Speaker may block British PM’s push for Commons vote on his Brexit deal

Boris Johnson is set for a showdown with Commons Speaker John Bercow today, with the prime minister expected to push for a so-called “meaningful vote” on his Brexit deal.

It is possible that Bercow could block the government’s move, and rule that the vote cannot be repeated so soon because it effectively happened on Saturday.

Last week, the speaker had told MPs that the “apparent purpose” of Monday’s vote was to “invalidate or obviate” the effect of an amendment by Sir Oliver Letwin, which means that MPs will withhold their approval for Johnson’s deal unless and until he has passed all necessary legislation to implement it.

If Bercow does prevent Johnson from having a meaningful vote in the Commons, the focus will switch to the government bringing its Withdrawal Agreement Bill before MPs later today – with a vote on its second reading tomorrow.

Ministers have insisted that they have the numbers to push this agreement through the Commons, but the arithmetic in parliament appears to be very tight.

Via Sky News