Editorial Comment:
It is surprising, given the divisive nature of Brexit, that Philip Lee is the first minister to resign over the issue. There had been rumours of Leavers like Boris Johnson and, most recently David Davis, threatening to walk out in protest at the apparent softening of the UK’S position. As a Remainer unreconciled to the outcome of the 2016 referendum, Mr Lee quit as justice minister because he wanted to vote against the Government on the EU Withdrawal Bill.
His action risked destabilising the Government at a critical moment in the Brexit negotiations and, mercifully, it proved to be in vain. The key division over the form that a “meaningful vote” should take when the final deal is put before Parliament was comfortably won by the Government after lastminute concessions and assurances were made to potential rebels led by Dominic Grieve. Other Lords amendments were beaten back and should be again today. The Bill should pass into law shortly, provided peers do not continue to seek to undo the changes made by MPS, which would be constitutionally indefensible.
These procedural debates are a distraction from the important matter of negotiating a successful Brexit deal. Theresa May goes to Brussels in just a few weeks with the vexed issue of the Irish border still unresolved. At present, all she can do is agree a “backstop” arrangement to take effect in the event of a failure to find a way of avoiding a hard border in Ireland or a frontier down the Irish Sea. This would entail the UK staying in the customs union and the single market, something the EU would only allow if we agree to the jurisdiction of the European Court, continue to make contributions to EU coffers and accept free movement of people.
The Government wants to obviate this with a comprehensive, bespoke trade deal, but that could take years to negotiate. The final agreement for the UK’S departure is due to be concluded by October even though transition arrangements effectively mean Britain stays in the economic structures until the end of 2020. The big question remains: what happens then?
The Cabinet will not meet until next month to hammer out a final position, whereupon a White Paper will be published, mapping out the Government’s preferred strategy. There are then more crunch votes to come over the customs union before the summer recess. Mrs May said she wanted to negotiate unencumbered by parliamentary defeats or artificial timetables. Now she has got her way, she must get on and deliver Brexit.