May ready to face Brexit rebels again
POLITICS: Tory Brexit rebels will attempt to force Theresa May into giving MPs a “meaningful” vote on the final withdrawal deal after their ringleader denied the Government will fall if it is defeated over the issue.
Ministers face another showdown with backbench Tories today.
TORY BREXIT rebels will today attempt to force Theresa May into giving MPs a “meaningful” vote on the final withdrawal deal after their ringleader denied the Government will fall if it is defeated over the issue.
Ministers face another showdown with backbench Tories after the House of Lords again backed an amendment to flagship Brexit legislation which would give MPs more of a say over what happens if the UK and EU fail to strike an exit deal.
It came after rebels – led by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve – accused the Government of reneging on measures which they believed had been agreed to stave off a rebellion last week.
There will now be another vote today after the Lords backed an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, tabled by Viscount Hailsham, which would require the Government to allow MPs to vote on how it would proceed in the absence of a Brexit deal by January 21 next year.
Mr Grieve said yesterday that he still hoped it would be possible to come to a “sensible compromise” that would address the concerns of both sides.
And with the Prime Minister understood to have calculated that the rebels could split in a vote, he attempted to reassure pro-EU colleagues that defeating the Government will not bring it down.
“That is complete nonsense. This is the end stage of the detailed consideration of a piece of legislation,” Mr Grieve told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“Whichever way the vote ultimately goes, the idea that the Government is going to be endangered by this difference of view within the House of Commons which might lead to its defeat is complete nonsense.”
Asked whether he still trusted Mrs May, Mr Grieve said: “I am very conscious that the Prime Minister is in great difficulty. I have known her for very many years. I have a great understanding of some of the problems she faces.
“I would be very happy if we can resolve this in a way which makes me feel that the trust I always try to place in the Prime Minister is honoured.”
Mrs May on Monday warned against any moves to “tie her hands” during negotiations with Brussels, saying that Parliament must not be able to “overturn the will of the British people”.
Under Government plans, if MPs reject the agreement reached by Mrs May with Brussels, or if no deal has been obtained by January 21, Parliament will be offered the opportunity to vote on a “neutral motion” stating it has considered a Minister’s statement on the issue.
Crucially, the motion will be unamendable, meaning MPs cannot insert a requirement for Mrs May to go back to the negotiating table, extend the Brexit transition or revoke the UK’s withdrawal under Article 50.
Mr Grieve insisted rebels would only accept a “meaningful vote” and not the “slavery clause” the Government was offering.
Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said Mr Grieve’s plan would be used to “obstruct Brexit” and “thwart” the referendum result.