MAY’S BREXIT HUMILIATION
MPs unite on Brexit to help defend our democracy
THERESA May suffered a major Brexit defeat last night as rebel Tory MPs helped Labour and the SNP beat her Government.
Tory mutineers defied the Prime Minister to help pass an amendment forcing the Prime Minister to put the final EU deal to a vote in the House of Commons before Brexit.
In a blow to her already diminished authority, the rebels rallied around former Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve’s attempt to ensure MPs have a “meaningful vote” on the withdrawal deal.
May now heads to Brussels today for a European Council meeting which is expected to ratify talks moving on to trade negotiations but with no one sure if she will have the parliamentary numbers to deliver what she promises.
The amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill squeezed through the House of Commons by 309 votes to 305.
Tory rebel Nicky Morgan, one of 11 Tory mutineers, tweeted: “Tonight Parliament took control of the EU withdrawal process.”
Fellow rebels included Ken Clarke, Anna Soubry and Stephen Hammond, who was sacked from his job as Tory vice chairman for his efforts.
The Wimbledon MP said: “I’ve made it clear that this was a point of principle and just occasionally in one’s life one has to put principle before party.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “This defeat is a humiliating loss of authority for the Government on the eve of the European Council meeting. Theresa May has resisted democratic accountability.
“Her refusal to listen means she will now have to accept Parliament taking back control.”
The SNP’s Stephen Gethins MP said: “Theresa May and her Brexit ministers need to reach out – and not just listen to their supporters in the DUP.”
Labour MP and Open Britain supporter Chuka Umunna said: “This is a victory for British parliamentary democracy.
“MPs of all parties deserve great credit.”
Justice Secretary Dominic Rabb said the defeat was a “minor setback” which would not stop Brexit preparations or allow the deal to be altered.
He said: “We are going to leave the EU and to make sure we have proper parliamentary scrutiny.”
Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament’s chief Brexit co-ordinator, tweeted: “European and British Parliaments together will decide on the final agreement. A good day for democracy.”