Democratic way forward. Birmingham on brexit, away from the westminster bubble, im live in the westminster bubble, im live in the West Midlands to find out what people here think the developments there mean for them. Well have more from annita in birmingham and the latest on the mounting brexit crisis here at westminster. The other main stories on bbc news at 5. A man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of alfie lamb, the toddler who was crushed behind a car seat last year. The most powerful storm to hit the bahamas since records began Hurricane Dorian causes damage and severe flooding, with winds of up to 180 miles an hour. And as japan resumes whale hunting after 33 years we take a look at changing attitudes to the industry among the public. Its 5 oclock. Were live in downing street, where the cabinet is now in session its an unscheduled meeting and it takes place amid mounting speculation that the Prime Minister wants to call a general election if the government loses a key brexit vote in the commons this week. That might be the message borisjohnson will deliver to conservative mps as they gather for a reception in the garden of number ten this evening. But over at the house of commons, some conservative mps are likely to side with opposition parties to try to delay brexit again if the Prime Minister has failed to reach a new deal with the eu. Those tory mps have already been threatened with disciplinary action if they vote against the government. So tensions are running very high. As things stand, the uk is due to leave the eu on the 31st of october. Well have the latest on the brexit crisis, and well be getting different perspectives on what this week is likely to bring but first, our Political Correspondent ben wright on the day so far. Good morning, how lovely to see you on this sunny morning. Behind the bonhomie, cabinet ministers are threatening a purge of tory mps who join opposition efforts to block a no deal brexit in the commons tomorrow. So, will that stop the tory rebels . What rebels . Are there rebels . There certainly are, including conservative mps who sat in cabinet until borisjohnson took over. It seems to me like they are almost goading people into voting against the government, because i think their strategy, to be honest, is to lose this week and then seek a general election, having removed those of us who are not against brexit, not against leaving the European Union, but believe we should do so with a deal. There are just days before parliament is suspended for mps to try to pass a law that will aim to stop borisjohnson taking the uk out of the eu without a deal. Number 10 has warned conservative mps they will be kicked out of the party if they join that effort. But rebel resolve seems strong. Borisjohnson will find if he purges moderate, sensible conservatives, conservatives like me who are willing to leave with a deal, who voted for it three times, unlike him, he will pay a penalty, i think, at the ballot box. Westminster is reassembling for a seismic week, a showdown between the government and parliament that could determine how or even if brexit happens at the end of next month. And this morning, cabinet ministers said it was right to demand loyalty from conservative mps. This is the standard relationship mps have with the government. We expect conservative mps to support the conservative Prime Minister and the conservative agenda and politicians should not seek to take the authority of government away from government and hand it to the leader of the opposition. But complaints of hypocrisy adds to the tension here. Earlier this year, several tory mps now in the cabinet defied the party whip and voted against Theresa Mays Brexit deal. The numbers could be very tight in tomorrows vote, and if the Prime Minister carries out his threat to withdraw the whip from rebel tory mps, this week he would immediately wipe out his minuscule commons majority of one. And that makes an autumn general election even more likely. Sources have told the bbc there is a live discussion under way in government about possibly asking mps to approve an election as early as this week, if the law is changed to force a brexit delay. But that would need labour to vote in favour of having an election, and at the momentJeremy Corbyns focus seems to be unblocking focus seems to be on blocking a no deal brexit. We must come together to stop no deal. This week could be our last chance. We are working with other parties to do everything necessary to pull our country back from the brink. Then we need a general election. And today, the former labour Prime Minister tony blair warned Jeremy Corbyn not to fall into the elephant trap of agreeing to an election before brexit was resolved. There was another new arrival in downing street this morning, Boris Johnson has a loyal new friend. But his willingness to take britain out of the eu without a deal is fracturing the tory party and pitting the government against mps. We live in downing street, cabinet is now in session, an unscheduled meeting, we see ministers arriving in the past 15 20 minutes, there will be a reception brighter, who knows what message the Prime Minister will offer at that point . With me is our chief Political Correspondent. There will be a reception later. Where are we now, with what the strategy is and why this Cabinet Meeting is taking place right now . Its intriguing, if you think about it at the moment we have almost the entire conservative party behind that door without access to their telephones, you have to hand them in as you go through the door, so them in as you go through the door, so who knows whats coming in the next hour or so . But its clear if you think about it that Boris Johnson does not want to be forced to delay