Theresa May is facing fresh challenges in her battle to get Commons approval for a Brexit deal.
A “neutral motion” tabled by the Prime Minister on Monday was slapped with a series of amendments, including one from Labour that keeps open the option of a second referendum.
Here is a look at the amendments which are due to be voted on by MPs on January 29.
It is possible, but not guaranteed. Labour wants Parliament to be given the option to back a national poll when MPs vote on Mrs May’s “Plan B” next week. The party’s amendment calls for a vote on Labour’s plan for a customs union with the EU, and whether to legislate “to hold a public vote on a deal or a proposition” that is supported by a Commons majority.
This is a big step forward. I hope this amendment can be the beginning of the end of years of argument and division over Brexit in this country. Parliament has failed to coalesce around a signal Brexit option, so let’s now hand back control to the public in a #PeoplesVote. https://t.co/RyRM7WtSmh
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 21, 2019
Jeremy Corbyn said the amendment will allow MPs to vote on options to end the Brexit deadlock and “prevent the chaos of a no deal” while “keeping all options on the table”. Labour MP Chris Leslie called it a “prevarication”, while his fellow People’s Vote advocate David Lammy said it was a “big step forward”.
– Benn amendment: A way through the morass?
Labour’s Hilary Benn, chairman of the Brexit Select Committee, tabled an amendment calling for a range of indicative votes on various Brexit options. MPs would hold another vote on Mrs May’s deal – even though the outcome could be the same as the historic rejection last Tuesday; vote on whether the Government should seek to renegotiate the deal on specified terms; vote on whether to leave the EU without a deal on March 29; and vote on whether to have another referendum.
Just tabled an amendment for next week’s Brexit debate calling for the House of Commons to hold a series of indicative votes on a way forward. These should cover the four options identified in the @CommonsEUexit report published last Wednesday (attached). pic.twitter.com/i5zUFU7a8x
— Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) January 21, 2019
– Withdrawal Bill No 3
Labour former minister Yvette Cooper, chairwoman of the Home Affairs Select Committee, published a Bill that would give MPs a vote to prevent a no-deal Brexit scenario. The European Union (Withdrawal) (No. 3) Bill, which has cross-party backing, gives the PM until February 26 to get parliamentary approval for a withdrawal agreement. If the Government fails, then Parliament would be given a vote on whether to extend Article 50 by nine months to avoid no deal.
Mr Benn has dismissed reports that MPs and Commons clerks were “plotting” to block Brexit. He said backbenchers are “trying to sort out the mess the Prime Minister has created”. On the other hand, International Trade Secretary Liam Fox accused some MPs of trying to “steal” the result of the referendum from the people. Downing Street said it was “extremely concerned” by the backbenchers’ moves.
The PM said she has “deep concerns” about a second referendum and warned it could “damage social cohesion”. She also said it would require extending Article 50, which would mean scrapping March 29 as the day Britain leaves the EU.
It is understood that Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has urged Downing Street to allow Tory MPs a free vote on moves aimed at preventing a no deal. On Tuesday it was reported that dozens of ministers could otherwise resign.
