PM beats retreat on Henry VIII powers as back-bench rebels threaten Brexit mutiny

THERESA MAY is prepared to “listen and engage” with Tory rebels in a sign that she is ready to grant concessions to avoid a damaging defeat over her EU Withdrawal Bill.

The Prime Minister’s Brexit plans were plunged into disarray after it emerged draft laws that will pave the way for Britain’s departure from the bloc have been put on hold in the face of a potential rebellion next week by Conservative MPS.

A defeat in the Commons would strike a blow to Mrs May’s authority and bring into question her ability to deliver on Brexit.

To head off the rebellion, the Government is reaching out to disaffected backbenchers to try to do deals that will allow the Bill to proceed.

Rebels are unhappy over the Government’s desire to secure so-called “Henry VIII powers” that will allow ministers to change laws without full

‘It is reasonable for the Government to have these powers but we want to listen and engage with people’

parliamentary scrutiny. MPS want to establish a so-called “triage” committee to decide which law changes should be made by ministers alone and which should be debated by Parliament.

The prospective rebels include Dominic Grieve, former attorney general, Anna Soubry, former business minister and Nicky Morgan, former education secretary. Ms Morgan told The Daily Telegraph: “The Government knows it has to listen to legitimate concerns about Henry VIII powers.”

A government source said: “We think it is reasonable to have these powers, but we also want to listen and engage with people who have tabled amendments.”

Ministers are confident of agreeing a way forward because they believe no Tory MP will want to be responsible for scuppering key Brexit legislation.

The Bill, which will transfer EU laws on to domestic statute books, was due to be scrutinised by MPS but was pulled from the parliamentary calendar as the Government faced defeat on more than a dozen hostile amendments.