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Brexit: MPs call for White Paper on EU exit plan | Brexit: MPs call for White Paper on EU exit plan |
(about 2 hours later) | |
MPs are stepping up their calls for the government to publish its plan for Brexit in a formal policy document. | MPs are stepping up their calls for the government to publish its plan for Brexit in a formal policy document. |
A number of Conservatives have joined Labour in asking for a White Paper on negotiating objectives, arguing it will allow for a fuller debate. | A number of Conservatives have joined Labour in asking for a White Paper on negotiating objectives, arguing it will allow for a fuller debate. |
It comes after the Supreme Court ruled MPs must vote on whether the government can start Brexit. | It comes after the Supreme Court ruled MPs must vote on whether the government can start Brexit. |
A parliamentary bill paving the way for talks with the EU could be introduced as early as Thursday. | A parliamentary bill paving the way for talks with the EU could be introduced as early as Thursday. |
More than half a dozen Conservative MPs including some ex-ministers are calling for a White Paper - a government policy document which sets out proposals for future acts of Parliament - on Brexit to be published in the coming days. | More than half a dozen Conservative MPs including some ex-ministers are calling for a White Paper - a government policy document which sets out proposals for future acts of Parliament - on Brexit to be published in the coming days. |
The BBC understands they discussed this with Conservative Party whips on Tuesday. | The BBC understands they discussed this with Conservative Party whips on Tuesday. |
Downing Street, while not explicitly ruling out a White Paper, stressed that Prime Minister Theresa May had already set out her plan for Brexit. In a speech last week, she announced the UK would be leaving the European single market and customs union, but would push for the "freest possible trade" with EU countries. | Downing Street, while not explicitly ruling out a White Paper, stressed that Prime Minister Theresa May had already set out her plan for Brexit. In a speech last week, she announced the UK would be leaving the European single market and customs union, but would push for the "freest possible trade" with EU countries. |
But Labour is warning it is prepared to engage in "hand-to-hand combat" in Parliament to ensure the process of leaving the EU is fully scrutinised. | But Labour is warning it is prepared to engage in "hand-to-hand combat" in Parliament to ensure the process of leaving the EU is fully scrutinised. |
The party says it will not vote against a parliamentary bill invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - getting talks with the EU under way - but will try to amend it. | The party says it will not vote against a parliamentary bill invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - getting talks with the EU under way - but will try to amend it. |
The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government could only invoke Article 50 with a vote in Parliament - rejecting ministers' argument that this was not necessary. | The Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that the government could only invoke Article 50 with a vote in Parliament - rejecting ministers' argument that this was not necessary. |
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said she expected a short bill to be published on Thursday, with a view to it being debated for the first time next week. | BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said she expected a short bill to be published on Thursday, with a view to it being debated for the first time next week. |
Mrs May wants to invoke Article 50 by the end of March. | Mrs May wants to invoke Article 50 by the end of March. |
Almost all Conservative MPs are expected to back the government and the bill is likely to pass. But a few Tory MPs - including former ministers Anna Soubry, Alistair Burt and Nicky Morgan - are pressing for an explicit commitment for a White Paper. | Almost all Conservative MPs are expected to back the government and the bill is likely to pass. But a few Tory MPs - including former ministers Anna Soubry, Alistair Burt and Nicky Morgan - are pressing for an explicit commitment for a White Paper. |
For Labour, shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government was creating a "drip-feed" of information, adding: "Parliamentarians would like to see a central role for Parliament in shaping this country." | For Labour, shadow attorney general Baroness Chakrabarti told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government was creating a "drip-feed" of information, adding: "Parliamentarians would like to see a central role for Parliament in shaping this country." |
But former Conservative leader Lord Howard told Today: "The government has been instructed by the British people to negotiate our exit from the European Union." It was "ridiculous" to argue that Parliament should guide negotiations, he added. | But former Conservative leader Lord Howard told Today: "The government has been instructed by the British people to negotiate our exit from the European Union." It was "ridiculous" to argue that Parliament should guide negotiations, he added. |
The Scottish National Party says it has 50 amendments "ready to go" and expects to be properly consulted over issues such as trade and customs arrangement on an "equal basis". | The Scottish National Party says it has 50 amendments "ready to go" and expects to be properly consulted over issues such as trade and customs arrangement on an "equal basis". |
The Liberal Democrats, who have only nine MPs but more than 100 peers, say they will vote against triggering Article 50 unless there is a guarantee of the public having a vote on the final deal reached between the UK government and the EU. | The Liberal Democrats, who have only nine MPs but more than 100 peers, say they will vote against triggering Article 50 unless there is a guarantee of the public having a vote on the final deal reached between the UK government and the EU. |
Leader Tim Farron said that if the referendum he was proposing rejected whatever deal the UK had reached with the EU, the country would stay in the European Union. | Leader Tim Farron said that if the referendum he was proposing rejected whatever deal the UK had reached with the EU, the country would stay in the European Union. |
Meanwhile, the Scottish government will set out its official response to the Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday. | Meanwhile, the Scottish government will set out its official response to the Supreme Court's ruling on Wednesday. |
The 11 justices ruled that the UK government was not legally bound to take the views of the Scottish Parliament and other devolved administrations into account when triggering Article 50. | The 11 justices ruled that the UK government was not legally bound to take the views of the Scottish Parliament and other devolved administrations into account when triggering Article 50. |
But amid reports that the Scottish Parliament could hold a vote on the issue anyway, former First Minister Alex Salmond told BBC's Newsnight if its "reasonable proposals" - which include continued access for Scottish firms to the single market - were not listened to, there could be another Scottish independence referendum within two years. | But amid reports that the Scottish Parliament could hold a vote on the issue anyway, former First Minister Alex Salmond told BBC's Newsnight if its "reasonable proposals" - which include continued access for Scottish firms to the single market - were not listened to, there could be another Scottish independence referendum within two years. |
On Tuesday, Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood published a joint plan for Brexit, calling for full access to the single market and a "balanced approach" immigration, linking migration to jobs. | |
The document also urged the UK government to keep promises that Wales would not lose funding and demanded a "fundamentally different" relationship between devolved governments and Westminster after Brexit. |