TORIES FACE REBELLION OVER HARD BREXIT
Labour in secret talks with rebel Tories and SNP to prevent hapless PM from forcing a hard Brexit on UK and crashing out of Europe with no trade agreement
THERESA May is facing a rebellion from Tory MPs who are willing to join Labour and the SNP to stop Britain leaving the EU with no deal.
The rebels are in talks with the opposition to prevent Britain crashing out of Europe with no agreement on trade, citizens’ rights or the Northern Irish border.
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said yesterday he is “not willing to countenance” a no-deal scenario.
He believes May lacks a majority in the House of Commons for such an outcome.
McDonnell said he expected moves that will see MPs teaming up to push for a formal veto that will allow them to block a no-deal Brexit.
It came after May said the Government were setting aside money to prepare for a possible “no-deal” scenario in stalled Brexit talks.
The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill is notably absent from the Commons schedule for the week ahead, with the Government saying they want to closely evaluate 300 amendments and more than 50 new clauses proposed.
But opponents say the Government are struggling to get their own backbenchers on board with some of the amendments.
Asked if the Commons could stop the Government over no deal, McDonnell told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think there are enough sensible people in the House of Commons to say, ‘This cannot happen, we cannot damage our country in this way’.
“The Government will get the message – there will be a deal.”
He added: “I think there’s a majority to have a meaningful vote.
“That’s what we’ve said all the way along. We’ll be able to say to Government, ‘Whatever you’re negotiating, it’ll not be on the basis of no deal because the damage to this economy will be so great’.”
McDonnell claimed the Tories are “fighting among themselves” rather than negotiating with the EU. He said there were “discussions going right the way across the House” to prevent a hard Brexit.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said Labour will vote down any deal that doesn’t deliver “the exact same benefits” as we have now.
Asked whether Labour could vote against a Brexit deal, Starmer added: “David Davis said he will deliver exactly the same benefits as the single market and customs union.
“So we’ve said, ‘Right, then you deliver that and if you don’t deliver that, we’ll vote against it’.”
SNP European affairs spokesman Stephen Gethins MP said: “Given this is a Parliament of minorities, it is for MPs from across the political spectrum to put aside differences to work together and do all we can to prevent a disastrous extreme Brexit.
“MPs and the devolved administrations must have as much say as possible to help stop the disaster of a no-deal scenario.”