has been... we have been pilloried in this house because we have been seen to be the most determined people to deliver brexit. but the brexit that we have on offer is not a brexit for the united kingdom. it is a brexit for part of the uk. it leaves northern ireland still within the single market. it leaves northern ireland still under the customs code of the ego. it means that there are goods coming into northern ireland from gb which will be subject to customs checks and declarations, to tariffs. it means that when we send goods to another part of our own country we

must assign export declarations, all of which add costs and delays to the economy of northern ireland, or put a huge imposition on small firms, thousands of small firms, that currently trade freely with the rest of the uk, and certainly will find themselves having to treat the country to which they belong as a third country when it comes to trade. and despite what the prime minister has said, the withdrawal agreement makes it quite clear that we will not be able to take part in trade deals which our country does with other parts of the world. if they go against the protocols within they go against the protocols within the agreement. i will give way.” thank my honourable friend for giving way. would he agree that the issues between the additional bureaucracy for business between northern ireland and great britain, and great britain and northern ireland, is all the more stark when you look at the statistics which

show that northern ireland trades more with great britain than with the republic of ireland, the european union and the rest of the world put together? so, to put a barrier to our biggest market by far is hugely significant for the economy of northern ireland. yes, sometimes test —— statistics can go over peoples heads, but let us remember that it goes against the promises made by both the former prime minister and the current prime minister, there will be no impediments of trade between our pa rt impediments of trade between our part of the uk and gp. and also that there would be no danger of the union being imperilled. i will give way. would he accept that this dreadful border town they rac would be avoided the whole of the uk left the customs union and left the single market, which i think his party has always supported? another prime minister has gone back on that

and abandon that, with his party be prepared to accept the entire of the uk during the transition period staying in the customs union and staying in the customs union and staying within the single market, meaning the whole thing can be negotiated over the next few years for the transition period? that would rescue ulster from for the transition period? that would rescue ulsterfrom this for the transition period? that would rescue ulster from this absurd position which has been proposed to put these barriers between northern ireland and the rest of the uk. and, of course, the member will know that it is only half of the answer because we are still led —— left with this agreement within the rules of the single market, still subject to the european court ofjustice making adjudication about whether or not we adhere to those rules and still subject to the eu being able to deny the united kingdom government in imposing changes which are made in the law, here in westminster, to northern ireland. so, mr speaker, there are very good reasons why we opposed this deal.

and the motion before us tonight does not offer any hope of any change. in fact, does not offer any hope of any change. infact, if does not offer any hope of any change. in fact, if anything, does not offer any hope of any change. infact, ifanything, it does not offer any hope of any change. in fact, if anything, it is the prime minister... the prime minister is quite openly saying, by the way, i now want democratic unionist party mps to vote for the passage of the bill which would facilitate this agreement, which would have such detrimental effects on northern ireland. we do not want to have accelerated passage, we do not want to have 24—hour scrutiny. we wa nt not want to have 24—hour scrutiny. we want to make sure that there is nothing happens in this house which enables the prime minister to deliver on a deal which he promised he would never ever do! and the second thing, of course, is that if he gets his general election, as he made clear to my honourable friend

from north antrim, what platform will he be standing on?! what mandate will he be seeking? what strategy will he be putting forward in that election. what will be in his manifesto that he wants to come back here with a majority to deliver the death due to the union in northern ireland ? the death due to the union in northern ireland? now, that is on offer, accelerated passage of a bill that would facilitate this agreement, and an election which the prime minister would use to justify breaking his promises to the people of northern ireland. that is an offer which we can refuse and will be quite happy to do so. because whilst we want to see brexit delivered, we want to see it delivered, we want to see it delivered for the whole of the uk. we wa nt delivered for the whole of the uk. we want to see it delivered in the form that the prime minister, three times, or twice because he changed his mind the third time, twice voted for in this house. and we will not

be prepared to facilitate him moving the goalposts affecting northern ireland in this way. and for that reason, whilst we do not fear a general election, whilst we want to see brexit delivered, if it is not going to be delivered for the whole of the uk, then i do not think that anyone in this house could possibly condemn us for standing up for our constituents. 0ur constituents who will be damaged economically, our constituents who will be damaged constitutionally... i will give way. iam very constitutionally... i will give way. i am very grateful. he has been extreme are generous. can i put it to him that if we were to have... 0k, to him that if we were to have... ok, you are watching our live coverage from the house of commons, as the debate continues over prime minister borisjohnson as the debate continues over prime minister boris johnson cost—mac motion to call an early general election. we have just motion to call an early general election. we havejust been hearing from sammy wilson of the dup. we going to cross to my colleague,

geeta guru—murthy at college green at westminster. you can continue to watch our coverage also on bbc parliament. welcome to westminster. we are bringing you special live coverage to viewers around the world, bbc world and on the news channel. we will bring you special continued coverage of the debate that the government has brought today pushing for a december the 12th election. at the moment, it looks as though the government is not going to win that vote, but there is speculation that it could bring another vote this week, possibly tomorrow, to try and bring a december the 9th election, and that could get wider support from the lib dems, the snp and even possibly from the labour party, yet to be confirmed. we have seen boris johnson opened the