May set to compromise on Brexit date in key vote today

THE Government will today be forced to water down Theresa May’s plan to enshrine the Brexit date in law after 41 Tory MPS backed a crucial amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill.

The Prime Minister wants to set the date of the UK’S withdrawal from the European Union in stone by including it in her flagship Brexit legislation.

But the move sparked widespread fury among many MPS who believe the Government must retain a degree of flexibility over the exit date just in case more time is needed to negotiate a deal with Brussels.

Sir Oliver Letwin, David Cameron’s former “fixer”, unveiled a compromise amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill last week which would allow Mrs May to set the date on the face of the Bill but also allow Parliament to vote to change it if negotiations overrun.

Sir Oliver’s amendment has now won the support of 40 of his fellow Tory MPS, which means the Government will have to accept it when it is debated today or face losing another key vote because of a Conservative rebellion.

Mrs May was defeated on the Bill last week after 11 Tory rebels joined Labour in successfully demanding a “meaningful vote” on the final deal with Brussels.

The Prime Minister is understood to be willing to accept the compromise put forward by Sir Oliver in order to head off another loss this week.

The level of support for the amendment, coming as it does from a broad cross-section of Tory MPS from both the Brexiteer and Remain wings of the party, means the Government will have little choice but to cave in given its inability to command a majority in the Commons without the support of the DUP’S 10 MPS.

Sir Oliver told The Daily Telegraph: “As far as I can make out all will be well. All the indications I’m getting are that the Government is likely to accept it.”

Sir Oliver’s amendment was cosigned by Bernard Jenkin, a leading Brexiteer and Jeremy Lefroy, a prominent pro-remain MP.

It has now won the support of dozens of other Conservative MPS, including Eurosceptics like Jacob Rees-mogg, Sir William Cash and Nigel Evans, as well as numerous pro-europe Tories like George Freeman, Paul Masterton and Nick Boles.