This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41747036
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Brexit: May 'confident' MPs will get vote before exit | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Theresa May has said she is confident there will be enough time for MPs to get a Brexit vote before the UK leaves. | Theresa May has said she is confident there will be enough time for MPs to get a Brexit vote before the UK leaves. |
| During Prime Minister's Questions, she was pressed on comments by David Davis who earlier said a vote might not happen before the March 2019 deadline. | During Prime Minister's Questions, she was pressed on comments by David Davis who earlier said a vote might not happen before the March 2019 deadline. |
| He said the vote's timing hinged on when a deal was done and this may be at the "59th minute of the 11th hour". | He said the vote's timing hinged on when a deal was done and this may be at the "59th minute of the 11th hour". |
| But Mrs May said she believed it would happen "in time for Parliament to have the vote we committed to". | But Mrs May said she believed it would happen "in time for Parliament to have the vote we committed to". |
| The government agreed earlier this year to give Parliament a "meaningful" say on the outcome of the current negotiations but Downing Street has not said when it will be. | The government agreed earlier this year to give Parliament a "meaningful" say on the outcome of the current negotiations but Downing Street has not said when it will be. |
| The Brexit secretary told a Commons committee it had always been the government's intention that the vote would take place before the matter was considered by the European Parliament, expected to be in late 2018. | The Brexit secretary told a Commons committee it had always been the government's intention that the vote would take place before the matter was considered by the European Parliament, expected to be in late 2018. |
| But he said that "it can't come before we have the deal" and pressed on whether this might not happen before the end of March 2019, he replied "yes that's correct, in the event that we don't do the deal until then". | But he said that "it can't come before we have the deal" and pressed on whether this might not happen before the end of March 2019, he replied "yes that's correct, in the event that we don't do the deal until then". |
| The comments have been seized on by Labour MPs one of whom - Stephen Kinnock - asked the PM how Parliament "could have a meaningful vote on something that has already taken place". | The comments have been seized on by Labour MPs one of whom - Stephen Kinnock - asked the PM how Parliament "could have a meaningful vote on something that has already taken place". |
| Mrs May said it was right that negotiations could continue right until the scheduled date of Brexit but suggested that it was in the interest of all parties to conclude them before then. | Mrs May said it was right that negotiations could continue right until the scheduled date of Brexit but suggested that it was in the interest of all parties to conclude them before then. |
| "It is not just this Parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal - there will be ratifications by other Parliaments," she said. | "It is not just this Parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal - there will be ratifications by other Parliaments," she said. |
| "I am confident, because it is in the interests of both sides, that we will be able to achieve that agreement and negotiation in time for this Parliament to have the vote we committed to." | "I am confident, because it is in the interests of both sides, that we will be able to achieve that agreement and negotiation in time for this Parliament to have the vote we committed to." |
| Former Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan said it would be "completely pointless" to have a vote after the UK had left and said she was pleased about Mrs May's reassurances. | Former Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan said it would be "completely pointless" to have a vote after the UK had left and said she was pleased about Mrs May's reassurances. |
| "The danger of answering hypothetical questions as David Davis has done this morning is you end up in hotter water," she told the BBC's Daily Politics. "The sovereign Parliament has to have a final meaningful vote." | "The danger of answering hypothetical questions as David Davis has done this morning is you end up in hotter water," she told the BBC's Daily Politics. "The sovereign Parliament has to have a final meaningful vote." |
| 'High stress' | 'High stress' |
| The government, Mr Davis said, was aiming to conclude all its negotiations - including a future trade deal - by the time of its withdrawal and while this was perfectly feasible, it could be a close-run thing. | The government, Mr Davis said, was aiming to conclude all its negotiations - including a future trade deal - by the time of its withdrawal and while this was perfectly feasible, it could be a close-run thing. |
| "It is no secret that the way the union makes its decisions tends to be at the 11th minute... 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on and that's precisely what I expect to happen here." | "It is no secret that the way the union makes its decisions tends to be at the 11th minute... 59th minute of the 11th hour of the 11th day and so on and that's precisely what I expect to happen here." |
| "It will be very high stress, very exciting for everyone watching, but that's what will happen. In technical terms, there is no reason why we can't do this in the time available... I am quite sure in my mind we can do this." | "It will be very high stress, very exciting for everyone watching, but that's what will happen. In technical terms, there is no reason why we can't do this in the time available... I am quite sure in my mind we can do this." |
| Under the terms of existing EU treaties, the UK would not be able to sign a trade deal with the EU until it becomes a "third party" and has left the EU. Mr Davis said "technically" this was true, but said that a deal could be signed almost immediately after. "It could be a nano second." | Under the terms of existing EU treaties, the UK would not be able to sign a trade deal with the EU until it becomes a "third party" and has left the EU. Mr Davis said "technically" this was true, but said that a deal could be signed almost immediately after. "It could be a nano second." |
| On Monday, Mrs May suggested the two-year implementation period she was hoping for was dependent on details of the final "partnership" being clear at the time of exit. | On Monday, Mrs May suggested the two-year implementation period she was hoping for was dependent on details of the final "partnership" being clear at the time of exit. |
| This alarmed business groups, which warned earlier this week that the UK risks losing jobs and investment without an interim deal agreed much sooner. | This alarmed business groups, which warned earlier this week that the UK risks losing jobs and investment without an interim deal agreed much sooner. |
| Pressed on this during the hearing, Mr Davis said that by the first quarter of next year, it "should be pretty plain what we are trying to deliver" in terms of transition, which he said would look "much like" the status quo in terms of trade, migration and other arrangements. | Pressed on this during the hearing, Mr Davis said that by the first quarter of next year, it "should be pretty plain what we are trying to deliver" in terms of transition, which he said would look "much like" the status quo in terms of trade, migration and other arrangements. |
| 'Critical changes' | 'Critical changes' |
| However, he noted the EU had not yet drawn up their final negotiating guidelines on any transition and both sides needed to know what the UK's final destination would be before this was settled. | However, he noted the EU had not yet drawn up their final negotiating guidelines on any transition and both sides needed to know what the UK's final destination would be before this was settled. |
| Both sides, he said, had to know "where the UK was going" and whether the implementation period would lead to a full trade deal or what he described as a "bare bones" agreement where there were understandings in key areas but the UK defaulted to World Trade Organisation rules. | Both sides, he said, had to know "where the UK was going" and whether the implementation period would lead to a full trade deal or what he described as a "bare bones" agreement where there were understandings in key areas but the UK defaulted to World Trade Organisation rules. |
| Mr Davis, who is leading UK negotiations, said he was aiming for minimal disruption during a transition period, with the UK retaining existing arrangements on customs, financial services, aviation and migration from the EU and also having access to EU trade deals with countries like Canada and Japan. | Mr Davis, who is leading UK negotiations, said he was aiming for minimal disruption during a transition period, with the UK retaining existing arrangements on customs, financial services, aviation and migration from the EU and also having access to EU trade deals with countries like Canada and Japan. |
| He suggested that an outcome where the two sides were unable to agree anything was "off the probability scale" but conceded in such a circumstance, the UK would not have to pay any financial liabilities. | He suggested that an outcome where the two sides were unable to agree anything was "off the probability scale" but conceded in such a circumstance, the UK would not have to pay any financial liabilities. |