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'Detailed' Brexit plan demanded by Labour ahead of vote Labour says MPs are entitled to Brexit plan details
(about 2 hours later)
Labour will demand the government publishes a "pretty detailed" negotiating plan when MPs debate the UK's Brexit strategy later. Parliament is entitled to know details ahead of the UK's negotiations with the EU, Labour said as MPs debated the government's Brexit strategy.
MPs are expected to vote in favour of the government's timetable, of starting formal talks by the end of March, while also calling on the PM publish a "plan" beforehand. MPs are expected to vote in favour of the government's timetable, of starting formal talks by the end of March, while also calling on the prime minister to publish a "plan" beforehand.
The government has so far refused a "running commentary" on its strategy.The government has so far refused a "running commentary" on its strategy.
Labour, which has been demanding more information, has called the debate. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it had now "caved in".
The party's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer said his party would continue to challenge the government if its plan was "not detailed enough". Opening the Commons debate, he said the government had refused "on every occasion" to give more details, saying information about its negotiating stance was important because it "sets the scene" for Brexit.
He said: "I think it's got to be pretty detailed, they've got to set out what those objectives are. I don't think it needs to be in a particular form, but if it's not detailed enough they can expect further challenge." The plan which the government has now committed to via an amendment to today's Labour motion must be detailed enough to allow parliamentary scrutiny and enable the Office for Budget Responsibility to assess the impact on the public finances, he said.
Sir Keir that Labour would not allow "a situation where the government seeks a vote in a vacuum, or produces a late, vague plan".
But Brexit Secretary David Davis responded: "The simple fact is that the mandate (in June's referendum) was to leave the European Union - full stop. We need to keep that in mind when we are going through that process."
Adding that the government did not want to declare its position in too much detail before talks with the EU started, he said: "This is a negotiation; it's not a policy statement. And, therefore, where you are aiming for may not be the exact place you end up."
The debate comes after a procedural battle between the parties over the wording of the motion to be put to MPs.The debate comes after a procedural battle between the parties over the wording of the motion to be put to MPs.
The outcome was that Downing Street put forward an amendment agreeing to publish a "plan" before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - although it has not said how detailed this will be - while in return Labour is backing the government's timetable. The outcome was that Downing Street put forward an amendment agreeing to publish a "plan" before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, which starts formal talks with the EU - although it has not said how detailed this will be. In return, Labour is backing the government's timetable.
Has the PM backed down over Brexit?Has the PM backed down over Brexit?
By Laura Kuenssberg, political editorBy Laura Kuenssberg, political editor
The government has announced that it will accept Labour's idea to publish a plan, of sorts, for Brexit, before Article 50 begins the legal process of the UK disentangling itself from the EU.The government has announced that it will accept Labour's idea to publish a plan, of sorts, for Brexit, before Article 50 begins the legal process of the UK disentangling itself from the EU.
Some Tory MPs were set to gang up with Labour in a vote to force ministers to publish something, anything, about their plans for Brexit, against Theresa May's wishes.Some Tory MPs were set to gang up with Labour in a vote to force ministers to publish something, anything, about their plans for Brexit, against Theresa May's wishes.
Remember, one of the few things that we know for sure about the prime minister's plans for leaving the EU is that she does not want MPs to be able to tinker with them, scrutinise them in a meaningful way, before she actually gets to the negotiating table.Remember, one of the few things that we know for sure about the prime minister's plans for leaving the EU is that she does not want MPs to be able to tinker with them, scrutinise them in a meaningful way, before she actually gets to the negotiating table.
So has she just backed down? In pure terms, yes. Labour's Keir Starmer, the party's Brexit spokesman, will claim victory. And by accepting Labour's idea, ministers have been pushed to do something they had been intent on avoiding - promising to publish their intentions before the technical legal process begins.So has she just backed down? In pure terms, yes. Labour's Keir Starmer, the party's Brexit spokesman, will claim victory. And by accepting Labour's idea, ministers have been pushed to do something they had been intent on avoiding - promising to publish their intentions before the technical legal process begins.
But what will that actually look like? So far, so vague. Accepting the amendment does not mean they have promised to do anything in particular.But what will that actually look like? So far, so vague. Accepting the amendment does not mean they have promised to do anything in particular.
Read more from LauraRead more from Laura
Both Labour and the government claimed victory when it emerged the final amendment would receive widespread backing in the House of Commons.Both Labour and the government claimed victory when it emerged the final amendment would receive widespread backing in the House of Commons.
Mr Starmer said it was a "a welcome and hugely significant climbdown", while government sources said by backing the government's timetable MPs would commit to not delaying the Brexit process. Labour said it was a "a welcome and hugely significant climbdown", while government sources said by backing the government's timetable MPs would commit to not delaying the Brexit process.
Former Conservative minister Sir Oliver Letwin, who chaired the Government's Brexit unit immediately after the referendum, said he did not expect Mrs May to set out any more detail than what is already known. Former Conservative minister Sir Oliver Letwin, who chaired the government's Brexit unit immediately after the referendum, said he did not expect Theresa May to set out any more detail than what is already known.
The debate is expected to begin at about 12:45 GMT, and the vote will not be binding on the government. The vote will not be binding on the government.
The SNP will be voting against the amendment because it fails to "respect the vote across all four parts of the UK". Stephen Gethins, SNP Europe spokesman, said the Conservative amendment "will see the UK put through a hard-right Tory plan to take us out of the EU that will damage jobs, livelihoods, businesses and the economy". The SNP will be voting against the amendment because it says it fails to "respect the vote across all four parts of the UK". Its Europe spokesman, Stephen Gethins, said the government's amendment would "see the UK put through a hard-right Tory plan to take us out of the EU that will damage jobs, livelihoods, businesses and the economy".
He added: "SNP MPs will be protecting Scotland's interests and voting against the motion as amended by the UK government for a damaging hard right Brexit." The Liberal Democrats have also said they will oppose the amendment. Leader Tim Farron called it a "parliamentary stitch-up" and fails to "include any meaningful commitment from the Conservative Brexit government to produce the equivalent of a White or Green Paper setting out its position on such fundamental questions as to whether it wants Britain to remain in the Single Market".
The Lib Dems have also said they will vote against the amendment. Leader Tim Farron called it a "parliamentary stitch-up" and fails to "include any meaningful commitment from the Conservative Brexit government to produce the equivalent of a White or Green Paper setting out its position on such fundamental questions as to whether it wants Britain to remain in the Single Market". The debate is happening at the same time as the government is fighting a case in the Supreme Court over whether MPs and peers need to have a vote on triggering Article 50. It says there is no need, while campaigners say that not consulting Parliament would be unconstitutional.
Asked about the case, Mr Davis told MPs: "We will obey the rule of law. We will obey what the court finds."
He added that one of the reasons the government would await the court's decision - expected in January - was that it needed to "get precisely right what it is this House has to do".