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Let Tories lead efforts to block ‘no deal’ Brexit, backbenchers urge Labour Theresa May and David Davis to travel to Brussels for urgent Brexit talks
(about 1 hour later)
Backbenchers have warned the Labour leadership to let rebel Conservative MPs lead the opposition to the EU withdrawal bill, after the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said his party was talking to Tory MPs to block any prospect of a “no deal” Brexit. Theresa May and David Davis will fly to Brussels for a private dinner with EU commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and the EU’s top Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, in a diplomacy blitz ahead of a crucial summit this week.
His comments sparked concern from Labour and Conservative backbenchers who believe Tory MPs are not likely to be won over to support the amendment if it can be construed as being orchestrated by McDonnell or the Labour frontbench. May and Davis will visit Juncker and Barnier in the Belgian capital on Monday evening where they are expected to make the case for EU leaders to agree to move on negotiations, to pave the way for discussions of Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
So far the UK has been unable to break the EU wall of unity that insists the talks about future relations cannot start until talks on terms of divorce are settled.
A European commission source said Juncker would have a working dinner with the prime minister, along with Davis and Barnier, on Monday evening to “discuss European and geopolitical issues of common interest and prepare” for the European council summit starting on Thursday. They would also discuss the long term agenda for G7 and G20.
May is said to be planning a whirlwind round of “telephone diplomacy” calls to EU leaders before the summit, after leaked documents suggested European leaders would present an agreed position on a transition period and a trade deal in December, as long as negotiations continue to make progress on “divorce issues” such as the exit bill and citizens’ rights. However, the final draft of the statement is still being negotiated between EU diplomats.
In a phone call with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Sunday, May stressed the importance of progress in the negotiations, in a week when her Conservative backbenchers have been pushing her to start making detailed preparations for a “no deal” scenario.
“They looked ahead to next week’s council, agreeing on the importance of continued constructive progress in the UK’s exit negotiations,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
The prime minister is expected to make similar calls to other EU leaders in the coming days but a No 10 source made it clear the prime minister May was not planning on threatening to withdraw from talks.
Foreign secretary Boris Johnson met eight eastern European foreign ministers at Chevening on Sunday in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock. The eight represent the countries most supportive of the UK, and the test will be whether they are prepared to break with France and Germany by calling for the talks on future EU-UK relations to be started soon.
It is the first time since the Brexit talks started that the Foreign Office has gathered such a collection of allies in one place.
May has come under pressure in recent days from hardline Conservative Brexiteers to take a tougher line with the EU when she meets leaders this week.
On Sunday, the former Brexit minister David Jones said Britain should be prepared to suspend negotiations at this week’s European council meeting in Brussels until the EU was prepared to negotiate further on the financial settlement and begin talks on future trade terms.
“Until such time as you talk to us we will assume you are not really serious and we will of course have to prepare for life outside the EU in which we will be trading with you on World Trade Organization terms,” Jones told BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend.
Such a strategy is likely to meet fierce opposition from MPs on both sides of the House who oppose a hard Brexit. On Sunday, shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, has said his party was talking to Tory MPs to block any prospect of a “no deal” Brexit.
However, his comments sparked concern from Labour and Conservative backbenchers who believe Tory MPs are not likely to be won over to support the amendment if it can be construed as being orchestrated by McDonnell or the Labour frontbench.
McDonnell’s comments came as a cross-party group of MPs, including several former Conservative ministers, revealed plans that would give parliament the ability to veto a “bad deal” or “no deal” outcome, using amendments to the forthcoming EU withdrawal bill.McDonnell’s comments came as a cross-party group of MPs, including several former Conservative ministers, revealed plans that would give parliament the ability to veto a “bad deal” or “no deal” outcome, using amendments to the forthcoming EU withdrawal bill.
Meanwhile, Theresa May and the Brexit secretary, David Davis, will travel to Brussels on Monday for further talks with European Union chiefs, Downing Street has said. They will meet the European commission president, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the EU’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier.
The shadow chancellor said Labour was not prepared to consider the prospect of leaving the EU without a negotiated settlement. “I’m not willing to countenance that. I don’t think there is a majority in parliament for no deal,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.The shadow chancellor said Labour was not prepared to consider the prospect of leaving the EU without a negotiated settlement. “I’m not willing to countenance that. I don’t think there is a majority in parliament for no deal,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show.
“I think there are enough sensible people in the House of Commons to say: ‘This cannot happen – we cannot damage our country in this way.’”“I think there are enough sensible people in the House of Commons to say: ‘This cannot happen – we cannot damage our country in this way.’”
Asked if Labour would work with Conservative MPs who were also concerned about leaving with no deal, McDonnell said: “There are discussions going right the way across the house.”Asked if Labour would work with Conservative MPs who were also concerned about leaving with no deal, McDonnell said: “There are discussions going right the way across the house.”
One Labour MP called the comments “totally counterproductive” to cross-party collaboration between MPs from both sides lobbying for a soft Brexit. “The Tories don’t want to do anything perceived to help Corbyn; this kind of chat puts them off challenging the ministerial frontbench,” the source said.One Labour MP called the comments “totally counterproductive” to cross-party collaboration between MPs from both sides lobbying for a soft Brexit. “The Tories don’t want to do anything perceived to help Corbyn; this kind of chat puts them off challenging the ministerial frontbench,” the source said.
