Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Boris’ frantic battle to win Brexit vote
Last-ditch deal hangs on votes of just 20 MPS
Letwin bid to avoid ‘accidental’ crash-out
THE UK’S future hangs on the votes of just 20 MPS as Boris Johnson turns on the smarm to get his Brexit deal through Parliament today.
As the Prime Minister fought to win backing for his damaging agreement, ex-tory rebel Oliver Letwin moved to stop us crashing out of the EU by accident.
He tabled an amendment, expected to pass, that would legally force the
PM to write to Brussels by 11pm tonight asking for a threemonth Brexit delay.
It followed crossparty fears that the withdrawal bill, which would follow approval of Mr Johnson’s deal, could still be snarled up in the Commons by the October 31 deadline, forcing an accidental no-deal departure from the EU.
A Tory insider accused the cross-party group of “moving the goalposts”. But Mr Letwin, one of 21 Tories expelled last month for defying the PM in a bid to block no-deal, said: “We are supporting the deal and making sure there is an insurance policy to make sure there isn’t a mistake that leads to an unforeseen crashing out.”
It would be up to the 27 EU leaders to decide whether to grant an extension. But German leader Angela Merkel suggested it would be unavoidable.
The PM’S deal is similar to his predecessor Theresa May’s, which was rejected three times in the Commons. The UK would still have to pay a £33billion divorce bill to the EU, rights would still be guaranteed for UK and EU citizens and there would still be a transition period to the end of 2020 to strike a trade deal. But this one axes the Irish backstop. Northern Ireland would share a customs territory with the rest of the UK, but EU customs rules would apply to goods entering Northern Ireland deemed “at risk” of later moving into the EU.
Northern Ireland and the Republic would share some EU single market rules, forcing checks on manufactured and agricultural products crossing the Irish Sea. The Assembly at Stormont will get a vote every four years on whether to let EU law continue. But this vote could be passed by a simple majority – denying the DUP a veto on staying under EU laws long-term.
To shore up support, No10 unveiled measures to address Labour concerns including workers’ rights and environmental protections. The Government has agreed to put the commitments into the EU withdrawal bill as well as publishing a draft Employment Reform Bill. But many Labour MPS believe the PM would pitch to the right after winning the vote. Labour has warned his decision to move rights and standards to the non-legally binding political declaration shows he plans to rip them up in future as the government competes for free trade deals.
Shadow Employment Minister Laura Pidcock said: “This empty gesture is not worth the paper it’s written on. When MPS vote they will still be voting on a sell-out Tory deal that provides no guarantees on these fundamental rights and would lead to a race-to-the-bottom on conditions for workers across the country and would worsen the climate crisis.”
Up to a dozen Labour MPS with Leave-voting seats are understood to be considering backing the PM’S plan as MPS gather in the Commons this morning for the first Saturday sitting in 37 years.
They must today decide if they want to be responsible for the hardline Tory plan getting through.
The PM has had to look outside his usual allies for support after the DUP rejected his plan. Six Labour MPS have already publicly declared their support.
Labour has ruled out stripping its MPS of the whip if they vote for the deal. But SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon warned that Labour will “never be forgiven” if they let party rebels deliver Mr Johnson’s deal.
Jitters yesterday increased after a plot was exposed for the UK to leave with no deal next year if a trade deal had not been agreed.