Labour frontbencher steps down:
in regard to EU citizens.
The £39billion divorce bill could be much more when a future free trade deal is discussed.
EU citizens will still be able to export billions of pounds of British benefits abroad. The Sunday Express: “It is too late to try to negotiate something else.
“If we want longer to prepare for no deal, they will give it to us, but want the full [divorce] payment. The same is true if we decide to stay in the customs union.
“We have reached a point and this [deal] is the best we can get.”
Meanwhile, Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright admitted MPs would have to compare the deal with “realistically available alternatives”.
He told Radio 4’s Today programme: “Either we leave with no deal, which would have serious economic consequences, or we say to the British public, ‘I’m sorry you have got it wrong, you are going to have to do it again’, which I think would have serious democratic consequences.
“This isn’t a perfect deal but think it is the best one available.”
Despite the Plan B, ministers are braced for the Government to potentially fall if Mrs May is defeated.
A Cabinet minister said: “If the deal is voted down on the 11th, there will be a vote of no confidence in the Government on the 12th – and after that, anything could happen.”
There were rumours last night that more Remainer ministers will resign next week to force Mrs May to back a second EU referendum.
However, Brexit supporters have I advice was meant to be kept private but MPs are now pushing for much of it to be placed on record in the Commons library.
An MP on the committee told the Sunday Express: “When we get work carried out by the clerks it is always heavyweight, watertight advice. So this briefing is very concerning indeed.
“It highlights how we are legally tied in knots if we go ahead with this flawed deal by the Prime Minister.”
The MP added: “Members were particularly concerned about the Cyprus bases coming under EU jurisdiction when they are supposed to be sovereign.
“Also if you look at the financial obligations on the divorce bill and pensions liabilities the picture gets even worse.”
The MP added: “It seems ridiculous for us to sign up for something that gives us obligations on third party agreements but none of the benefits.”
The European Scrutiny Committee, chaired by veteran Tory eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash, was set up to scrutinise EU law and activities in the Commons. raised concerns that the Government has been “quietly” increasing the number of Tory MPs on the payroll to try to bolster support for Mrs May’s unpopular deal.
The payroll vote comprises ministers and MPs holding positions designated as being part of the Government.
Brexiteers calculated that inclding 13 party vice-chairs, members of policy committees and trade envoys, the number stands at more than 170 – more than 50 per cent of the 315 Tory MPs.
But Remainer Damian Collins, who chairs the culture committee and opposes the deal, said: “If the Prime Minister can only muster the payroll vote and a few other MPs, then it is hard to see how she can get through that.
“It certainly means the deal could not come back to Parliament without significant changes.”
MPs are angered by the Northern Ireland backstop agreement, which the UK cannot leave unilaterally and could see Britain trapped under EU rule permanently.