Commons Recess Starts Today, But Still Prospect Of Recall For Brexit Deal

The release of the House of Commons order paper last night, which confirmed that the Leader of the House of Commons will announce that the Christmas recess begins at the conclusion of today's business, saw a flurry of headlines indicating that this may be a hint that a Brexit deal is not in the offing, with MPs being told to return home until after the new year.

• However, the gov't has the ability to ask the Speaker to recall the House in the event of an issue of national importance arising, which a prospective Brexit deal would certainly count as.
• The decision to begin recess this evening may be more of an indication that a deal might take until the weekend to reach, rather than today or tomorrow.
• Leader of the House Jacob Rees-Mogg delivers the adjournment motion in the House today after statements from ministers, and there could be an indication in there of whether the gov't is already preparing for a recall. Health secretary Matt Hancock and Communities secretary Robert Jenrick are both due to deliver statements from 1130GMT, so it could be a little later in the afternoon before Rees-Mogg speaks.