Remainers fail to seize control of agenda by just two votes

IT WAS the narrowest of margins, but Theresa May last night fought off an attempt by Remainer MPS to take control of the Brexit process by just two votes.

The amendment to give MPS indicative votes on a way forward still gained the support of 15 Tories, who defied a Government whip to vote to undermine the Prime Minister.

The amendment, tabled by Labour MPS Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper, and Sir Oliver Letwin of the Conservatives, was defeated by 314 votes to 312.

Asked why more Remain-supporting colleagues had not joined the rebellion, seen as a sure-fire way to block no deal, one Tory MP reportedly said: “They are morons, genuinely not bright,” revealing the acrimony around the splits within the party.

The newly formed Independent Group of 11 MPS, which includes three former Conservatives, backed the amendment along with 282 opposition MPS and four independents. Ten DUP MPS, six Labour MPS and four independents opposed the move and voted with the Government along with 294 Tories, including the entire Cabinet.

There were 19 abstentions, including the suspended Labour MPS Jared O’mara and Fiona Onasanya, who voted against the Withdrawal Agreement on Tuesday while wearing an electronic tag following her release from prison after a conviction for perverting the course of justice for lying about a speeding fine. Former minister Jo Johnson, brother of Boris, was among three Tory abstentions.

The 15 Tories who voted against the amendment included Kenneth Clarke, Sir Nicholas Soames, Dominic Grieve, Justine Greening and George Freeman, Downing Street’s former head of policy.

If passed, the amendment would have allowed the Commons to debate the next steps on Brexit next Wednesday in a bid “to enable the House of Commons to find a way forward that can command majority support”.

Tabled minutes before yesterday’s 10.30am deadline, it would have effectively allowed MPS to wrest control of parliamentary time from Mrs May’s government.

Brexiteers viewed it as a thinlyveiled bid to block Brexit and open the door to a second referendum.