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David Davis says he 'expects and intends' Commons vote on Brexit deal David Davis says he ‘expects and intends’ Commons vote on Brexit deal
(35 minutes later)
David Davis has been forced to issue a statement saying the government still “expects and intends” to give parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal before Britain leaves the European Union, apparently contradicting remarks he made just hours earlier. David Davis has been forced to issue a statement saying the government still “expects and intends” to give parliament a vote on the final Brexit deal before Britain leaves the EU, apparently contradicting remarks he made just hours earlier.
On Wednesday morning the Brexit secretary told MPs on the Brexit select committee that parliament might not get the chance to ratify the deal until after March 2019, because an agreement with the EU27 would not be concluded until the 11th hour.On Wednesday morning the Brexit secretary told MPs on the Brexit select committee that parliament might not get the chance to ratify the deal until after March 2019, because an agreement with the EU27 would not be concluded until the 11th hour.
The tone of his remarks appeared to be contradicted by Theresa May at prime minister’s questions shortly afterwards, when she said: “I’m confident, because it is in the interests of both sides, it’s not just this parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal, [that] actually there will be ratification by other parliaments, that we will be able to achieve that deal in time for parliament to have the vote that we committed to.”The tone of his remarks appeared to be contradicted by Theresa May at prime minister’s questions shortly afterwards, when she said: “I’m confident, because it is in the interests of both sides, it’s not just this parliament that wants to have a vote on that deal, [that] actually there will be ratification by other parliaments, that we will be able to achieve that deal in time for parliament to have the vote that we committed to.”
Hours later, Davis’s department issued a statement echoing the prime minister’s comments. A spokesman said: “We are working to reach an agreement on the final deal in good time before we leave the EU in March 2019. Once the deal is agreed we will meet our long-standing commitment to a vote in both Houses and we expect and intend this to be before the vote in the European Parliament and therefore before we leave.” Hours later, Davis’s department issued a statement echoing the prime minister’s comments. A spokesman said: “We are working to reach an agreement on the final deal in good time before we leave the EU in March 2019. Once the deal is agreed we will meet our long-standing commitment to a vote in both houses and we expect and intend this to be before the vote in the European parliament and therefore before we leave.”
The spokesman added that Davis had been asked about “hypothetical scenarios” at the committee hearing.The spokesman added that Davis had been asked about “hypothetical scenarios” at the committee hearing.
Asked by Labour MP Seema Malhotra when he envisaged parliament would be able to vote on the future relationship with the EU once a deal had been concluded, Davis had said discussions could go on until the final minute on the final day of negotiations. Asked by the Labour MP Seema Malhotra when he envisaged parliament would be able to vote on the future relationship with the EU once a deal had been concluded, Davis had said discussions could go on until the final minute of the final day of negotiations.
When Malhotra asked if that could mean a vote coming after the UK formally exits under the article 50 process timeline – which would be 29 March 2019, he said: “Yes, it could be. It can’t come before we have the deal. We have said it is our intent and expectation that we will bring it to the British parliament before the European parliament.” When Malhotra asked if that could mean a vote coming after the UK formally exits under the article 50 process timeline – which would be 29 March 2019 – he said: “Yes, it could be. It can’t come before we have the deal. We have said it is our intent and expectation that we will bring it to the British parliament before the European parliament.”
The issue was the latest example of the government being forced to clarify its stance on key aspects of the Brexit process, after May alarmed business groups on Monday by appearing to suggest a transition deal would not be concluded until a final trade agreement is made.The issue was the latest example of the government being forced to clarify its stance on key aspects of the Brexit process, after May alarmed business groups on Monday by appearing to suggest a transition deal would not be concluded until a final trade agreement is made.
No 10 later insisted the prime minister had “full confidence in David Davis and his team” – but did not deny the Brexit secretary’s comments in the select committee had been contradicted by his own department on Monday afternoon. No 10 later insisted the prime minister had “full confidence in David Davis and his team” – but did not deny that the Brexit secretary’s comments in the select committee had been contradicted by his own department.
“He was asked a question about timing which was hypothetical and as you expect in a select committee, secretaries of state answer the questions put to them and he did,” the prime minister’s spokeswoman said. “The important point is that on the issue of voting, it is our intention and full expectation that we will secure a deal in good time before we leave and we will have a vote on it before we leave.”“He was asked a question about timing which was hypothetical and as you expect in a select committee, secretaries of state answer the questions put to them and he did,” the prime minister’s spokeswoman said. “The important point is that on the issue of voting, it is our intention and full expectation that we will secure a deal in good time before we leave and we will have a vote on it before we leave.”
