Monday evening news briefing: Speaker John Bercow blocks meaningful vote on Brexit deal

Chris Price
Speaker John Bercow addressing the House of Commons on Monday - REUTERS
Speaker John Bercow addressing the House of Commons on Monday - REUTERS

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Speaker rejects bid for meaningful vote on Brexit deal today

It was widely expected. In the last hour, the Speaker, John Bercow, has rejected the Government's bid to hold a meaningful vote on the Prime Minister's Brexit deal in the House of Commons today. He said it "would be repetitive and disorderly to do so", after Parliament supported Sir Oliver Letwin's amendment on Saturday. That forced Boris Johnson to halt his meaningful vote until all Brexit legislation had passed and instead seek an Article 50 extension from the EU. With Mr Johnson still hoping to get his deal through Parliament in the next few days, Asa Bennett sets out the obstacles which may leave him with no option but to delay Brexit. For a complete nuts-and-bolts summary of how all of the Parliamentary shenanigans affects Britain's EU departure, Tony Diver has the piece which answers all your questions. And Daniel Capurro outlines the major political events due to take place in the coming days.

All of this has a knock-on effect for proceedings across Europe, where the European Parliament has this afternoon said it will not vote on ratifying the Brexit deal on Thursday in Strasbourg as planned. Europe Editor Peter Fosterhas written this excellent summary of what the EU is really thinking about the Brexit extension and MPs' actions in Parliament. Increasingly frustrated, Emmanuel Macron, once the blue-eyed boy of Brussels, is looking more and more like the EU's bad pupil. Brussels Correspondent James Crisp reveals how Brexit has exposed an EU power struggle, with French President Mr Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel pulling in opposite directions.

Footballers' increased chances of Alzheimer's disease revealed

Ex-professional footballers are 3.5 times more likely to suffer with dementia and other serious neurological diseases, according to landmark new research that was funded by the Football Association and the Professional Footballers' Association. The 22-month study by the Glasgow Brain Injury Research Group followed The Telegraph’s successful campaign for research into the prevalence of dementia among former players. It confirms the fears of families who have long suspected a link between devastating brain injury and football, whether through repetitive heading or collisions. Read on for the details.

GCHQ's secret site in Scarborough's role in Cuban missile crisis

It was described by staff as dank and often smelly. Yet today the pivotal role in the Cuban missile crisis played by a secret outpost of GCHQ in Scarborough has been revealed. The task of the tiny bunker on the North Yorkshire coast had been to monitor the Soviet Baltic fleet and merchant shipping in the northern hemisphere. In 1962 this somewhat unglamorous job for Britain's cyber spy agency was thrust into the centre of world affairs as tensions between the West and the Soviet Union threatened to escalate into nuclear war. Defence and Security Correspondent Dominic Nicholls has the story.

News digest

Video: William 'worried' for Harry after TV interview

The Duke of Cambridge has been left concerned for the wellbeing of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it is claimed, after the couple told a television audience of millions of their personal unhappiness and a rift in the Royal family. The Duke is said to be "worried" about his younger brother, who on Sunday night publicly confirmed the siblings are on "different paths" and spending less time together. It comes after the Duchess of Sussex has spoken of her attempts to adopt the "British stiff upper lip" under the media spotlight. Read the full story here.

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World news: The one story you must read today...

Aboard a US aircraft carrier | A few hundred miles off the western coast of the Philippines, the roar of American warplanes punctuates the air. The USS Ronald Reagan is carrying out drills above the South China Sea, a 1.4 million-square-mile expanse of deep blue at the heart of a slow-brewing dispute between the US and China. But the action does not go unnoticed. China Correspondent Sophia Yan describes the work of the aircraft carrier, which has prompted accusations from Beijing that the US is "flexing its muscles" in Chinese territory.

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Business and money briefing

Takeover interest | Shares in Capital & Counties, the owner of Earls Court and Covent Garden, jumped to their highest level in almost a year today after property developer Nick Candy confirmed he was considering a bid to acquire the firm. His company said discussions are in their early stages. Details here.

Sport briefing

Rugby World Cup | After a superb performance against Australia, can England win against New Zealand in their semi-final on Saturday? Charlie Morgan outlines six things they must do to beat the All Blacks.

Jamie Roberts | Vahaamahina should be in criminal court after crazy elbow

Brian Moore | The best four teams will contest World Cup semi-finals

Man Utd | How Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's tactical tweaks kept Liverpool quiet

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Nothing to marvel at | The director of The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola, has joined Martin Scorsese's attack on Marvel films, calling them "despicable". The remarks are part of a growing debate among filmmakers about the merits of superhero films, which Scorsese likened to "theme parks". Read on for details.

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