Davis faces backlash after doubt cast over Commons vote on Brexit deal
The government faces being forced into a legal guarantee of a Commons vote on the Brexit deal after David Davis cast doubt on whether MPS would get their say before the UK leaves the European Union.
The B rex it secretary’ s department was forced to clarify that ministers “expect and intend” MPS to vote on the final deal before 29 March, 2019 after Mr Davis suggested that they may have to wait until after the point of departure.
Downing Street scrambled to avoid a showdown with Conservative backbenchers after Mr Davis told a Commons committee that Brexit negotiations could go on up to the last minute of the final day before Britain quits the EU.
He said Brussels’ negotiating track record meant talks would be pushed to the wire, but it would be “very exciting for everybody watching”.
That would mean MPs would only get to vote on any deal that was thrashed out after Britain had left the bloc, he told the Commons Exiting the EU select committee.
MPs from all parties are now expected rally around an amendment to the European Union( Withdrawal) Bill that will put a requirement for a Commons vote before 29 March ,2019 into legislation.
Ian Black ford, the SNP’ s Westminster leader, said MPS “must have a vote” before the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Davis told the committee: “It’s no secret that the way the [ European] Union makes its decision tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on, and that is precisely what I would expect to happen.”
He added :“If there is a time limit on a negotiation, the Union stops the clock, it assumes that it’s still at 11: 59 until it is concluded, sometimes over the course of 24, 36, 72 hours thereafter and that’s what I imagine it will be.
“And it will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching.”
At Prime Mini st er’ sQu estions, Theresa May appeared to confirm Mr Davis’s timetable when asked by the Labour MP Stephen Kinnock to “please explain how it is possible to have a meaningful vote on something that has already taken place?”
Mrs May said: “I am confident, because it is in the interests of both sides – and it’s not just this parliament that wants to have a vote but there will be ratification by other parliament s–that we will be able to achieve that agreement in time for this parliament to have the vote that we’ve committed to.”