Boris Johnson pens passionate letter to Sun readers in last-ditch bid to get dithering MPs behind his deal today
BORIS Johnson today urges MPs to vote for his Saturday night leaver deal, saying: “We can get Brexit done.”
The PM has written an open letter to Sun readers in a bid to appeal to Tory and Labour MPs dithering over the crunch vote.
Dear Sun Reader...
So, dear Sun reader, why should your MP vote with me today?
First — and we must never forget this — it is our chance as democrats to finally do as we promised: to implement the result of the 2016 referendum, and go some way to restoring your trust in our politics.
But it’s also a great deal for every part of our country.
It means that we in the UK can come out of the EU as one United Kingdom — England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, together, and it means we can decide our future together.
We can take back control of our money, our borders, our laws together. And we will be able to do free trade agreements around the world that have the potential to create thousands of jobs and to reduce your weekly bills.
At the same time, we will be able to give our own domestic guarantees to maintain the highest possible standards, both for workers’ rights and for environmental protections.
This is the right thing for you and the right thing for our country.
I ask everyone to cast their mind forward to the end of today — and imagine what it could be like if the new Brexit deal has been approved.
In less than two weeks, on October 31, we would be out of the EU.
A difficult, divisive and – yes – painful chapter in our history would be at an end.
MPs would be freed up to deliver on your priorities — the things than can change your daily lives for the better.
Getting money to the NHS frontline. Investing in our schools and driving up standards. Building more houses. Massively boosting infrastructure.
Levelling up so every person in every corner of the UK can make the most of their potential. Creating better jobs, with higher wages.
Today is a chance for us to start to bring the country back together again.
On your behalf, we at Westminster need to take it.
We need to get Brexit done.
The PM launched a “love bomb” offensive to woo MPs before today’s Super Saturday vote.
He is around 25 short of the 320 MPs he needs to seal the deal.
Labour Brexiteers who back it have been warned by Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell that they face “consequences”.
Today’s drama also saw:
- A REBEL Tory plot to force Mr Johnson to seek an extension, even if his vote passes;
- AN amendment tabled by Tory Oliver Letwin demanding a further postponement to January 31;
- LABOUR Remainers make a new bid for a second referendum;
- EU leaders leave the door open to a third extension should Boris’s deal be rejected;
- THE Democratic Unionist Party pile pressure on Eurosceptic MPs to join them in opposing the deal;
- REMAINERS lose a challenge in Scotland’s highest civil court that the proposed deal breaches UK law by leaving Northern Ireland in a separate customs arrangement.
Meanwhile a YouGov poll found that 41 per cent of voters want MPs to back the deal.
Just 24 per cent want a defeat. The rest “don’t know”.
Two thirds of Leave voters gave the blueprint the thumbs-up. Just 10 per cent want it thrown out.
And 24 per cent of Remainers say back the deal.
Leavers prefer the agreement to a No Deal by 48 per cent to 33.
In all, 71 per cent of Tory voters back it, and only nine per cent think MPs should vote it down.
MOST READ IN BREXIT
Chris Curtis, at YouGov which polled 1,609 adults, said: “So far this deal has been well received by the public.
“Unlike when Theresa May brought back her initial deal, Boris Johnson has managed to win over the support of many Leave voters who previously favoured No Deal.
“Even some Remain voters want to get this over the line.
“However, when it comes to the deal’s details almost half don’t yet have an opinion on how good it is.”
Boris has also unveiled a fresh workers’ rights package in a last-ditch love-bombing of Labour MPs to get tomorrow's crunch Brexit vote over the line.
The PM also promised to protect current EU environment standards by enshrining animal welfare and climate change regulations in UK law to ensure they are not lowered after Brexit.
Among the concessions designed to win over wavering Labour MPs, No10 pledged to hold a legally-binding vote on the final EU trade deal the UK strikes with the EU.
It effectively gives MPs a veto on any move to depart from EU standards on workers’ rights and environmental standards.
The three-pronged announcement came late last night after Downing Street embarked on a final 24-hour charm offensive of wavering Labour MPs who represent Leave constituencies.
Eight Labour MPs have today declared or told The Sun they will vote for the deal.
But No10 hoped the three-pronged move would be enough to win over around a dozen extra Labour MPs and independents that the PM needs to win today’s crucial Commons vote on his deal.
In the package are commitments to improve unfair dismissal protections by reducing the qualifying period from two years to one year, and also to tighten up employee terms and conditions following a business takeover.
WIN OVER WAVERING LABOUR MPS
And the PM also offered assurances on animal welfare standards - promising not to allow UK farmers to be undercut by unfair competition from countries such as the US through lower standards such as chlorinated chicken in post-Brexit trade deals.
But Labour MPs were being threatened with deselection by Momentum boss Jon Lansman if they vote for the PM’s deal today.
At the same time as love-bombing Labour MPs the Government was fiercely lobbying the 28 hardline Brexiteer MPs who voted against Theresa May’s deal on all three occasions.
They fear the deal won’t pass unless they reduce the number among these so-called ‘Spartans’ to fewer than two or three. As of last night there were 17 who had yet to declare or give any indication which way they will vote.
The Brexiteer ERG group of Tory MPs will hold a final meeting in Parliament this morning to decide which way to go.
The PM was also counting on 20 of the ex-Tory rebels he sacked to back his deal but despite winning the majority over there were still up to six - including Philip Hammond - who had yet to confirm they would back the deal.
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