Your morning briefing, Wednesday 23 October
23 October 2019, 06:00
Good morning, here are the main stories you are waking up to today.
Brexit legislation approved - but extension requested
There was both good and bad news for Boris Johnson in the Commons last night.
MPs approved the prime minister's Brexit legislation on its first hurdle through Parliament. The Brexit bill passed by 329 votes to 299 - a majority of 30.
But just minutes later MPs rejected to pass the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in three days, voting instead for a Brexit delay.
MPs voted by 322 to 308 to defeat Mr Johnson's proposed timetable. Opposition MPs say they need more time to consider the Brexit conditions.
The prime minister reluctantly had to hit pause on his plans to leave the EU by the 31st October, and has requested an extension from the EU.
Donald Tusk will recommend three month Brexit delay
EU Chief Donald Tusk has said he will recommend EU member states accept Boris Johnson's request for a three month extension to Brexit.
If the bloc comply with Mr Johnson's forced letter asking for Brexit to be delayed, it would mean the UK will remain in the EU until 31 January.
A No.10 source told Sky News that if a Brexit extension is agreed, the Government will push for a general election.
Met Office issues 'danger to life' warning
Ahead of 36 hours of rain set to fall this weekend, the Met Office has warned of flooding, power cuts and severe transport disruption on Friday and Saturday.
The first yellow warning covers most of Wales, and the second covers much of the North of England across Manchester and Newcastle.
UK lifts ban on direct flights to Sharm el Sheikh
Britain has lifted a ban on direct flights to Sharm el Sheikh four years after an Islamic State bombing of a Russian airliner killed 224 people and triggered a prohibition.
Tourism is a particularly important part of Egypt's economy, particularly at beach resorts like Sharm el Sheikh, and the Egyptian government had been pushing for Britain to end the ban sooner.
