Boris Johnson has the numbers to win Brexit vote TODAY but poor mans Cromwell Speaker Bercow may block it

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BORIS Johnson believes he has the numbers to pass a Brexit vote today but “poor man’s Cromwell” Bercow may block it, it emerged this morning.

The Remainer Speaker will decide later whether to let the PM hold a vote on his deal, leaving Brexit hanging in the balance.

Boris Johnson’s team think he has the numbers for a Brexit vote to pass today

Boris wants to hold a meaningful vote on Brexit today after Sir Oliver Letwin’s wrecking amendment ruined his plans on Saturday, and forced him to seek a Brexit extension from the EU.

But Mr Bercow has warned that he could oppose it, arguing that the deal has already been debated in the Commons.

On Saturday the Speaker warned that a supposed re-run of the vote would be “irregular”.

It comes as:

  • No10 warned they would pull this afternoon’s vote on a deal if the Speaker selects more wrecking amendment plots
  • Ministers confirmed that they will push through Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement Bill through this week
  • Labour MPs spoke out about the abuse they are getting for saying they will vote for a Brexit deal
  • Labour confirmed plans to bog the bill down with amendments – such as a second referendum or forcing Britain to stay in a customs union with the bloc

A vote on the Letwin amendment took place on Saturday, but a vote on Boris’ deal itself didn’t ever happen after Tory MPs stormed out of the chamber.

Tory MPs warned the Speaker to allow the vote to happen and not “abuse” his power.

No10 warned they would pull the vote if he allows more wrecking amendments like at the weekend.

They said: “There is no point in having a meaningless vote.”

Nadine Dorries tweeted: “The Speaker has jetisoned hundreds of years of tradition a number of times, in order to facilitate rebel demands.

“It will be a sad day if he chooses to abuse his power and prevent a vote on the new deal, when the public are screaming out for it.”

Another MP branded him a “poor man’s Cromwell”.

Michael Fabricant added: “The nation is crying out – and so am I – for not another groundhog week. Let democracy and Parliament be seen to work; and that means delivery at last on the EU Referendum result.”

While Rishi Sunak, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, told former Tory MP Mr Bercow to allow a vote to take plce.

Mr Sunak said MPs should be given the chance to “show that they respect the result of the referendum”.

“I think people are crying out to see that and they would find it odd if some procedural technical device meant we werent able to have that vote,” he told the BBC.

Mr Bercow is due to stand down as Speaker at the end of the month and has come under fire for a series of controversial decisions about Brexit.

He has admitted to voting Remain in the referendum and Brexiteers think he’s been biased against them.

Yesterday one of his deputies, Dame Eleanor Laing and who is running to take over from him, accused him of “straying” from the rule of law over Brexit.

NUMBERS TO WIN

If the vote is held later, the PM’s team are confident he does have the numbers to win.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told the BBC on Sunday: “We seem to have the numbers in the House of Commons.”

Up to 15 Labour MPs were reported to be on side and ready to get behind the deal – which would push it over the line.

Eight have confirmed so far they will vote for it.

Rebel MPs could also stage a repeat of Saturday’s Commons antics and amend the motion to withhold approval for Boris’ deal until ALL the legislation has been signed into law.

No10 wants to show the EU that the deal can pass so it doesn’t allow the PM another extension to Brexit.

A source said last night: “Letwin’s delay amendment turned Saturday into a meaningless vote and denied MPs and the public the chance to end the uncertainty.

“Parliament needs a straight up and down vote on the deal.”

Boris's route to beat Halloween deadline

  • Can Boris still pass his deal?Yes. The PM wants to hold a meaningful vote (MV) on his Brexit deal, after Remainer rebels torpedoed the last one by forcing a delay. But Commons Speaker John Bercow could stop the vote being called by ruling that MPs already had their say on Saturday. If a MV is held and Boris wins, then the PM would hope his Brexit legislation would quickly pass and the UK could leave on October 31.
  • What happens if Boris loses an MV, or isnt allowed to have one?Mr Johnson can still get his Brexit blueprint through by persuading enough MPs to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill, known as the WAB. The WAB is being published today and will be voted on by MPs on Tuesday. But Labour and the SNP want to hijack the Bill by tabling amendments to keep the UK in the customs union, stick to single market rules, and force another referendum.
  • Will the EU help Boris and block an extension?BoJo has been forced to write to Brussels asking for another Brexit delay. But all of the other 27 EU member states have to agree. French President Emmanuel Macron has warned he does not back another extension, and many other EU leaders are getting fed up. If they veto one then MPs will be faced with the stark choice of Boriss deal or a No Deal on October 31. Faced with that choice, the PMs deal would almost certainly pass.
  • What if MPs do not pass Boriss deal?If Boriss Brexit Bill is defeated this week then the PM is expected to try to call a snap election. Labour keep blocking an election, and many in the party are desperate to call and hold a second referendum first. But Jeremy Corbyn has suggested he will back a snap election if Brexit is delayed beyond October 31 – setting the stage for a December election.

The PM faces a parliamentary war to deliver his Brexit plan to the people this week.

But No10 believes he can keep his promise to lead Britain out of the EU by October 31, despite being forced by rebel MPs on Saturday to send a letter requesting yet another delay.

Brussels is staying tight-lipped on whether they will grant another extension until after Boris attempts further votes this week.

Ministers confirmed today the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would be published and MPs would vote on it tomorrow.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said: “This is the chance to leave the EU with a deal on October 31. If Parliament wants to respect the referendum, it must back the bill.”

However, even if Boris gets his deal through the first or second hurdles today or tomorrow, he faces a mammoth battle to push it through by the end of the week.

MPs are expected to vote on a programme motion in the coming days which will try to fast-track it through the Commons in a few days rather than weeks or months.

But once it comes to Parliament MPs are set to table dozens of amendments to it to try and water Brexit down and slow the process.

One is on the way from a second referendum, Labour figures said yesterday.

The Sun Says: Bercow must not snatch away Boris Johnsons last chance to get his Brexit deal through Parliament

IT WAS said that this miserable excuse for a Parliament might finally rally round and deliver the result of the referendum but we thought it too good to be true.

And so it has proved.

Puffed-up backbencherOliver Letwinput a dirty great spanner in the works on Saturday, givingSpeaker John Bercowthe chance to twist it byrefusing to allow MPs to vote again on the deal.

We are used to Bercow disgracing his office, but this would be a new low even for him.

The EU has given the PM 48 hours toget his deal through Parliament, and if Bercow uses a legal loophole to scupper him, it will go down in history as an act of grave constitutional vandalism.

Aided and abetted by Bercow, smug Remainer MPs have spent three years betraying the people who elected them.

With this new deal,Boris Johnsonhas given them one last, shining chance to redeem themselves.

For the sake of democracy, the Speaker must not snatch it away.

Steve Barclay urged MPs to vote to get Brexit done this week
Tory MPs including Steve Baker and Iain Duncan Smith were in No10 this morning
Jacob Rees Mogg will reveal plans to fast-track the bill through the Commons

And another amendment forcing Britain to stay in a customs union is also on the cards.

Last time the Commons voted on that, it only lost by three votes.

However, Tories would be opposed to that plan as it would mean Britain was unable to do trade deals with other countries around the world.