MPS TO VOTE ON EU EXIT TODAY
Drama as May lays down challenge to whining Remoaners
MPs will today vote in a historic “Brexit Day” after Theresa May challenged them to respect the wishes of the people.
Opposition parties and Tory rebels will be asked to commit to Article 50 being triggered by March 31 next year, which will start the process of Britain leaving the European Union.
It comes after 40 Tory Remoaner MPs, led by former minister Anna Soubry, threatened to rebel and back a Labour motion calling for the Government to publish its Brexit plan in a bid to delay the negotiations.
The Prime Minister and senior cabinet members turned the tables in stunning fashion last night with an amendment to Labour’s motion.
“This is Brexit Day for Parliament,” Leave campaigner John Longworth said.
“If MPs do their democratic duty in backing this amendment, it will be morally impossible
for them to go back on it if another vote is required before the end of March.”
The move effectively invites MPs to put up or shut up. The Government amendment will agree to publish a Brexit plan but Parliament would also vote to trigger Article 50.
Today’s vote is officially symbolic and not legally binding. But it would be an irreversible authorisation to begin the process of leaving the European Union, even if the current Supreme Court appeal rules that MPs must vote on Brexit plans.
Tory backbencher Peter Bone agreed with Mr Longworth, who is co-chairman of Leave Means Leave.
He said: “The Government should be congratulated on taking this big step.
Oppose
“If it is accepted then Parliament will have spoken and will have agreed to trigger article 50. It will be virtually impossible to go back on that.”
Brexit MPs also want to ensure there is a named vote, so members who oppose Britain’s democratic will can be identified.
The amendment points out MPs have already unanimously accepted in a vote in October that the Government should not have preconditions in negotiating and ministers will publish an outline plan.
But crucially it adds that “this House will respect the wishes of the United Kingdom as expressed in the referendum on 23 June and further calls on the Government to invoke Article 50 by 31 March.”
A Downing Street source said: “Crucially, from our perspective, it’s making sure that Parliament is very clear they are not going to use this as a delaying method.
“So it’s now down to MPs to signal that they also want to get on with Brexit by supporting our position, which is the Government should invoke (Article 50) by the end of March next year.”
The Government also made it clear that the vote will not commit it to specific demands – for example for the UK to stay in the single market, continue to accept open borders or pay Brussels billions every year.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister herself has been clear on this that we will set out our plans in due course. That remains the position. What we have said is we won’t be showing our negotiating hand until we have to.
“We have not suggested we wouldn’t set out the position. And that is what the amendment goes to.”
The vote comes as Supreme Court judges continue to hear the case about whether there should be a vote
in parliament ahead of triggering Article 50. If they decide a simple vote by MPs is enough, today’s vote will mean that the legal requirements may have been fulfilled.
But if they decide legislation is needed the Government is confident that a short bill confirming the amendment vote would quickly pass.
Senior Tory MP Steve Baker said: “I think the result will be material to the case but it would be going too far to say it makes the case redundant.”
He added: “Every MP should respect the result by voting with the Government for this excellent amendment.”
Last night Labour appeared to be on the verge of ending uncertainty over its position by accepting the amendment.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer claimed victory last night.
Climbdown
He said: “This is a welcome and hugely significant climbdown from the Government.
“For the last two months Labour have been pushing the Government to put their plan for Brexit before Parliament and the public.
“The Government have now agreed to publish that plan and to do so before Article 50 is invoked.
“Labour will hold the Government to account on this.”
With Labour set to accept the amendment, the Lib Dems and Tory rebels will be left isolated.
Meanwhile Mrs May, speaking in Bahrain, insisted her Brexit timescale will not be thrown off-track by the Supreme Court appeal.
She said: “I’m clear that what the Government will be delivering is the will of the British people.”
“Parliament will have opportunities to have its say. We will be triggering Article 50 by the end of March.”