Boris Johnson news - live: PM will give MPs more time to debate Brexit deal if they agree to Christmas election

DUP urges government for ‘honesty’ over Brexit deal

As Brexit secretary faces questions in the Commons about the PM’s Brexit deal, the DUP’s Westminster leader Nigel Dodds said: “Let’s have a bit of clarity and honesty in this House. The fact of the matter is this will adversely affect the most important trade that we have.”

He added: “You are really in danger here of causing real problems with the Belfast Agreement, with the St Andrew’s Agreement, the political institutions and political stability in Northern Ireland by what you are doing to the unionist community.

“Please wake up and realise what is happening here. We need to get our heads together here and look at a way forward that can solve this problem. Don’t plough ahead regardless, I urge you.”

Tory MP and chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare said: “If the Government are serious about trying to sell this proposal to the communities of Northern Ireland, then they are doomed to failure.”

He urged Barclay to produce draft documents about border requirements to offer more clarity about “very legitimate concerns” about what will happen.

Barclay said there will be time for consultations with businesses in Northern Ireland.

Jacob Rees-Mogg says Boris Johnson ‘always tells the truth’

The Commons’ leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, speaking in the House, has confirmed that the withdrawal agreement bill will not be part of government next week.

Despite everyone being aware the EU are considering an extension, indeed Donald Tusk has said he has recommended an extension to the EU27 ambassadors, Rees-Mogg claimed that we could still leave the EU on 31 October.

“Her Majesty’s government does not want an extension and it is making every preparation to leave on the 31st of October.”

Asked about the “paused” Brexit bill, Rees-Mogg turned all Scarlet Pimpernel-ish and said: “They seek it here, they seek it there, those parliamentarians seek it everywhere. Is it in heaven? Or is it in hell? That damned elusive Brexit bill.”

Asked about Boris Johnson and truth-telling, Rees-Mogg said: “The prime minister always tells the truth.”

Jacob Rees-Mogg speaking in the House 

Peter Bone suggests PM ignores parliament an agree treaty with EU

Tory MP Peter Bone has made a fairly wild suggestion in the House, asking Rees-Mogg if the prime minister couldn’t “just go to Brussels” and sign a Brexit deal treaty and worry about parliament ratifying it afterwards.

Rees-Mogg replies: “My right honourable friend makes an intriguing point – the problem that it wouldn’t work, as I understand it, is that the treaty needs to be given effect in UK law for it to have effect from 1 November … and therefore what he suggests is intriguing I don’t think it would achieve its objective.”

NHS England secures agreement for full access to cystic fibrosis drugs

NHS England has announced it has secured an agreement with pharmaceutical company Vertex to give NHS patients full access to cystic fibrosis drugs Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco, writes our political editor Andrew Woodcock.

There is no cap on patient numbers, and around 5,000 people are expected to be able to use the treatments free on the NHS. Clinicians will be able to begin prescribing these drugs within 30 days.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman described the development as “positive news” for cystic fibrosis patients which would improve thousands of lives and deliver “great value for money for the NHS”.

He added: “It comes on the back of a lot of hard work from the government and some very hard work by campaigners as well.”

NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said: “The UK has the second highest prevalence of cystic fibrosis of any country in the world, so today is an important and long hoped for moment for children and adults living with cystic fibrosis.”

Tory MP calls parliament ‘dead parrot’

Conservative MP Charles Walker has been making the argument for a pre-Christmas election, saying “this parliament is finished … we can’t go on like this”.

John Bercow has not selected Lib Dem amendment on referendum

As we’ve been reporting, Jo Swinson and her Lib Dem MPs had put forward an amendment to the Queen’s Speech which would ensure a second Brexit referendum.

But the Speaker John Bercow has decided not to select it – choosing amendments by Jeremy Corbyn and Ian Blackford related to the government’s agenda instead.

Labour backbencher says election should come after Brexit gets ‘sorted’

Labour MP Lucy Powell doesn’t sound very keen on a pre-Christmas election.

“There’s still an opportunity for the Brexit bill to be brought back before us and I think that might be a more orderly thing to do … I personally think that bot the main political parties need to have an election after Brexit is sorted.”

She conceded: “If parliament still can’t resolved [the bill] … then we’ll have an election.”

Labour whips are said to have told the Labour leader he may not have enough votes among his own MPs to consent to an election he claims to want once no deal is “off the table”.

Remember, under the Fixed Term Parliament Act, two-third of MPs need to vote to call an early election. Up to 140 Labour MPs could vote against him, according to Newsnight.

Tory MP ‘pleads’ with Polish PM to veto Brexit extension

Conservative MP Daniel Kawczynski, who was born in Poland, has written to Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki asking him to veto an extension to the October 31 Brexit deadline.

“By trying to frustrate, block and prevent Brexit, the elitist cabal of Remainers in Parliament are violating the democratic ideals that are so vital and precious for both the UK and Poland,” he wrote.

“It simply is not in your interest to allow the dither and delay to continue, as it surely would under yet another extension of Article 50.”

PM calls unscheduled political meeting of his cabinet 

Boris Johnson has called an unscheduled political meeting of his cabinet at 3pm today, sparking speculation that he is preparing a fresh bid to force a general election, writes political editor Andrew Woodcock.

Under the terms of fixed-term parliaments legislation, Mr Johnson would have to table an election motion by the end of today in order to force a vote in the Commons on Monday and secure a national vote in the first week of December.

But he faces likely opposition from Labour, which may block him from securing the two-thirds majority he needs for an early poll. Mr Johnson has previously indicated he will wait to hear what sort of a Brexit extension the EU is willing to offer before deciding whether to go for an election or try to force his Brexit plan through the Commons.

'Time border' could exist between Northern Ireland and Great Britain after Brexit, minister admits

A "time border" between Northern Ireland and Great Britain could exist after Brexit due to EU proposals to end seasonal clock changes, a government minister has admitted.

It comes as EU member states consult on plans to scrap mandatory daylight saving times – a move that could result in the end of twice-yearly clock changes across the continent. 

Instead, the draft directive, backed by the European parliament earlier this year, will provide countries with an option between a permanent summer, or winter time.

Last year, Jean Claude-Juncker said: "We carried out a survey, millions responded and believe that in future, summer time should be year-round, and that's what will happen."