May sets out plan for deal showdown
THERESA MAY has set the timetable for a decisive showdown with MPS over her Brexit deal in January.
The Prime Minister said the Commons would have the chance to debate her Withdrawal Agreement in the week MPS return to Westminster after Christmas on January 7.
The crucial vote – which was postponed earlier this month to avoid a heavy defeat – will take place the following week.
Mrs May told the Commons: “It is now only just over 14 weeks until the UK leaves the EU and I know many members of this House are concerned that we need to take a decision soon.”
She added: “I can confirm that we intend to return to the meaningful vote debate in the week commencing January 7 and hold the vote the following week.”
The Prime Minister’s announcement came after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn had threatened to table a motion of no confidence in her if she did not set a date for the vote.
The Labour leader said the vote should have been held before Christmas, accusing Mrs May of “dither and delay”.
He told her: “A responsible prime minister would for the good of this country put this deal before the House this week so we could move on from this Government’s disastrous negotiation.
“This is a constitutional crisis and the Prime Minister is the architect of it. She is leading the most shambolic and chaotic government in modern British history.”
The Prime Minister’s statement came as Cabinet ministers openly speculated about how to proceed if the deal is rejected, while Brussels appeared to dispute claims that negotiations were continuing over the terms of the deal.
Planning for a no-deal Brexit was being stepped up, with the Cabinet discussing “the next phase in ensuring we are ready for that scenario” today.
The Prime Minister warned MPS that rejecting her deal would not result in an alternative “miraculously” appearing.
“Avoiding ‘no deal’ is only possible if we can reach an agreement or if we abandon Brexit entirely,” she said.
And in a warning to campaigners calling for a second referendum, she said it would “break faith with the British people” and do “irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics”.
But one of Mrs May’s closest allies said “all options” should remain open if the deal is rejected.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd said it would be important to find out the “will of Parliament” on how to proceed.
Ms Rudd told reporters that she hoped the Prime Minister’s deal would be supported in the vote expected in January.
But she added: “After that we need to find out where the will of Parliament is, where the majority of MPS will vote in Parliament and nothing should be off the table, we should consider all options.”