The Labour Party leader is speaking in the House of Commons during an emergency debate on Brexit as ministers prepare for tonight’s crunch vote that could block the UK leaving the European Union with a no deal Brexit. Jeremy Corbyn said: “I understand there are people from all sides of the house under a great deal of pressure in what is regrettably an extremely volatile political climate. But if you truly trust in what all the analysis shows, including the Government’s own analysis, if you believe in what the experts say, but you understand that a no deal Brexit would be disastrous for this country, then you must act now.
“With that in mind, I want to pay tribute to those showing the political courage to stand up for what they believe in and bring this debate to the House.
“The bullying and threats to MPs from their own side is unprecedented.
“Let me offer you words of advice – standing by your principles doesn’t always damage your future prospects.”
But Conservative MP for Basildon and Billericay John Baron warned Mr Corbyn to be “careful with his selection of evidence” over the negative impacts Brexit has had on the UK.
Brexit news: Jeremy Corbyn was attacked for refusing to admit positives from Brexit (Image: PARLIAMENTLIVE.TV)
Brexit news: John Baron warned Jeremy Corbyn to be ‘careful with his selection of evidence’ (Image: PARLIAMENTLIVE.TV)
He claimed the “doom and gloom” scenarios made by the likes of the Treasury, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Bank of England have so far been wrong.
Mr Baron replied: “Can I suggest that he is careful with his selection of evidence?
“The Treasury, the IMF and the Bank of England all made predictions of doom and gloom.
“We voted to leave in 2016, and they said there would be economic disaster by December 2016. They were all wrong.
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Brexit news: Jeremy Corbyn urged those believing to a no deal Brexit to ‘act now’ (Image: PARLIAMENTLIVE.TV)
“What has happened since is there has been record employment, record manufacturing output and record investment in the full knowledge that no deal is better than a bad deal.”
Mr Corbyn only offered a short reply, claiming that only “flis in the face” of all the facts that are being regularly published.
He said: “I thank the Right Honourable Member for that intervention but the only problem is it flies in the face of all facts published day in, day out.
“The value of the pound is falling. The manufacturing industry is falling.”
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Brexit news: John Baron claimed the ‘doom and gloom’ predictions made did not materialise (Image: PARLIAMENTLIVE.TV)
Boris Johnson faces a crunch evening, with Remainer rebels voting on a motion that is aimed at blocking a no deal Brexit.
MPs forming a cross-party alliance in the House of Commons with the motion, introduced by veteran MP Hillary Benn and signed by several Remainers including Philip Hammond, David Gauke and Nick Boles.
Tory MPs voting against the Prime Minister had been warned they would lose the whip and would not be able to stand as a Conservative in the next general election.
The Prime Minister has insisted he is working hard to strike a deal with the European Union and find a compromise to the Irish backstop, which has been central in the current Brexit deal been voted down three times in Parliament already.
Brexit news: The Tory MPs who could lose their jobs if they side with Remainers (Image: EXPRESS)
But he has warned Britain will leave the bloc in less than two months time, with or without an agreement in place.
A defeat for Mr Johnson would see those MPs voting to block a no deal Brexit then taking control of parliamentary business tomorrow and passing legislation which would have prevented a no-deal Brexit on October 31.
This would force the Prime Minister to ask the EU to delay Brexit until January 31, 2020 if no agreement has been reached and MPs have not approved a no deal withdrawal.
Mr Johnson would almost certainly call a snap general election to take place on October 14, which he has said he doesn’t want to happen.
Brexit news: Boris Johnson faces a crunch evening in the House of Commons (Image: PA)
The Prime Minister had suffered a huge blow just hours before tonight’s crunch vote after losing his working majority in the House of Commons.
As he addressed the House before what was to escalate into a fiery affair with Labour leader Mr Corbyn and Remainer rebels, Tory MP Phillip Lee crossed the floor and defected to the Liberal Democrats.
In his resignation letter to Mr Johnson, Mr Lee lashed out at the party and the Government specifically for it “aggressively pursuing a damaging Brexit in unprincipled ways”.
During his speech in the Commons, Mr Johnson told MPs the legislation aimed at blocking a no deal Brexit would would “force me to go to Brussels and beg an for extension” and “destroy any chance” of negotiating an agreement.
He also faced shouts of “resign” and was challenged by former Chancellor Philip Hammond to publish the UK’s new Brexit proposals.
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