Clear the Lobby: What laws are MPs voting on this week? – w/c 14th October

Welcome to our weekly feature courtesy of Sebastian Salek, the brains behind Clear the Lobby, working to bring you all the laws MPs are voting on this week, and explained in plain English!

I’ve got to be straight with you. There aren’t any bills in Parliament this week.

But there’s so much important stuff going on I just couldn’t leave you hanging.

Queen’s Speech

It all kicks off with the Queen’s Speech on Monday. We’ll hear what laws the government is planning for this parliamentary session.

The BBC has a good write-up of what’s thought to be unveiled, including plans to end freedom of movement, introduce a points-based immigration system, scrap rail franchising, and create an independent NHS investigations body.

MPs debate the Queen’s Speech until Thursday, then there’s a vote. Boris Johnson doesn’t have a majority, so there’s a high chance the government loses. (The last time it happened was in 1924.) If that happens, expect more calls from the opposition for Johnson’s resignation.

EU summit

The EU summit takes place on Thursday and Friday. This is when leaders had hoped to sign off on a Brexit deal. Both the UK and EU were making positive noises about reaching an agreement last week, but talks continued over the weekend.

If Johnson can’t agree something with Brussels and get it through Parliament by Saturday, the Benn Act requires him to request a delay.

Saturday sitting in Parliament

There’s a special sitting of Parliament, the first on a Saturday since 1982.

If there is a deal, MPs could be asked to vote on it. There are also rumblings that pro-remain MPs could try to force a vote on a second referendum, but the Guardian reports Labour isn’t keen on attaching one to any Johnson deal.

Grab your headphones

I recently started presenting Bloomberg Westminster, a radio programme that wants to be your daily guide to British politics.

There’s also a podcast that drops on weekday afternoons in time for your commute home. Click here to listen if you’re an Apple Podcasts user. Otherwise, just search “Bloomberg Westminster” in your podcasts app.

On Friday we spoke to Tim Bale, politics professor at Queen Mary University of London, who gave us his take on this crazy week ahead. You can listen to that here.

Have a great week.

LAST WEEK’S VOTES

Passed

• Census (Return Particulars and Removal of Penalties) Act – became law

Not passed

• • Nurse Staffing Levels Bill – got killed because of new parliamentary session