Asked if the prime minister’s statement was aligned with Davis’s comment in the select committee, the spokeswoman said: “That’s for you to judge. The statement his department has issued is in total alignment with No 10’s position.”Asked if the prime minister’s statement was aligned with Davis’s comment in the select committee, the spokeswoman said: “That’s for you to judge. The statement his department has issued is in total alignment with No 10’s position.”
Downing Street also declined to back Davis’s comments in the select committee that he expected the negotiations to go down to the 11th hour. “His department have issued a statement since then. That’s what you should read.”Downing Street also declined to back Davis’s comments in the select committee that he expected the negotiations to go down to the 11th hour. “His department have issued a statement since then. That’s what you should read.”
Davis had told the Brexit select committee that he believed the EU would only finalise the deal at the last possible moment. “It’s no secret that the way the union makes its decisions tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the last day. That’s precisely what I would expect to happen here. I am quite sure in my mind that we can do that,” he said.Davis had told the Brexit select committee that he believed the EU would only finalise the deal at the last possible moment. “It’s no secret that the way the union makes its decisions tends to be at the 59th minute of the 11th hour of the last day. That’s precisely what I would expect to happen here. I am quite sure in my mind that we can do that,” he said.
“If there is a time limit on a negotiation the union stops the clock, it assumes it is still at 11.59 and it carries on until the deal is concluded, sometimes for 24, 36, 48 hours. That what I imagine will happen here. It will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching. But that will be what happens.”“If there is a time limit on a negotiation the union stops the clock, it assumes it is still at 11.59 and it carries on until the deal is concluded, sometimes for 24, 36, 48 hours. That what I imagine will happen here. It will be a lot of pressure, very high stress, very exciting for everybody watching. But that will be what happens.”
He dismissed the EU chief negotiator’s claims that Brexit trade talks would drag on for years, insisting an agreement could be signed within a “nanosecond” of leaving the bloc.He dismissed the EU chief negotiator’s claims that Brexit trade talks would drag on for years, insisting an agreement could be signed within a “nanosecond” of leaving the bloc.
Both Labour and Conservative MPs seized on Davis’s remarks, saying it was “unacceptable” that parliament faced the prospect of having no vote on the final Brexit deal until after the UK has left.Both Labour and Conservative MPs seized on Davis’s remarks, saying it was “unacceptable” that parliament faced the prospect of having no vote on the final Brexit deal until after the UK has left.
Labour MP Chuka Umunna said Davis’ comments were “in clear breach” of what former DExEU minister David Jones had told parliament in February, that parliament would have a “meaningful vote ... a choice between leaving the European Union with a negotiated deal or not”. Labour’s Chuka Umunna said Davis’s comments were “in clear breach” of what the former DExEU minister David Jones had told MPs in February, that parliament would have a “meaningful vote … a choice between leaving the European Union with a negotiated deal or not”.
The promise of a vote was one of the key concessions, as the government struggled to get the Article 50 bill, allowing it to trigger the formal process of exiting the EU, through the Commons. The promise of a vote was one of the key concessions as the government struggled to get the article 50 bill, allowing it to trigger the formal process of exiting the EU, through the Commons.
The former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan also told the BBC it would be “completely wrong” for a vote to be delayed until after the UK had formally exited the bloc. The former Conservative cabinet minister Nicky Morgan also told the BBC it would be “completely wrong” for a vote to be delayed until after the UK had formally left the bloc.
“It’s completely pointless to have such vote at that stage and so it’s clearly unacceptable,” she said.“It’s completely pointless to have such vote at that stage and so it’s clearly unacceptable,” she said.
During the select committee, the Brexit secretary said the UK still believed the trade deal could be completed before the end of March 2019, despite Michel Barnier saying talks could extend throughout the transition period after leaving.During the select committee, the Brexit secretary said the UK still believed the trade deal could be completed before the end of March 2019, despite Michel Barnier saying talks could extend throughout the transition period after leaving.
Davis said he disagreed with Barnier on this point but said individual EU leaders might take a different view, allowing for a trade deal to be done in the next 12 months before ratification by each country’s national and regional parliaments. Davis said he disagreed with Barnier on this point but that individual EU leaders might take a different view, allowing for a trade deal to be done in the next 12 months before ratification by each country’s national and regional parliaments.
Davis said May was right but an outline of the transitional period could be agreed sooner. “What we’re aiming for is the conclusion of negotiations on all fronts by the end of March 2019. In principle, what she said in the chamber is right ... But what we are intending to do is get the form of the implementation period agreed quickly, December thereafter, but we want to conclude the overall negotiation by the end of March 2019,” he said. Davis said May was right but an outline of the transitional period could be agreed sooner. “What we’re aiming for is the conclusion of negotiations on all fronts by the end of March 2019. In principle, what she said in the chamber is right … But what we are intending to do is get the form of the implementation period agreed quickly, December thereafter, but we want to conclude the overall negotiation by the end of March 2019,” he said.