This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/15/brexit-amendment-that-might-have-limited-pms-losses-is-rejected

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Brexit amendment that might have limited PM's losses is rejected Brexit amendment defeated after three others withdrawn
(about 3 hours later)
A backbench Tory amendment to Theresa May’s Brexit deal that Downing Street had hoped could limit the extent of her likely losses on the key vote has not been selected by the Speaker, John Bercow, meaning MPs will not get a chance to express their view on it. The only amendment to Theresa May’s Brexit deal to be voted on in the Commons has been heavily defeated, after three other amendments selected for votes were unexpectedly pulled at the last minute by the MPs and parties who tabled them.
The amendment, tabled by the Conservative MP Andrew Murrison and backed by 29 of his colleagues, called for the backstop solution to the Irish border to expire on 31 December 2021 if it came into force, and was seen as a sop to MPs on the issue. The amendment from the veteran Conservative backbencher John Baron, which sought to address MPs’ concerns on the Irish border backstop, was brushed aside by 600 votes to 24.
While the idea goes against the withdrawal agreement with Brussels, the hope was that if it drew much support it could help the prime minister if she returned to the EU to seek new concessions after losing the vote. Baron’s amendment stated that if May’s deal was passed, the UK would have the unilateral right to terminate the backstop without the say-so of the EU. This would have gone against the withdrawal agreement with the EU, and so was not supported by the government.
It had been due to be the last of four amendments to be voted on, after they were selected by the Speaker, John Bercow, from a dozen on offer. But the other three amendments were withdrawn by their proposers at the last moment.
These were tabled by Jeremy Corbyn and other Labour frontbenchers, seeking to rule out a no-deal departure and condemning May’s plan for not providing “a permanent UK-EU customs union and strong single market deal”; a joint effort from the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru calling the deal “damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK”; and one from the Tory MP Edward Leigh also seeking to limit the backstop.
Before the final debate on the deal, another backbench Tory amendment that Downing Street had hoped could limit the extent of May’s likely losses was not selected for a vote.
Perhaps the most contentious issue. In order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, a backstop arrangement that keeps the UK in the customs union and requires Northern Ireland to follow single market rules would prevail until a free-trade agreement is reached that avoids such a frontier.Perhaps the most contentious issue. In order to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, a backstop arrangement that keeps the UK in the customs union and requires Northern Ireland to follow single market rules would prevail until a free-trade agreement is reached that avoids such a frontier.
The UK and EU negotiators have agreed the former should honour those commitments it made while a member of the bloc – finally settling on a figure of £39bn.The UK and EU negotiators have agreed the former should honour those commitments it made while a member of the bloc – finally settling on a figure of £39bn.
The deal would secure a status quo transition period to negotiate the nature of the future relationship, and during which the UK could begin to make trade deals with third countries.The deal would secure a status quo transition period to negotiate the nature of the future relationship, and during which the UK could begin to make trade deals with third countries.
A fraught issue at the outset, an agreement was reached relatively quickly that would see the UK respect the rights of EU citizens who arrive before the end of the transition period, which could be in 2022, and vice versa.A fraught issue at the outset, an agreement was reached relatively quickly that would see the UK respect the rights of EU citizens who arrive before the end of the transition period, which could be in 2022, and vice versa.
The document is accompanied by a political declaration that sketches out the future relationship between the two parties – focusing primarily on trade and security.The document is accompanied by a political declaration that sketches out the future relationship between the two parties – focusing primarily on trade and security.
However, even before the amendment was not picked, its likely impact was minimised after the Democratic Unionist party said such machinations would not change its MPs’ minds. “Today’s very belated amendments are part of the internal parliamentary games and do not change the need to secure legally binding changes,” a DUP spokesman said. That amendment, tabled by the Conservative MP Andrew Murrison and backed by 29 of his colleagues, called for the backstop solution to the Irish border to expire on 31 December 2021 if it came into force, and was seen as a sop to MPs on the issue.
While the idea goes against the withdrawal agreement with Brussels, the hope was that if it drew much support it could help the prime minister if she returned to the EU to seek new concessions after losing the vote.
Murrison said he was very disappointed his amendment was not selected. “Speaker Bercow conducts himself to his own entire satisfaction,” he said. “The most decorous thing I can say about his selection or not of amendments today is it’s interesting.”Murrison said he was very disappointed his amendment was not selected. “Speaker Bercow conducts himself to his own entire satisfaction,” he said. “The most decorous thing I can say about his selection or not of amendments today is it’s interesting.”