“The Tory anti-hard Brexit MPs are clear: they will only work with Labour backbenchers in the national interest on a cross-party basis to make amendments to legislation; they won’t touch frontbench initiatives with a barge pole.”“The Tory anti-hard Brexit MPs are clear: they will only work with Labour backbenchers in the national interest on a cross-party basis to make amendments to legislation; they won’t touch frontbench initiatives with a barge pole.”
Another senior Tory MP involved in the amendment process said: “The idea that any Conservative is going to sign up to a Jeremy Corbyn-backed amendment is fantasy. We do speak to Labour backbenchers but we are not having conversations with the frontbench. I think it is wise to allow Conservative backbenchers to lead on some of these issues.”Another senior Tory MP involved in the amendment process said: “The idea that any Conservative is going to sign up to a Jeremy Corbyn-backed amendment is fantasy. We do speak to Labour backbenchers but we are not having conversations with the frontbench. I think it is wise to allow Conservative backbenchers to lead on some of these issues.”
One Labour backbencher said the amendments had wide support across the house beyond the “usual suspects” of pro-remain Conservative MPs. “John McDonnell is not talking to those MPs nor would it be helpful if he did,” the MP said.One Labour backbencher said the amendments had wide support across the house beyond the “usual suspects” of pro-remain Conservative MPs. “John McDonnell is not talking to those MPs nor would it be helpful if he did,” the MP said.
It is unclear whether MPs will be able to devise a mechanism to reject a “cliff-edge” Brexit, should talks break down and Britain’s EU membership expire at the end of the two-year withdrawal process.It is unclear whether MPs will be able to devise a mechanism to reject a “cliff-edge” Brexit, should talks break down and Britain’s EU membership expire at the end of the two-year withdrawal process.
The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said parliament would have no mechanism to keep the UK in the EU beyond 30 March 2019, which is when Britain’s membership of the bloc will automatically end if no deal is reached. “Parliament has already voted for leaving the European Union overwhelmingly,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.The transport secretary, Chris Grayling, said parliament would have no mechanism to keep the UK in the EU beyond 30 March 2019, which is when Britain’s membership of the bloc will automatically end if no deal is reached. “Parliament has already voted for leaving the European Union overwhelmingly,” he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.
Among the amendmentsthat MPs hope would avoid a “cliff-edge Brexit” is a clause saying any final deal must be approved by an entirely separate act of parliament.Among the amendmentsthat MPs hope would avoid a “cliff-edge Brexit” is a clause saying any final deal must be approved by an entirely separate act of parliament.
This is backed by 10 Tory MPs, including the former cabinet minister Dominic Grieve, who believe this would give the majority of parliamentarians who are opposed to a hard Brexit a binding vote on the final outcome.This is backed by 10 Tory MPs, including the former cabinet minister Dominic Grieve, who believe this would give the majority of parliamentarians who are opposed to a hard Brexit a binding vote on the final outcome.
Another amendment backed by the former Tory chancellor Kenneth Clarke and prominent Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green MPs would enshrine in law the prime minister’s commitment to seeking a transition deal, laid out in May’s Florence speech. If such a transition was not agreed, the amendment says, exit from the EU should not be allowed to happen.Another amendment backed by the former Tory chancellor Kenneth Clarke and prominent Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green MPs would enshrine in law the prime minister’s commitment to seeking a transition deal, laid out in May’s Florence speech. If such a transition was not agreed, the amendment says, exit from the EU should not be allowed to happen.
The prime minister will attend the European council this week where she is expected to press EU leaders to agree to move on negotiations to discuss Britain’s future relationship with the EU.
Boris Johnson met eight eastern European foreign ministers at Chevening on Sunday in an attempt to break the Brexit deadlock. The eight represent the countries most supportive of the UK, and the test will be whether they are prepared to break with France and Germany by calling for the talks on future EU-UK relations to be started soon.
So far the UK has been unable to break the EU wall of unity that insists the talks about future relations cannot start until talks on terms of divorce are settled. It is the first time since the Brexit talks started that the Foreign Office has gathered such a collection of allies in one place.
On Sunday, the former Brexit minister David Jones said Britain should be prepared to suspend negotiations at this week’s European council meeting in Brussels until the EU was prepared to negotiate further on the financial settlement and begin talks on future trade terms.
“Until such time as you talk to us we will assume you are not really serious and we will of course have to prepare for life outside the EU in which we will be trading with you on World Trade Organization terms,” Jones told BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend.
May is said to be planning a round of “telephone diplomacy” calls to EU leaders before the summit, after leaked documents suggested European leaders would present an agreed position on a transition period and a trade deal in December, as long as negotiations continue to make progress on “divorce issues” such as the exit bill and citizens’ rights.
In a phone call with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, on Sunday, May stressed the importance of progress in the negotiations, in a week when her Conservative backbenchers have been pushing her to start making detailed preparations for a “no deal” scenario.
“They looked ahead to next week’s council, agreeing on the importance of continued constructive progress in the UK’s exit negotiations,” a Downing Street spokesman said.
The prime minister is expected to make similar calls to other EU leaders in the coming days but a No 10 source made it clear May was not planning on threatening to withdraw from talks.