Here we go again... vote on May deal ne
THERESA May’s Brexit deal is set to be put to MPs for a third and final time next week.
After last night’s bruising votes in the Commons, the Prime Minister set a deadline of next Wednesday for MPs to pass her deal or face the prospect of a long extension to Britain’s EU membership.
Her comments suggest Number Ten is planning for one last heave in a desperate bid to get the deal over the line.
It came as Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was said to be considering additions to his legal advice that could persuade both Brexiteer Tories and Mrs May’s DUP allies to back the proposal.
Chief whip Julian Smith held meetings with the DUP to discuss Brexit yesterday, amid widespread speculation Mr Cox could highlight a new way of the UK leaving the controversial Irish backstop – if it is seen to undermine the Good Friday Agreement.
The advice was not included in his formal letter to the Prime Minister this week. But it was mentioned briefly during exchanges on Tuesday between Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay and leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is said to be interested in the idea.
Mr Barclay said that the UK could ‘terminate’ the backstop if it was no longer ‘protecting’ the 1998 Good Friday Agreement which helped secure peace in Northern Ireland. He said: ‘The Vienna Convention permits the termination of a treaty in such circumstances.’
The Mail understands a section relating to the Vienna Convention was originally included in a paper published by the Government late on Monday night – but was taken out at the last minute after protests from Ireland.
Mr Cox’s blunt legal advice this week is blamed by some ministers for leading a number of wavering MPs to harden their opposition to the Prime Minister’s plans.
But one senior Tory Eurosceptic said they believed the fresh advice would help reassure the DUP – and Tory Brexiteers – that the backstop was not permanent, removing fears that the UK could be trapped in a customs union against its will.
‘I think that would be enough to get it over the line,’ the MP said.
A source close to the Attorney General said he would not be ‘changing’ his advice but would not rule out adding to it in some form.
Mrs May’s deal was rejected by a record 230-vote margin in January and suffered a second thumping loss on Tuesday when it was defeated by 149 votes.
The Cabinet discussed the possibility of reviving the deal yesterday, but Mrs May is said to have given no indication of her plans.
Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss predicted the deal would be revived, saying: ‘I think it is still alive, I do. Ultimately, when you look at the alternatives – which are a customs union, no Brexit or No Deal – Mrs May’s deal is more attractive than those other three options.
‘I think that’s the conclusion MPs will ultimately come to.’
But Commons Speaker John Bercow warned that he could veto any attempt to bring back an identical deal. Commons rules do not allow the same proposal to be put twice in a single session.
Winning the support of the DUP is seen as critical to any chance of Mrs May’s deal getting through.
Ministers yesterday piled pressure on the party to sign up by highlighting the problems a No Deal Brexit would cause for Northern Ireland. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said leaving without a deal would cause ‘significant constitutional challenges’ and ‘impose additional pressures’ on the Union.
A cross-party group of Remainer MPs has warned it will try to force a series of ‘indicative votes’ on soft Brexit options next Tuesday.
Mrs May is then expected to travel to Brussels on Thursday to negotiate the terms of an extension of Article 50 that would delay Brexit beyond March 29.
‘Enough to get it over the line’ ‘Constitutional challenges’