May faces Commons rebellion on Brexit deal
MPs could back Lords who are expected to insist on Parliamentary approval of EU exit negotiations
THERESA MAY is facing a major Commons rebellion over a vote in the Lords to give Parliament a right to stop her walking away from the European Union in 2019 without a deal.
Peers are expected on Tuesday to vote to amend legislation triggering Brexit talks to force the Government to give MPs and peers a “meaningful vote” on the outcome of her negotiations with Brussels. Earlier this week, the Lords voted for an amendment that would force the Prime Minister to guarantee the rights after Brexit of EU nationals living in the UK.
Downing Street has made clear that it expects MPs to overturn any changes backed by the Lords in a series of votes when the amended Bill returns to the Commons on March 13 and March 14.
Senior Tories who supported Remain have told The Daily Telegraph that they expect at least 20 Tory MPs to vote with Labour and the Liberal Democrats to support a Lords amendment for “a meaningful vote” by Parliament.
It would stop Britain leaving the EU until the Commons and Lords have approved a final draft of the terms of the Brexit decision. However, one MP said that the rebels were set to back Mrs May and overturn the amendment on rights for EU nationals living in Britain because of reassurances of an early deal on the issue. Anna Soubry, a Tory MP, said: “The ‘meaningful’ vote is absolutely critical, it’s the deal breaker.
“I just want us to behave in a grown up way. People have to remember 48 per cent did not vote to leave the European Union.”
David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, said yesterday that the Government had hoped to get a reciprocal deal for EU nationals in the UK and Britons on the Continent. Mr Davis said: “If we had had our way, we would have actually got an agreement in principle at least in December … but we couldn’t get everybody to agree at that point.
“It will be the first thing on our agenda. I would hope that we would get some agreement in principle very, very soon, as soon as the negotiation process starts.”
It emerged yesterday that Lib Dem peers have ordered 90 sleeping bags and camp beds to prepare for a long night of “ping pong” as MPs vote on the contested changes on March 13 and 14. It could in theory see the legislation pass back and forth between the Commons and Lords until a position emerges on the Bill. The Lib Dems, who have 102 peers and nine MPs, spent yesterday discussing their strategy. One senior party strategist said: “We are planning for every eventuality and for all-night sessions. If that means pizza and food delivery at 3am then so be it. We have plans in place for sleeping bags and beds for our peers.
“We think this matters and Tim Farron has said we will go through the lobbies time after time to defend the rights of 3.3 million EU nationals who live and have made their home here.
“We are also committed to fighting tooth and nail to give the people a final say on the deal.”
It also emerged that Gina Miller, who brought the lawsuit that forced Mrs May to get parliamentary approval for her Brexit plans, is considering another legal challenge if Parliament is not given a full vote on the final deal.