May quells rebellion to win key Commons vote

PM makes a late concession to proEU MPs to avoid damaging defeat

Theresa May has seen off a Commons rebellion on her flagship Brexit Bill after a last-minute concession to pro-EU MPs.

MPs voted by 319 to 303 to reject a House of Lords amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would have ensured the Commons would have the chance to block a “no deal” Brexit.

The legislation must now go back to the Upper House in the latest stage of “parliamentary ping-pong”, but the MPs vote essentially means Mrs May has won the battle over a Bill which is vital to ensure a smooth withdrawal from the EU.

At Westminster, MPs were told shortly before the key vote an official ministerial statement will be issued today making clear it is ultimately for Speaker John Bercow to decide whether they get a “meaningful vote” on a no-deal withdrawal from the EU.

The concession was accepted by leading pro-EU Tory Dominic Grieve, who was greeted with jeers of “shame” from the opposition benches when he declared he would back the government. But it was dismissed as a “fudge” by Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon and described as “meaningless” by Labour whips.

Mr Grieve had tabled an amendment to the Bill, requiring MPs to be given the chance to approve or reject the government’s plans for the next steps in the case that no agreement can be reached with Brussels by Brexit Day in March next year. With the government instead offering only an unamendable “neutral motion” allowing MPs to take note of the situation, Mrs May was thought to be facing a knife-edge vote.

Mrs May’s determination to force the motion was indicated when Tory whips made clear they would not abide by a parliamentary convention allowing votes to be “nodded through” from ambulances and cars in the courtyard outside if MPs are too ill to physically pass through the voting lobbies.

The statement to be issued today by Brexit Secretary David Davis states explicitly that the parliamentary rulebook gives the Speaker the power to determine whether a motion is amendable or not. It also notes the parliamentary convention that time is made available to debate motions tabled by MPs on matters of concern.

But Downing Street left no doubt ministers are confident of drafting a motion which Mr Bercow will deem to be unamendable.

Getty. Cardboard cutouts of pro-EU MPs presented outside the House of Commons by pressure group Avaaz.