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Rebellion threat to EU Withdrawal Bill Rebellion threat to EU Withdrawal Bill
(about 2 hours later)
The government is facing the threat of a defeat by rebel backbenchers when MPs vote on its flagship EU legislation.The government is facing the threat of a defeat by rebel backbenchers when MPs vote on its flagship EU legislation.
Led by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve - a Conservative MP - the rebels want to insert a legal guarantee that MPs should get a vote on any final Brexit deal before it is finalised.Led by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve - a Conservative MP - the rebels want to insert a legal guarantee that MPs should get a vote on any final Brexit deal before it is finalised.
The amendment, which could be backed by Labour, will be debated later. The amendment, which will be backed by Labour, will be debated later.
Theresa May said she was listening to MPs' concerns, while Brexit Secretary David Davis has written to Tory MPs. Brexit Secretary David Davis has written to Tory MPs but Mr Grieve said it was a "dialogue of the deaf".
The government has no majority in the Commons and is vulnerable to a revolt by its MPs.The government has no majority in the Commons and is vulnerable to a revolt by its MPs.
Ahead of the vote, Mr Davis wrote to all Conservative members on Wednesday morning promising "a meaningful vote" on Brexit.Ahead of the vote, Mr Davis wrote to all Conservative members on Wednesday morning promising "a meaningful vote" on Brexit.
He said there will be a vote in Parliament "as soon as possible" after an agreement with the EU is reached, adding: "Our entire approach to the bill has been to listen to MPs."He said there will be a vote in Parliament "as soon as possible" after an agreement with the EU is reached, adding: "Our entire approach to the bill has been to listen to MPs."
The UK is due to leave the EU in March 2019, and the EU Withdrawal Bill is a key part of the government's exit strategy.The UK is due to leave the EU in March 2019, and the EU Withdrawal Bill is a key part of the government's exit strategy.
Its effects include ending the supremacy of EU law and copying existing EU law onto the UK statute book, so that the same rules and regulations apply on Brexit day.Its effects include ending the supremacy of EU law and copying existing EU law onto the UK statute book, so that the same rules and regulations apply on Brexit day.
The bill is currently making its way through Parliament, where MPs from across the House of Commons have been trying to amend it.The bill is currently making its way through Parliament, where MPs from across the House of Commons have been trying to amend it.
So far it has emerged unscathed, but on Wednesday several rebels are lining up behind Mr Grieve's bid to ensure a "meaningful vote" on any final deal agreed with Brussels.So far it has emerged unscathed, but on Wednesday several rebels are lining up behind Mr Grieve's bid to ensure a "meaningful vote" on any final deal agreed with Brussels.
The government has already offered a take-it-or-leave-it vote via a new act of Parliament on the final deal reached with Brussels.
But Mr Grieve said the bill as currently worded would allow ministers to implement the agreement themselves without consulting MPs.
Who will blink first?Who will blink first?
BBC political editor Laura KuenssbergBBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg
For vulnerable governments, losing is potentially much more dangerous than the odd defeat for governments who are secure in the level of their support.For vulnerable governments, losing is potentially much more dangerous than the odd defeat for governments who are secure in the level of their support.
It's in that context that the government faces a potential defeat on Wednesday on the Withdrawal Bill and must weigh up its best course of action.It's in that context that the government faces a potential defeat on Wednesday on the Withdrawal Bill and must weigh up its best course of action.
The legislation has been grinding its way through the Commons for weeks. Tory rebels have threatened to vote against the government on a few different occasions.The legislation has been grinding its way through the Commons for weeks. Tory rebels have threatened to vote against the government on a few different occasions.
This time however, with the rebellion led by one of the most unlikely troublemakers, the former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, they really do mean business.This time however, with the rebellion led by one of the most unlikely troublemakers, the former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, they really do mean business.
And while the government today has sought to say ministers are listening, government sources say they are looking to do what they can to make peace - as things stand, it's feasible that the prime minister will be beaten in the Commons on Wednesday. Yes, a possible defeat on the eve of the European Council.And while the government today has sought to say ministers are listening, government sources say they are looking to do what they can to make peace - as things stand, it's feasible that the prime minister will be beaten in the Commons on Wednesday. Yes, a possible defeat on the eve of the European Council.
Read the rest of Laura's blogRead the rest of Laura's blog
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's The World at One, Mr Grieve said his amendment to the bill would not prevent Brexit from happening, but suggested MPs should be able to send the government back to the negotiating table if they did not like the deal that was being put forward. The government has already offered a take-it-or-leave-it vote on the final deal reached with Brussels and to enshrine the withdrawal agreement in a new Act of Parliament.
He said he would listen if ministers promised to come back with further measures at a later date but would not be backing down. But Mr Grieve said the bill as currently worded would allow ministers to "circumvent" this agreed process and implement the agreement themselves without consulting MPs.
Asked about his chances of inflicting a government defeat, he said: "I think there are quite a few who may support me - I think enough, if this comes to a vote, to defeat the government. "This in no way prevents Brexit from taking place," he told Sky News. "This is all readily curable but the government needs to listen."
"I think there is a real possibility that that will happen." He added: "I have no desire to defeat my government. I am not a rebel. I don't want to do that but the government needs to listen to what is being said and at the moment my impression of the last few days is that it seems to be a bit of a dialogue of the deaf."
Conservative Eurosceptics have reacted angrily to the threatened revolt. But Conservative Eurosceptics have reacted angrily to the threatened revolt.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: "There comes a moment when really grandstanding has to stop. Tying the government's hands in the way that he would wish to tie them so early on is quite wrong."Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: "There comes a moment when really grandstanding has to stop. Tying the government's hands in the way that he would wish to tie them so early on is quite wrong."
But Labour, which has tabled a similar amendment, signalled its backing for the change in the bill's wording.But Labour, which has tabled a similar amendment, signalled its backing for the change in the bill's wording.
"Labour have always been clear that Parliament, not ministers, must have the final say on the UK's withdrawal agreement with the European Union. This means both a vote on the draft deal and then primary legislation implementing the ultimate agreement," said shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook. Speaking during a visit to Paris on Tuesday, Theresa May said there were MPs "looking for reassurance" about the EU bill, adding that "of course we've been listening and talking to those colleagues".
"Warm words and woolly concessions from ministers are not enough."
Speaking in Paris, Mrs May said there were MPs "looking for reassurance" about the EU bill, adding that "of course we've been listening and talking to those colleagues".