The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
MPs set for take it or leave it Brexit vote
MPs will be given a take it or leave it vote on any Brexit deal covering citizens’ rights, the so-called divorce bill and a transition period, David Davis has announced.
The Brexit secretary said any withdrawal agreement the Government reaches with the EU will only hold if MPs and peers approve a new piece of legislation to put it into British law.
However, he also confirmed that if the Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill is voted down by MPs, the UK will still leave the EU on March 29 2019 – without a deal.
The move was seen as an attempted concession to Tory rebels ahead of votes this week on the separate EU (Withdrawal) Bill, also known as the repeal bill, with the Government facing potential defeat on plans to guarantee MPs a “meaningful vote” on the deal.
But it triggered an immediate backlash from potential Tory rebels.
Heidi Allen said Mr Davis’ attempt at a concession was “pointless” as the Government is trying to amend the Withdrawal Bill to say Britain’s membership of the EU will formally end at 11pm GMT on March 29 2019.
Reacting to the Brexit secretary’s announcement, Ms Allen tweeted: “Pointless if we have enshrined a drop dead date in the Bill, & get a deal at 11th hour! There’d be no time!
“And also offers no safeguard if no deal is reached. Unacceptable.”
Antoinette Sandbach told the Press Association: “The announcement is meaningless if, for any reason, the timetable slips beyond March 2019.”
In a House of Commons statement, Mr Davis announced: “I can now confirm that once we have reached an agreement we will bring forward a specific piece of primary legislation to implement the agreement.
“This also means that Parliament will be given time to debate, scrutinise and vote on the final agreement we strike with the European Union.
“This agreement will only hold if Parliament approves it.”
He confirmed in an answer to Tory former cabinet minister Owen Paterson that Britain will leave the EU on March 29 2019 with no deal if MPs vote down the new piece of legislation.
Pro-EU Labour MP and Open Britain campaign supporter Chris Leslie said: “Ministers need to do much better.
“It is crucial that this meaningful vote takes place well before we leave, that defeat for the Government’s legislation will not imply leaving the EU with no deal and that Parliament has the same role in the event of a disastrous ‘no deal’ outcome.”