Labour to launch bid for early vote over May’s deal
MPsplotnextmovesasPM accused of ‘reckless’ policy
LABOUR WILL today launch a fresh attempt to force the Prime Minister back to the House of Commons with her Brexit deal earlier than Downing Street had planned, as they accused her of trying to run down the clock.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Labour was committed to preventing Mrs May from pursuing a “reckless” policy of delaying the next meaningful vote on her Withdrawal Agreement.
The Labour frontbencher was responding to speculation that Number 10 plans to kill time until MPs are faced with a last-minute choice between her deal or nodeal, in a vote just days before the March 29 exit deadline.
Labour has tabled an amendment for debate in the Commons today which would require the Government to either put her deal to a vote by February 27 or allow Parliament to take control of the process.
Sir Keir said the party would also support a proposal from backbencher Yvette Cooper, expected to be debated on February 27, which would require a vote by the middle of March on delaying Brexit.
Veteran Tory Europhile Kenneth Clarke has tabled a further amendment, backed by senior figures from across the House, which would allow MPs to vote for their preferred Brexit plan.
Mr Clarke’s plan, tabled for debate on Thursday, envisages MPs ranking options in order of preference on a ballot paper under the alternative vote system.
An amendment from Labour MP Roger Godsiff calls for an extension of the two-year Brexit negotiation period to allow for a second referendum.
A further proposal masterminded by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson would secure backing for Mrs May’s deal on the guarantee of a second vote.
Wakefield MP and People’s Vote advocate, Mary Creagh told The Yorkshire Post: “I think that way forward at the moment looks like Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson’s proposal which is to let May’s deal go through but with a double lock, which is that the people get the final say on whether they want to accept or reject it.
“It’s too much of a mess for the politicians to sort out. I think the only fair thing is for it to go back to the people.”
A cross-party initiative backed by Conservative Anna Soubry and Labour’s Chuka Umunna demands that the Government publish its most recent official briefing on the implications of a no-deal Brexit for business and trade.
Ms Soubry said she understood the paper made clear the “ruinous” impact on the economy.
“I am told that it does not mince its words and it makes it very plain that that outcome would be disastrous for British business,” she told the BBC.
Ms Creagh was speaking at a People’s Vote event outside parliament, where she was joined by other pro-second referendum MPs and campaigners from Yorkshire.
Penistone and Stocksbridge MP Angela Smith told The Yorkshire Post: “I think it makes it clear that actually Westminster is in danger with the way it is behaving, kicking the can down the road.
“The Prime Minister in particular is going back to Brussels continually to appease her own backbenchers. This is a message from the country – don’t forget that we come first, we matter.”
Leeds North West MP Alex Sobel added: “There’s gathering strength behind people wanting a final say on the deal.”
As tensions ramped up in Westminster yesterday, Sir Keir held talks with Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay and the effective deputy prime minister, David Lidington.
Ahead of the meeting he told the BBC’s Today programme: “What the Prime Minister is up to is obvious.
“She’s coming to Parliament every other week, pretending there’s progress and trying to buy another two weeks, edging her way towards March 21, when the next EU summit is, to try to put her deal up against no deal in those final few weeks.
“Parliament needs to say ‘That’s not on’.”
He declined to say whether Labour MPs would be disciplined for disobeying the whip in upcoming Brexit votes.
A number of senior opposition figures who defied orders by the party leadership to back an earlier Cooper amendment on extending Article 50 last month kept their frontbench positions.
It’s too much of a mess for the politicians to sort out.
Mary Creagh, Wakefield MP and People’s Vote supporter.