MPs reject Corbyn vision on Brexit
THE House of Commons has emphatically rejected Jeremy Corbyn’s Brexit vision by a margin of 240 votes to 323.
The 83-vote defeat will place immense pressure on the Labour leader to throw his party’s full weight behind demands for a second referendum on EU withdrawal.
Brexit spokesman Matthew Pennycook appeared to suggest the party is ready to act, tweeting it is “now time to wholeheartedly get behind efforts to facilitate a public vote that includes the option of staying in the EU”.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said he was “disappointed” at the defeat of Labour’s amendment, adding: “We must do all we can to protect jobs and the economy. That’s why Labour will put forward or support an amendment in favour of a public vote to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit.”
Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs on Monday that he was ready to support moves to demand a second public vote “to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit”.
Theresa May’s dramatic announcement on Tuesday that she would allow MPs to vote on delaying the UK’s EU withdrawal beyond March 29 took the sting out of an evening of Brexit votes which had been expected to feature a number of ministerial resignations.
An amendment tabled by Labour’s Yvette Cooper, designed to pin the PM down by placing her promise in a motion approved by Parliament, was passed by an overwhelming 502 votes to 20.
Mrs May is preparing to bring her Withdrawal Agreement back to the Commons for a “meaningful vote” by March 12.
If she fails to overturn the 230-vote mauling the deal received in January, votes will be held on the following days on blocking a no-deal Brexit on March 29 and extending the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.
Mrs May’s U-turn threw a spotlight on the Labour leader, whose “constructive ambiguity” on Brexit has long frustrated those in his party and played a part in the defection of eight MPs to the new Independent Group.
Labour’s conference voted to keep a second referendum on the table, but made clear its priority was an election to allow it to implement its Brexit plan for a customs union with a UK say, close ties with the single market and dynamic alignment with EU workplace and environmental regulations.
MPs also last night rejected a Scottish National Party amendment to rule out a nodeal Brexit in any circumstances and at any time by a margin of 288-324.
And a proposal from Conservative backbencher Alberto Costa for a UK/EU treaty to protect expat citizens’ rights in the event of a no-deal was passed without a vote.
Mr Costa quit as a parliamentary aide in the Scotland Office, despite Home Secretary Sajid Javid saying he supported his proposal and Downing Street making clear that Mrs May does not oppose it.
A Number 10 source said the South Leicestershire MP had breached a longstanding convention that members of the administration cannot table amendments to Government motions.