Victory for Mrs May as concessions win the day

Politics: Prime minister avoids defeat in Commons on key legislation

Theresa May quelled a rebellion from her MPS with late concessions that could kill off the prospect of a “no deal” Brexit.

The prime minister avoided a defeat on her flagship Brexit legislation that would have given the Commons a veto on the agreement with Brussels and the ability to dictate what ministers should do without securing a deal.

Most of the PM’S Remain-supporting MPS sided with her to wave through some of the most controversial parts of the EU Withdrawal Bill.

It is a major victory for the Conservative Government, which feared Tory rebels would side with opposition MPS to soften Brexit with amendments to stay in the single market and customs union.

MPS voted by 324 to 298 to reject a House of Lords amendment to the bill, which would have given the Commons the power to tell the PM to go back and renegotiate the Brexit deal she secures from Brussels.

Only two Tory MPS – former minister Ken Clarke and Anna Soubry – rebelled.

Amendments proposed from Tory MP and former minister Dominic Grieve provided for Parliament to be consulted by the end of November in the event of a no deal or if a proposed agreement is rejected.

Government sources confirmed ministers will now discuss the possible incorporation of these elements of Mr Grieve’s proposals into the legislation, when the amendment goes back to the Lords as part of the “ping-pong” process.

The move represents a dramatic climbdown from Mrs May’s original plan to offer MPS a “take it or leave it” vote to accept the withdrawal agreement or leave the EU without a deal.

The prime minister is now expected to get through the latest round of crunch Brexit votes unscathed. She won a succession of votes yesterday overturning Lords amendments, including one which would have removed the date of Brexit on March 29, 2019 from the Bill.

But she faces a gruelling bout of “parliamentary ping-pong” with the Lords, as the Bill bounces back and forth between the two Houses.

The concession on a meaningful vote came after intensive horse-trading, with chief whip Julian Smith shuttling between Tory backbenchers.

The Department for Exiting the European Union spokesman said: “On the meaningful vote we have agreed to look for a compromise when this goes back to the Lords.

“The Brexit Secretary has set out three tests that any new amendment has to meet – not undermining the negotiations, not changing the constitutional role of Parliament and government in negotiating international treaties and respecting the referendum result.

“We have not, and will not, agree to the House of Commons binding the government’s hands in the negotiations.”

Following the vote, shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: “Facing the prospect of a humiliating defeat Theresa May has been forced to enter negotiations with her backbenchers and offer a so-called concession.

“We will wait and see the details of this concession and will hold ministers to account to ensure it lives up to the promises they have made to Parliament.”

gmcpherson@thecourier.co.uk

Picture: PA. Theresa May avoided defeat on her key Brexit legislation.