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 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-44428582

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Brexit: Amber Rudd urges rebels to back PM in EU vote Brexit: Amber Rudd urges rebels to back PM in EU vote
(about 1 hour later)
The former Home Secretary Amber Rudd has appealed to Conservative colleagues to support Theresa May when the Commons votes again on the EU withdrawal bill.The former Home Secretary Amber Rudd has appealed to Conservative colleagues to support Theresa May when the Commons votes again on the EU withdrawal bill.
In a show of unity, Remainer Ms Rudd has co-authored a piece in Sunday's Telegraph with Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith, calling on MPs to back the PM.In a show of unity, Remainer Ms Rudd has co-authored a piece in Sunday's Telegraph with Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith, calling on MPs to back the PM.
Backing the bill was a "no brainer" and vital to delivering Brexit, they said.Backing the bill was a "no brainer" and vital to delivering Brexit, they said.
Labour are urging Tory rebels to side with them on "defining" issues such as staying in some form of customs union.Labour are urging Tory rebels to side with them on "defining" issues such as staying in some form of customs union.
The bill returns to the Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday as ministers try to overturn more than a dozen amendments made by the House of Lords.The bill returns to the Commons on Tuesday and Wednesday as ministers try to overturn more than a dozen amendments made by the House of Lords.
If enough Tory MPs decide to vote with Labour and other opposition parties, the government could be defeated on several key votes.If enough Tory MPs decide to vote with Labour and other opposition parties, the government could be defeated on several key votes.
More than a dozen rebels could vote in favour of amendments intended to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU and give Parliament a decisive say over the final Brexit deal.More than a dozen rebels could vote in favour of amendments intended to keep the UK in a customs union with the EU and give Parliament a decisive say over the final Brexit deal.
While rebelling would be "difficult", Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said Tory MPs had a "real chance to change the course of the Brexit negotiations" and "bring order" to what he said had become a chaotic process.While rebelling would be "difficult", Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said Tory MPs had a "real chance to change the course of the Brexit negotiations" and "bring order" to what he said had become a chaotic process.
'Unity of purpose''Unity of purpose'
But Ms Rudd and Mr Duncan Smith said Labour, which has been criticised by some of its own MPs for not backing an amendment on single market access, would be quick to exploit any government setback.But Ms Rudd and Mr Duncan Smith said Labour, which has been criticised by some of its own MPs for not backing an amendment on single market access, would be quick to exploit any government setback.
"Jeremy Corbyn will do everything he can to stop us," they wrote. "That includes cynically trying to frustrate the Brexit process for his own political ends.""Jeremy Corbyn will do everything he can to stop us," they wrote. "That includes cynically trying to frustrate the Brexit process for his own political ends."
In the joint article, the pair say the withdrawal bill is "not about competing visions of the future but about ensuring legal certainty at our point of departure".In the joint article, the pair say the withdrawal bill is "not about competing visions of the future but about ensuring legal certainty at our point of departure".
Urging colleagues "to demonstrate discipline and unity of purpose", they said "we cannot allow ourselves to become divided and risk losing the precious chance to go on implementing policies that transform lives".Urging colleagues "to demonstrate discipline and unity of purpose", they said "we cannot allow ourselves to become divided and risk losing the precious chance to go on implementing policies that transform lives".
Ministers are confident of winning most of the votes, as Mrs May will have the support of a handful of pro-Brexit Labour MPs and the backing of 10 Democratic Unionist MPs. Housing minister Dominic Raab said he was "reasonably confident" the government, which will have the support of a handful of pro-Brexit Labour MPs and the 10 Democratic Unionist MPs, would prevail.
But they are vulnerable to defeat on the terms of "meaningful vote" that Parliament is to be given on the final deal. Passing the withdrawal bill would be a "turning point" in the Brexit process, he told the BBC's Sunday Politics, as it would be the basis for a "smooth transition" after the UK leaves.
Labour and some Tories want MPs to have the final say on what to do next if the deal is rejected, including the power to force ministers to go back to the negotiating table. Potential rebels had to think "very seriously" before defying the government, he added.
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington accepted the parliamentary arithmetic was "difficult" for his party as they do not have a majority in the Commons. 'Terrible treatment'
He urged MPs to get behind the PM, insisting that Mrs May would "not shirk from being tough" as negotiations come to a head in the run-up to a summit of EU leaders later this month. But former Chancellor Ken Clarke rejected suggestions Mrs May could be forced out if she was defeated - saying she would comfortably win any vote of confidence among Conservative MPs.
He sought to down play cabinet divisions and defended the Treasury, described as the "heart of Remain" by Boris Johnson in remarks last week, saying chancellor Philip Hammond was "working extremely hard" to deliver on the referendum result in a way that protected jobs and economic growth. "We need to rescue the prime minister from this terrible treatment she is getting from key members of her cabinet," he told Sunday Politics.
He suggested Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who criticised the government's strategy last week, and Brexit Secretary David Davis, who reportedly came close to resigning, were using "Donald Trump methods" to undermine the prime minister.
The veteran europhile said MPs must take "control" of the Brexit process and he would back efforts to strengthen the terms of the "meaningful vote" that Parliament has been promised on the final deal.
"I know we have got to back the prime minister but kicking the can down the road for another month is hopeless," he said.
Speaking earlier to the BBC's Andrew Marr show, Cabinet Office minister David Lidington accepted the parliamentary arithmetic was "difficult" but urged MPs to "get behind" the PM - whom he said would "not shirk from being tough" in the run-up to a summit of EU leaders later this month.
The prime minister, who will address all Tory MPs on Monday, has accused peers of going "far beyond" their role with their amendments to the withdrawal bill.The prime minister, who will address all Tory MPs on Monday, has accused peers of going "far beyond" their role with their amendments to the withdrawal bill.
Speaking in Canada before leaving the G7 summit, she said: "Let's remember what the withdrawal bill is for: it's about delivering a statute book that is ready for Brexit day." But confirming her party would vote against the government on all the amendments, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the EU Withdrawal Bill as it stood was "unacceptable".
"This government is delivering on the decision made by the country in the referendum to leave the EU and we will not accept anything that prevents us from taking back control of our money, laws and borders." She said SNP MPs wanted a vote on "protecting the powers" of the Scottish Parliament after the UK leaves.
But confirming her party would vote against the government, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the EU Withdrawal Bill as it stood was "unacceptable".
She said her MPs wanted a vote on "protecting the powers" of the Scottish Parliament after the UK leaves.
"We are getting close to crunch point," she said. "The government risks taking the UK off a cliff-edge.""We are getting close to crunch point," she said. "The government risks taking the UK off a cliff-edge."