Cross-party bid by MPs to stop no-deal Brexit

A cross-party bid to stop a nodeal Brexit has been launched by a group of MPs who have laid down an amendment to the Withdrawal Agreement.

Led by Labour’s Hilary Benn, signatories to the document also include prominent Tories, showing how difficult Theresa May will find it to get her plan through Parliament unscathed.

Mr Benn said the amendment “opposes the deal, rejects a no-deal Brexit and would enable the House to express its view about what should happen next if the Prime Minister’s deal is defeated”.

Essentially it would hand power to MPs if Mrs May’s plans are rejected by the Commons.

They could then instruct her either to go back to the EU and try to negotiate a different deal, to try to extend Article 50, or even to hold another referendum.

Mr Benn is the chairman of the Brexit Select Committee.