BORIS Johnson is set to hold a “Super Saturday” vote on his Brexit deal in the Commons – with MPs potentially sitting for seven days to secure an EU exit.
The PM could challenge ministers to back his deal or back a Brexit delay when Parliament sits on a Saturday for the first time in nearly 40 years.
If the vote goes through, MPs will be forced to sit for seven days a week as Boris frantically scrambles to push legislation through the Commons and the Lords by October 31.
A source told The Times: “It’s decision time for MPs.
“They can either back the deal or back a Brexit delay.
“It will be a binary choice.”
The last time Parliament sat on a Saturday was when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982 – and would be only the forth time in 80 years.
When was the last time Parliament sat on a Saturday?
THE last Saturday sitting was when Argentina invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982.
Before that, was November 1956 amid the Suez crisis.
In July 1949, MPs also sat on a Saturday to complete a a final few items of business before the summer recess.
And in September 1939 – the day before Britain declared war on Germany – Parliament opened on a Saturday.
Boris’ plans could be thwarted though – with Remainer MPs now planning to try to force through a second referendum on whether Britain should leave the EU.
The move could lead to a rebellion by Labour MPs and members of the shadow cabinet – with Jeremy Corbyn brushing off demands for a vote on whether to hold the referendum.
Hilary Benn, the Labour MP and chairman of the Brexit select committee, said that October 19 could provide an “opportunity” for a vote on a second referendum.
BREXIT BOOST
Crunch talks are underway this weekend to break the Brexit deadline – with EU chiefs declaring a deal was possible in just days.
The EU has given the go-ahead for 48 hours of intense debate to hammer out an agreement ahead of a vital summit on Thursday.
Boris has welcomed the green light from Brussels chiefs – but admitted it is not yet a “done deal”.
The PM added: “Its important now that our negotiators on both sides get into proper talks about how to sort this thing out.”
It comes after Boris was given another Brexit boost yesterday after appearing to talk the DUP into a major climbdown.
MAJOR TALKS
The Ulster unionist party whose votes prop up thePMs minority government previously refused to accept any new customs checks down the Irish Sea.
But in what looked like a major shift last night, its bossArlene Foster refused to torpedo the plan that was brainstormed by Boris and Ireland’s Leo Varadkaron Thursday.
She only gave a stern warning to Boris that no barriers to trade are erected within the UK.
Under the dual customs regime, the province would remain within the EU’s customs orbit, collecting Brussels tariffs.
But it would formally leave the Customs Union with the rest of the UK and benefit from any new trade deals signed by an independent Britain.
The move sparked the crunch talks this weekend – with discussions focusing on a new plan to end the impasse over Northern Ireland.
Talks are now in the “tunnel” phase – which means teams have settled the main issues in principle but have to thrash out the details.
EU chiefs set a new deadline of next Tuesday afternoon for a full and workable plan to be agreed, leaving just four days for British and EU negotiators to crack it.
Brussels officials said there is virtually no chance of an agreement being ratified before October 31 but that only a short extension would be needed.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay with Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier before their meeting in Brussels