brexit. A very basic point but he has talked since becoming panellist and before that of leaving at the end of october, do or die, hes not going to change that. Since becoming Prime Minister. So i think the question is, if mps are successful in the next couple of daysin successful in the next couple of days in a changing the law, controversial thing in itself, to seize control of that house of commons, bring in a low, forcing to do some thing he doesnt want to do, how is he going to react to all of that . There is new so upset about this is that heating is its bad for his negotiating strategy with the eu. His negotiating strategy with the eu. He thinks its bad for his negotiating strategy. Heres what one mp had to say. What ive seen today listening to people like david gauke and Philip Hammond, is that they want to tie the hands of the Prime Minister. They want to push him to brussels and for boris to have to say to michel barnier, give me a deal, whatever deal youre going to give me, im going to have to accept. Well, thats not going to be a great deal for the united kingdom. So i want the Prime Minister to be able to go to the eu, to negotiate from a position of strength. And what we saw from the meeting that borisjohnson had in berlin with Angela Merkel is that she said, well, ill give you a month. Come up with a solution to the backstop between Northern Ireland and ireland. So there has been some movement in the European Union. The conservative mp, leading brexit supporter, former Deputy Speaker nigel evans, who went into number tenjust a few nigel evans, who went into number ten just a few moments ago, he sang bring it on, talking about a general election . Yes, theres been a lot of speculation about that today, in the end borisjohnson speculation about that today, in the end Boris Johnson has speculation about that today, in the end borisjohnson has a majority of one on paper. Actually his majority doesnt fully exist. How long can he go on with that . Im not sure theyre necessarily what a general election but if his choices, youre to be forced to ask for a later brexit, he simply cannot do that politically because he has nigel farage in the brexit party breathing down his neck, so its better to have a general election may be in the middle of october. But its not as easy as it used to be, a Prime Minister cantjust call a general election, yes to put it to the house of commons, there are various ways, you would normally needs two thirds of mps, labour would need to vote for it. General carbon has been calling for an election for a long time but as we heard from tony blair heating sets a trap. Corbyn has been calling for an election. The rules have been ripped appear in thats why its difficult to predict whats going to happen but even more so now. whats going to happen but even more so now. The rules had been ripped up so now. The rules had been ripped up here. Even the speaker, john bercow, has pushed rules to limit to let m ps bercow, has pushed rules to limit to let mps have their say and now downing street has decided theyre going to push the rules as well, so its hard to predict. As you say, the next hour could bring some notable news from inside number ten, Cabinet Meeting and this reception with mps, and parliamentary allies. And in terms of where it goes next, isa and in terms of where it goes next, is a key, just to help viewers with this, tomorrow, mps who are of a different persuasion will try to come as you say, grab control of the parliamentary timetable to force the Prime Minister to delay. Thats a sequence were looking at. Yes. And we thought they might do an emergency debate tomorrow and seize control and do it on wednesday, they could even do it sooner. And if you have a speaker who is willing to help mps have their say, there is no reason they couldnt start that process of a new bill tomorrow, it could even go through stages tomorrow, it does still have to go through the house of lords, thats a lwa ys through the house of lords, thats always a bit trickier, but there is always a bit trickier, but there is a huge majority against a no deal brexit there so it probably would go through. And i think all eyes on thursday are on how the Prime Minister reacts to whatever has happened, if theyre successful in changing the law. The pressure has been piled on tory mps, its changing the law. The pressure has been piled on tory mps, its huge. Theyre basically being told, you are going to be sacked, there is a general election coming up so you could be out of a job in a few weeks time. But some have said they are willing to sacrifice their careers if thats what it takes to stop a no deal because they think it would be so damaging to the uk economy, so the numbers as always will be tight. But they have done it before, they could well do it again and its all on, how eyes does Boris Johnson respond to that . The last thing he wants to do is go back to the eu, i cannot see him doing that. People still arriving for this reception, and you mentioned the mechanics of how that election might be facilitated. And under the fixed empowerment act, as you say, it needs a two thirds vote in the house of commons. Fixed term power and its. So is it kind of all down to whatJeremy Corbyn its. So is it kind of all down to what Jeremy Corbyn decides . Not all conservatives would vote for an election because they see is that her see it as a trap, carolyn lucas, the green mp saying the same thing, that she wants an election but once to stop a no deal brexit first, and thats the same conversation in the labour party. And if youre jeremy conversation in the labour party. And if youreJeremy Corbyn, you have confidence in your own ability to wina have confidence in your own ability to win a general election but others would be