Parliament returns from summer recess today. A cross-party group of MPs are expected to put forward legislation designed to avoid a no-deal Brexit on 31 October 2019. MPs will first submit an application to the Speaker for an emergency debate and will then have three minutes to make the application. The Speaker will make a ruling and decide on a time for debate, which is expected to be tomorrow.
If successful, the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill 2019 will allow the Government until 19 October 2019 to present a revised deal to the House of Commons for its approval. If a majority of MPs do not ratify a deal, the Government must seek an extension to Article 50 until 31 January 2019. If the EU offers an extension to this effect, the Prime Minister must agree. If the European Council proposes an extension for a different date, the Prime Minister must accept within two days, unless that extension has been rejected by the House of Commons. The full draft wording of the Bill can be viewed here. If the Speaker allows the Bill to be debated, it appears there is a majority of MPs who would support it.
The Prime Minister has consistently said he would not extend Brexit beyond 31 October 2019. Reports suggest that if the Government is defeated over the European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 6) Bill, the Government will table a motion to trigger a general election on 14 October 2019. However, this motion would require the support of two-thirds of all MPs and at present it is not clear that Labour would vote for it before an extension to Article 50 is secured.