Q&A
What did MPs vote on yesterday?
Eleven amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill from the House of Lords, including those designed to keep the UK in the customs union and single market after Brexit.
But the most contentious – the so-called ‘meaningful vote’ amendment – attempted to hand control of the talks to peers and MPs if it looked to be heading for ‘no deal’.
The consequence of this ‘kill Brexit’ amendment would have been to tear up the constitution by taking negotiating powers from Theresa May, encourage the EU to offer the worst possible deal and ultimately give MPs and peers a veto over our departure. Ministers won all the votes – but at what cost?
What did Tory rebels demand?
Late on Monday night Remainer ringleader, Tory backbencher Dominic Grieve, lodged a last-minute amendment which watered down some elements of the Lords ‘meaningful vote’ amendment. On Tuesday Grieve and his anti-Brexit allies were buoyed by the resignation of a junior minister, Phillip Lee.
In all, 13 Tories threatened to vote for the Lords amendment unless ministers accepted the Grieve amendment. After Mrs May met the rebels, the Government agreed to accept parts of the Grieve plan.
What was the compromise?
Depends who you ask. Remainer rebels claim Mrs May has agreed that ministers will hold a vote on a deal within a week of securing agreement with Brussels.
They also say she has agreed that if no deal is done by November 30, the Government will seek MPs’ approval for its next steps. No 10 says they have agreed only to structured discussions. A third proposal would hand Parliament control over the negotiations if no deal is done by February 15 next year.
Brexiteer MPs can – just about – swallow these two concessions but insist that the idea of MPs effectively conducting the negotiations with the EU is a non-starter.
What happens next?
Five days of talks before the Bill returns to the Lords on Monday. Ministers will try to minimise any concessions.
But expect Remainer peers – in cahoots with their allies in the Commons – to have another go at wresting control of the talks. And after yesterday, it’s the rebels who have a spring in their step.