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Brexit: Theresa May defeated in critical vote on key EU withdrawal law | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The Government has been defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a critical vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. | The Government has been defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a critical vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. |
MPs amended her EU Withdrawal Bill against her will, so guaranteeing Parliament a "meaningful" vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. | |
Ms May's whips applied heavy pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305, a margin of just four votes. | |
Justice Minister Dominic Raab also sought to pick rebels off with concessions he offered from the Commons floor, but not enough backed down for Ms May to avoid her first defeat over the legislation. | |
The setback is a major blow to Ms May' political authority, underlining how fragile her parliamentary majority is and also signalling that those who disagree with her Brexit plans are ready cross a line in opposing their own leader. | |
The Government remained defient following the defeat, with a spokeswoman saying: "We are disappointed that Parliament has voted for this amendment despite the strong assurances that we have set out. | |
"We are as clear as ever that this Bill, and the powers within it, are essential. | |
"This amendment does not prevent us from preparing our statute book for exit day. We will now determine whether further changes are needed to the Bill to ensure it fulfils its vital purpose." | |
Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve led the rebellion via his amendment seven, which would require any Brexit deal to be approved by a separate act of Parliament before it could be implemented. | |
He warned ministers they had "run out of road" and drew upon Winston Churchill's spirit as he said he intended to put "country before his party". | |
Ex-cabinet minister Nicky Morgan, among Conservatives who refused to budge, said: "Tonight Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process." | |
Stephen Hammond, another former minister said he had voted against the Government with "a heavy heart" and said he thought the Government could have found a way out of the impasse had it been "swifter of foot". Anna Soubry MP also said: "Nobody takes any pleasure in the Government losing a vote." | |
Mr Raab made a last-ditch attempt to appease the would-be rebels but faced shouts of "too late" from some on his side. | |
He told MPs: "Having taken advice, and in particular having listened very carefully to the contributions by [Mr Grieve and Sir Oliver Letwin], the Government is willing - reflecting the mood of the House - to return at report stage with an amendment on the face of the Bill, making clear the undertaking and assurance that I gave in my speech that statutory instruments under clause nine will not enter into force until we've had a meaningful vote in Parliament." | |
More follows... | |