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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Brexit legal advice: MPs to vote on contempt of Parliament motion | Brexit legal advice: MPs to vote on contempt of Parliament motion |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| MPs will vote later on whether the UK government broke Parliament's rules by failing to publish the full legal advice it received on the Brexit plan. | |
| The government's chief legal adviser, Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, published an overview on Monday. | |
| Opposition parties say that by limiting the information released, ministers ignored a binding Commons vote demanding they release the full advice. | |
| No 10 insists publishing confidential advice is not in the national interest. | No 10 insists publishing confidential advice is not in the national interest. |
| It comes ahead of five days of debate on the EU withdrawal agreement, with MPs voting on the PM's deal next week. | It comes ahead of five days of debate on the EU withdrawal agreement, with MPs voting on the PM's deal next week. |
| The debate is scheduled to last eight hours a day, with Theresa May expected to say the UK is on course for a "better future outside the EU" and that her deal "takes back control of our borders, laws and money". | The debate is scheduled to last eight hours a day, with Theresa May expected to say the UK is on course for a "better future outside the EU" and that her deal "takes back control of our borders, laws and money". |
| However, the prime minister faces opposition from MPs on all sides - including both the Leave and Remain wings of her own party - who argue that better deals are available, or that the public should have the final say in a referendum. | However, the prime minister faces opposition from MPs on all sides - including both the Leave and Remain wings of her own party - who argue that better deals are available, or that the public should have the final say in a referendum. |
| Many believe her deal is flawed because of a "backstop" that could keep the UK tied to EU customs rules in the event no future trade deal can be agreed. Some believe only the full legal advice will shed light on this. | Many believe her deal is flawed because of a "backstop" that could keep the UK tied to EU customs rules in the event no future trade deal can be agreed. Some believe only the full legal advice will shed light on this. |
| Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "This is not about party politics. | Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, said: "This is not about party politics. |
| "It's about parliamentary democracy and guaranteeing that MPs have the information they need to know - precisely what the government has negotiated with the European Union." | "It's about parliamentary democracy and guaranteeing that MPs have the information they need to know - precisely what the government has negotiated with the European Union." |
| Sir Keir signed a motion demanding immediate publication of the full and final advice, along with senior MPs from the Lib Dems, the SNP, the Democratic Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. | Sir Keir signed a motion demanding immediate publication of the full and final advice, along with senior MPs from the Lib Dems, the SNP, the Democratic Unionist Party, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party. |
| "Even at this 11th hour, I would urge ministers to step back from the brink and to not go down in history as the first government to be found in contempt," he added | "Even at this 11th hour, I would urge ministers to step back from the brink and to not go down in history as the first government to be found in contempt," he added |
| Commons Speaker John Bercow said late on Monday there was an "arguable case" that a contempt of Parliament had been committed. | Commons Speaker John Bercow said late on Monday there was an "arguable case" that a contempt of Parliament had been committed. |
| However, the government then tabled an amendment to have the issue referred to MPs on the Privileges Committee to investigate whether its response fulfils all its obligations, taking into account any relevant past cases. | However, the government then tabled an amendment to have the issue referred to MPs on the Privileges Committee to investigate whether its response fulfils all its obligations, taking into account any relevant past cases. |
| Publishing his overview, the attorney general said releasing the advice in full would break a longstanding convention keeping legal advice to ministers confidential but insisted there was no cover-up, telling MPs: "There is nothing to see here." | |
| Mr Cox accepted the backstop - designed to protect Northern Ireland's peace process by preventing the return of customs posts and checkpoints on the Irish border - would leave the UK "indefinitely committed" to EU customs rules if Brexit trade talks broke down. | Mr Cox accepted the backstop - designed to protect Northern Ireland's peace process by preventing the return of customs posts and checkpoints on the Irish border - would leave the UK "indefinitely committed" to EU customs rules if Brexit trade talks broke down. |
| The arrangement, which would apply to the entire UK, is supposed to be temporary. However, neither party could withdraw from it without the other's consent. | The arrangement, which would apply to the entire UK, is supposed to be temporary. However, neither party could withdraw from it without the other's consent. |
| Mr Cox accepted that signing up to it was a "calculated risk" but added: "I do not believe we will be trapped in it permanently." | Mr Cox accepted that signing up to it was a "calculated risk" but added: "I do not believe we will be trapped in it permanently." |
| 'Unwelcome distraction' | 'Unwelcome distraction' |
| BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said any defeat over the legal advice would be likely to come as "an unwelcome distraction rather than a disaster" for the PM. | BBC political correspondent Iain Watson said any defeat over the legal advice would be likely to come as "an unwelcome distraction rather than a disaster" for the PM. |
| "While ultimately a parliamentary committee could decide to reprimand or suspend ministers, it's highly likely no sanction would be applied before next week's crucial vote on the Brexit deal," he said. | "While ultimately a parliamentary committee could decide to reprimand or suspend ministers, it's highly likely no sanction would be applied before next week's crucial vote on the Brexit deal," he said. |
| MPs will debate different aspects of the agreement, signed last month with EU leaders after months of wrangling, before voting on 11 December, | MPs will debate different aspects of the agreement, signed last month with EU leaders after months of wrangling, before voting on 11 December, |
| Senior ministers are being lined up to make the case for it. | Senior ministers are being lined up to make the case for it. |
| Further details have still to be announced, but Mrs May will kick off proceedings, with another defence of her deal. | Further details have still to be announced, but Mrs May will kick off proceedings, with another defence of her deal. |
| She will tell MPs: "The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted." | She will tell MPs: "The British people want us to get on with a deal that honours the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country, whichever way we voted." |
| Mrs May will argue her Brexit deal delivers on her commitments to end free movement and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. | Mrs May will argue her Brexit deal delivers on her commitments to end free movement and the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice. |
| It will leave Britain "as a globally trading nation, in charge of our own destiny and seizing the opportunities of trade with some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies across the world", she will add. | It will leave Britain "as a globally trading nation, in charge of our own destiny and seizing the opportunities of trade with some of the fastest-growing and most dynamic economies across the world", she will add. |
| Mrs May will say future trade talks with Brussels will also ultimately result in "a new free-trade area with no tariffs, fees, quantitative restrictions or rules of origin checks - an unprecedented economic relationship that no other major economy has". | Mrs May will say future trade talks with Brussels will also ultimately result in "a new free-trade area with no tariffs, fees, quantitative restrictions or rules of origin checks - an unprecedented economic relationship that no other major economy has". |
| Labour is threatening a vote of no confidence in the government as part of a move to trigger a general election, if Mrs May is defeated on 11 December. | Labour is threatening a vote of no confidence in the government as part of a move to trigger a general election, if Mrs May is defeated on 11 December. |
| The party is in favour of Brexit but against Mrs May's deal, which it argues will harm industry and cost jobs. It wants to delay Brexit to negotiate a better deal with Brussels. | The party is in favour of Brexit but against Mrs May's deal, which it argues will harm industry and cost jobs. It wants to delay Brexit to negotiate a better deal with Brussels. |