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Rebellion threat to EU Withdrawal Bill Brexit: May stands firm over Commons vote demands
(about 1 hour later)
The government is facing the threat of a defeat by rebel backbenchers when MPs vote on its flagship EU legislation. Theresa May has insisted Parliament will have a "meaningful vote" on the terms of Brexit as she faces the threat of a defeat in the Commons later.
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 PM said MPs would have a say on the final deal before the UK exit in March 2019, but it must happen in a way that ensures a "smooth and orderly" exit.
The amendment, which will be backed by Labour, will be debated later. Tory rebels will join forces with Labour later to seek an explicit legal guarantee in the EU Withdrawal Bill.
Brexit Secretary David Davis has written to Tory MPs but Mr Grieve said it was a "dialogue of the deaf". Former minister Anna Soubry urged the PM to agree in a "spirit of unity".
Prime Minister Theresa May has just set out her case during Prime Minister's Questions: Brexit Secretary David Davis has written to Tory MPs but Dominic Grieve - who is leading demands for a vote on any final Brexit deal before it is finalised - has said he will not back down.
After Theresa May set out her case during Prime Minister's Questions, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the PM had appeared not to budge, leading potential rebels to "shake their heads".
However, she insisted that much could still change before the amendment is voted on later on Wednesday.
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.
What the vote means for BrexitWhat the vote means for Brexit
By BBC assistant political editor Norman SmithBy BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith
I'm guessing everyone's a bit jaded with the endless Brexit rows and threats of revolts. But this one really does matter.I'm guessing everyone's a bit jaded with the endless Brexit rows and threats of revolts. But this one really does matter.
This is the Big Bananas moment. And on that both sides seem to agree. It's not a minor, footling technical issue - it's about who's running the show, Parliament or the prime minister.This is the Big Bananas moment. And on that both sides seem to agree. It's not a minor, footling technical issue - it's about who's running the show, Parliament or the prime minister.
Brexiteers view tonight's vote as an attempt by refusenik Remainers to de-rail Brexit. And, privately, some hard line Remainers see it as a means to fundamentally change the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. Other rebels argue it's about making good the Brexiteers promise to "take back control' to the UK Parliament.Brexiteers view tonight's vote as an attempt by refusenik Remainers to de-rail Brexit. And, privately, some hard line Remainers see it as a means to fundamentally change the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. Other rebels argue it's about making good the Brexiteers promise to "take back control' to the UK Parliament.
But it is also a Big Bananas moment for Theresa May. Defeat in the Commons - and it would be her first - would knock her premiership back on the ropes after she had bounced back with last week's deal in Brussels.But it is also a Big Bananas moment for Theresa May. Defeat in the Commons - and it would be her first - would knock her premiership back on the ropes after she had bounced back with last week's deal in Brussels.
It would also dent her authority in the Brexit negotiations with EU leaders, who would again question her ability to deliver a deal.It would also dent her authority in the Brexit negotiations with EU leaders, who would again question her ability to deliver a deal.
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.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.
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.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.
"This (amendment) in no way prevents Brexit from taking place," he told Sky News. "This is all readily curable but the government needs to listen.""This (amendment) in no way prevents Brexit from taking place," he told Sky News. "This is all readily curable but the government needs to listen."
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."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."
Former education secretary Nicky Morgan told the BBC it was in the national interest for Parliament to have a "final vote on the final deal" and urged ministers to listen at "this late stage".Former education secretary Nicky Morgan told the BBC it was in the national interest for Parliament to have a "final vote on the final deal" and urged ministers to listen at "this late stage".
Other likely rebels have also indicated they will not be backing down, without further concessions by the government.Other likely rebels have also indicated they will not be backing down, without further concessions by the government.
But 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."
Labour, which has tabled a similar amendment, signalled its backing for the change in the bill's wording.Labour, which has tabled a similar amendment, signalled its backing for the change in the bill's wording.
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".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".