very concerned about a general election, it were better than predicted for the last time but they still didnt win, they be worried that borisjohnson could come back with a bigger majority and then youd get a no deal brexit so thatis then youd get a no deal brexit so that is the argument they would be having a bad weather they would vote foran having a bad weather they would vote for an election or do they prioritise stopping a no deal . The argument they be having about whether they would vote for. And there are other ways borisjohnson to getan there are other ways borisjohnson to get an election, you could bring ina to get an election, you could bring in a bill, she would only need to win by one, but then it could be amended. So it would be more risky. And from monday, thats the date from which the government could Tell Parliament to go off for five weeks. So thats the time pressure on mps, that is alarmist. They didnt think they would have to do it as quickly and they have to get together and agree on something. Thatis together and agree on something. That is enormous. I think Boris Johnson is relying on the fact that evenif johnson is relying on the fact that even if there is a confidence vote and even if he were to lose it, there would be two weeks where you would have to find another Prime Minister who does have the confidence of the house and they could be relying on the fact that actually, the opposition are divided on that as well, the liberal democrats would be very reluctant to backJeremy Corbyn as Prime Minister. So we will have to see what happens. Some people get very angry at the thought of leaks im wondering how soon will we do get a couple of bits and bobs . They have to get the phone is back first. Once its all finished, you never know, we may hear something from somewhere else before that, people going in there from all wings of the party havent seen Philip Hammond, though. He may not turn up. We are watching, we are watching. Thanks very much. Well have a word again later on. What id like to do now is bring in henry hill, assistant editor of the commentary analysis and news website conservative capital back home. Thanks forjoining us, what youre reading of whats going on today . Thanks forjoining us, what youre reading of whats going on today7m looks as if the Prime Minister is basically teeing up what is going to be perhaps the make or break of this stage of his premiership. He is going to have to face only house of commons challenged his entire brexit agenda and if he fails its likely we will end up with a snap general election. So i think the goal is, a mixture of carrot and stick. We have already seen the stick, hes going to try and maximise the amount of pressure on mps, on potential rebels to toe the line whilst at the same time trying to bring as many into the tent as possible with sort of a more positive agenda, that might be what this meeting is this evening. What youre reading, then, of the mood and whether you think and whether that kind of pressure, given the fact that we are dealing with some very the fact that we are dealing with some very senior conservatives on the who take a strong view on what they think the argument is, what is your view on how that pressure is likely to play out . The numbers in the house of commons are now so tight that pure to defeat the government in a vote, you need very few conservative rebels, really. So i think the number of pro eu or sort of anti no deal mps that we have seen suggests that even if the government, the Prime Minister has very successful effort, the number of mps that are simply standing down at the next election under this immune to the pressure of the selection means that he is running a very strong chance, i think, suffering a reversal. However we have been here before. Cooper that one, as this bill was known before, only passed by one vote previously. So it isi only passed by one vote previously. So it is i mugs game try and guess how parliamentary numbers will play out, but if i were the parliament whips id be looking at the number of opposition and the number of government rebels, and feeling nervous. In terms of the dynamics of today in terms of the cabinet, its an unscheduled meeting, what is your sense of the view among cabinet ministers as they approach this new week and theyve all returned after the summer and the way the actual political temperature has risen quite considerably in the last seven or eight days or so, whats your reading of the mood among them . Or eight days or so, whats your reading of the mood among them7m course, no one is inside the cabinet table. I think what we have seen with this cabinet, compared with theresa mays, it has proved much more united on the central tenets of the government. Theresa may famously tried to keep quite a broad Church Cabinet and as a result there were an awful lot of cabinet splits, most famously when four cabinet ministers actually defied a three line whip to abstain on commons business. Boris johnson is running a very different administration, he has made it clear that even quite eminent conservative mps who dont get with the programme can expect to be deselected, and as a result even mps like amber rudd who has not only previously been quite a strongly anti no deal candidate but has also sitting on a very small commons majority in her seat of hastings and therefore probably isnt relishing the prospect of an early election have so far toe the line and we havent seen anything out of them. Whether or not cabinet discipline will hold once we reach boiling point this week and next week remains to be seen but at the minute it appears as if the Prime Ministers authority inside the cabinet room is much stronger than his predecessors. Thanks forjoining us, good to talk to you.