BREXIT ON HOLD
Uncertainty continues as MPs resoundingly vote to extend March 29 deadline
BREXIT is to be delayed until at least the end of June.
MPs last night voted to ask the EU to extend the March 29 exit date by three months.
The motion was carried by 413 to 202, with MPs free to vote as they chose.
Several of Theresa May’s cabinet ministers, including Liam Fox, David Williamson and Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay, were among 188 Tories voting against a delay.
The result leaves the Prime Minister with a broken promise to take the UK out of the EU on the March deadline and trying to convince the Commons to back her deal for a third time next week.
If she can carry the Commons, the UK will ask for a one-off extension until June 30 to allow time for laws to be passed.
But there could be a longer delay if she loses.
The EU, which must give permission for any pushing back of the withdrawal date, signalled yesterday it would prefer a year-long extension in order to find a new plan.
Staying in the EU beyond June would mean the UK has to take part in May’s European elections because the new Brussels parliament begins on July 2.
The longer delay would also revive the chances of running a second referendum.
Earlier last night, May survived a Commons coup by cross-party MPs that would have seen backbenchers take control of the Brexit agenda.
In an incredibly tight result, the Government saw off an attempt to stage a series of votes on different Brexit options.
The Government won by 314 to 312.
It was a brief moment of respite for Downing Street as the Government narrowed the Brexit options down to support May’s deal or the prospect of a long extension of Article 50.
In a third day of crucial Brexit votes in just one week, MPs also crushed a second referendum amendment put forward by the new Independent Group by 334 votes to 85 – a majority of 249.
That bought cheers from the Brexiteers and calls of betrayal ringing in Jeremy Corbyn’s ears because Labour refused to back the call, despite pledging to throw the party’s weight behind a fresh EU vote.
The party held fire on tabling its call for a second vote, arguing that the timing was not right and that the debate last night was about extending Article 50.
It is expected that a fresh attempt will come in amendments to May’s Brexit plan next week.
The People’s Vote campaign also didn’t want the vote to happen yet.
Despite that, 25 Labour MPs, including Scots Ian Murray, Ged Killen and Martin Whitfield, voted for a second referendum, while 18 Labour MPs voted against.
SNP Westminster Leader Ian Blackford called Labour “absolutely spineless” and “the midwives” to May’s Brexit.
The Independent Group’s Anna Soubry said: “This is a betrayal of Labour Party members and voters, Labour MPs, Labour’s conference policy and, most importantly, the British public.
“The Labour Party leadership are determined to deliver Brexit, which would harm our country.”
In the face of jeers from the Commons, Corbyn insisted Labour would back a second referendum.
He said: “I reiterate our conviction that a deal can be agreed based on our alternative plan that can command support across the House.
“I also reiterate our support for a public vote, not as political
point-scoring but as a realistic option to break the deadlock.”
Scottish Secretary David Mundell, meanwhile, was carpeted by the Prime Minister at a testy meeting of the Cabinet ahead of the votes.
May was reported to have berated four senior colleagues, including Mundell, who defied the Tory whip to abstain in the no-deal vote on Wednesday.
East Renfrewshire MP Paul Masteron resigned as a parliamentary aide after he voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit in all circumstances.
European Council president Donald Tusk said he is open to a “long” delay to Brexit to let Britain “rethink” its strategy.
That will heap pressure on Tory Brexiteers to swallow their objections and back May’s deal to avoid delaying Brexit.
All 27 EU member states would need to back a request for an extension.
Key Brussels figures have hinted they will only accept a delay to Brexit if the UK can produce a clear strategy to break the deadlock.
Irish deputy prime minister Simon Coveney said the EU may offer the UK a 21-month extension.