Brexit crunch time

MAY FACES SHOWDOWN WITH DIVIDED PARLIAMENT Seeking to overturn legislation amendments made by House of Lords.

After a rollercoaster week of Brexit rows within her government and with Brussels, British Prime Minister Theresa May will tomorrow seek to avoid another setback in a showdown with parliament.

MPs in the House of Commons will vote on a string of amendments to a key piece of Brexit legislation that could force the government’s hand in negotiations with the European Union (EU).

Over hours of debate tomorrow and on Wednesday, May will seek to overturn changes made by the unelected House of Lords to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which sets the legal framework for Brexit.

Flashpoints include proposals to increase the power of parliament to decide on the final deal, and others seeking to keep Britain closely aligned with the EU’s economy after it leaves the bloc.

May said the Lords had gone “far beyond” their scrutiny role in trying to amend the bill to “tie the government’s hands in the negotiations”, and urged MPs to overturn the changes.

The Conservative government is seeking to overturn 14 of the 15 Lords amendments and appears confident of success on most.

One in danger of not being overturned is the so-called meaningful vote amendment, which would give parliament the power to decide what to do if it rejects the final Brexit deal.

The government may also lose a vote on membership of the EU’s customs union, but this may not have much practical impact due to the way it is drafted.

Another on joining the European Economic Area (EEA) – the single market – will likely fall because the main opposition Labour Party opposes it.

The very fact that such discussions are being held, however, is viewed by those who favour a “softer” Brexit that momentum is on their side. They point out that talk of staying economically aligned to the EU was widely dismissed a year ago.

Eurosceptics who want a clean break with the EU are increasingly worried.

As May presides over a divided government and country, and with no parliamentary majority, every part of the process has been bumpy. But this week’s turmoil reflects an increasingly febrile atmosphere in Westminster, as pressure builds for a deal by October ahead of Britain’s withdrawal in March next year. – AFP