Bercow, beginning the fifth and final day of debate on the plan, said he had accepted four amendments. With voting due to start at 7pm, that should push the result on May’s deal back to about 8.15pm.
The amendments chosen include one tabled by Jeremy Corbyn and other Labour frontbenchers. It seeks to rule out a no-deal departure, and criticises May’s plan for not providing “a permanent UK-EU customs union and strong single market deal”.
Tory accuses pregnant Labour MP over pledge to attend voteTory accuses pregnant Labour MP over pledge to attend vote
Another frontbench amendment jointly tabled by the Scottish National party and Plaid Cymru was also chosen. This condemns the deal on the basis it “would be damaging for Scotland, Wales and the nations and regions of the UK as a whole”. Leigh’s amendment, backed by about a dozen colleagues, sought to limit the scope of the backstop by saying it would be temporary and that international law decreed that the UK could unilaterally end the withdrawal agreement if there was any attempt to extend the backstop beyond 2021.
Two backbench amendments were picked. The first, by the Tory MP Edward Leigh and backed by about a dozen colleagues, seeks to limit the scope of the backstop by saying it is temporary, and that international law decrees the UK can unilaterally end the withdrawal agreement if there is any attempt to extend the backstop beyond 2021. During May’s closing speech in the debate, Leigh intervened to ask if she could back his amendment, but was told the government believed it would not be compatible with the withdrawal agreement under international law.
The final amendment, tabled by another veteran Tory MP, John Baron, is also on the backstop. This states that the UK would have the right to terminate it without the say-so of the EU. The government was, however, “willing to look at creative solutions” on the backstop, May said.
One complication is the understanding that if either of the last two amendments were to succeed, they would alter May’s deal such that it would no longer fulfil the criteria of the withdrawal agreement with Brussels, and could thus be open to challenge.
Opening the final day of the debate in parliament, the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox, said that this was certainly his view on Leigh’s amendment. Asked by Leigh whether the government should support it, Cox said it was “certainly my view that it would not be compatible and therefore would be likely not to be seen by the European Union as ratification”.
11.30am The Commons begins sitting. The first item is questions to Matt Hancock, the health secretary, and his ministerial team. These are meant to last 30 minutes but can run slightly over. Then the Labour MP Debbie Abrahams briefly introduces a private member’s bill on public sector supply chains under a 10-minute rule motion.
After midday If there are no urgent questions or ministerial statements to delay proceedings, the final day of debate on Theresa May’s Brexit deal – officially known as section 13(1)(b) of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 – begins. It will be opened for the government by the attorney general, Geoffrey Cox.
Before 7pm May will make a final closing speech for the government, appealing for support for her deal.
From 7pm Voting begins. However, before the crucial vote, MPs must vote on the four amendments accepted by the Speaker. One amendment, tabled by the Tory Hugo Swire, has been accepted by the government.
At some point between around 7.30pm to 9.30pm MPs finally vote on the deal, as amended.
The amendments will be taken in order – the Labour amendment, then the SNP/Plaid Cymru, Leigh and then Baron – and if one is passed by MPs then the full, amended motion will immediately be put to the vote without any subsequent amendments being considered, Bercow said.
May is expected to respond quickly if she is defeated, probably immediately after the vote, but it has not yet been decided whether it will be a point of order or a full emergency statement.
The prime minister was urged by pro-soft Brexit ministers at the weekly cabinet meeting to turn her overtures towards Labour should the deal fall, though others warned strongly against such a strategy. Downing Street said May opened the cabinet meeting by saying that “the government is the servant of the people” and pledging to deliver the referendum result.
In a tacit acknowledgment that a defeat was highly likely, May’s spokesman said ministers had discussed “the buildup to the vote and what would happen afterwards”, but refused to give further details.
A Downing Street source said May had spoken to more than 20 MPs over the weekend and more on Monday and planned to speak to as many as possible before Tuesday evening’s vote.
Asked if May would resign if she suffered a heavy defeat, her spokesman said: “The prime minister is determined she will deliver on the vote of the British people and she will take the UK out of the European Union.”
BrexitBrexit
House of Commons
Commons SpeakerCommons Speaker
John BercowJohn Bercow
House of Commons
Foreign policyForeign policy
newsnews
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content