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-47187491
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Brexit: MPs may not get vote on May's deal this month | Brexit: MPs may not get vote on May's deal this month |
(about 1 hour later) | |
MPs may not be given a vote on a revised version of Theresa May's Brexit deal this month, a minister has said. | MPs may not be given a vote on a revised version of Theresa May's Brexit deal this month, a minister has said. |
Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said there might more non-binding votes on Brexit alternatives instead. | |
The prime minister has to get an agreement with the EU passed by MPs by 29 March to avoid a no-deal Brexit. | The prime minister has to get an agreement with the EU passed by MPs by 29 March to avoid a no-deal Brexit. |
She will ask MPs for more time to get changes to the deal in talks with Brussels - but Labour has accused her of "cynically" running down the clock. | She will ask MPs for more time to get changes to the deal in talks with Brussels - but Labour has accused her of "cynically" running down the clock. |
Labour is proposing its own Brexit plan, which would involve the UK staying in a customs union with the EU, which they say could get the backing of a majority of MPs. | Labour is proposing its own Brexit plan, which would involve the UK staying in a customs union with the EU, which they say could get the backing of a majority of MPs. |
The government has not ruled out supporting this - and has promised a formal response to it and further talks with Labour - but they say it would prevent the UK from making its own trade deals after Brexit. | The government has not ruled out supporting this - and has promised a formal response to it and further talks with Labour - but they say it would prevent the UK from making its own trade deals after Brexit. |
On Wednesday, Mrs May will ask MPs for more time to get legally-binding changes to the controversial Northern Irish backstop, which she believes will be enough to secure a majority in Parliament for her deal. | On Wednesday, Mrs May will ask MPs for more time to get legally-binding changes to the controversial Northern Irish backstop, which she believes will be enough to secure a majority in Parliament for her deal. |
But Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, says he believes the prime minister is "pretending to make progress" on this issue. | But Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, Sir Keir Starmer, says he believes the prime minister is "pretending to make progress" on this issue. |
He says what she actually intends to do is return to Parliament after the 21/22 March European Council summit the week before Brexit and offer MPs a "binary choice" - her deal or no deal. | He says what she actually intends to do is return to Parliament after the 21/22 March European Council summit the week before Brexit and offer MPs a "binary choice" - her deal or no deal. |
"We can't allow that to happen," Sir Keir told The Sunday Times. | "We can't allow that to happen," Sir Keir told The Sunday Times. |
"There needs to be a day when Parliament says that's it, enough is enough." | "There needs to be a day when Parliament says that's it, enough is enough." |
On Thursday, Labour will attempt to force the government to hold the final, "meaningful vote" on Mrs May's Brexit deal by 26 February. | On Thursday, Labour will attempt to force the government to hold the final, "meaningful vote" on Mrs May's Brexit deal by 26 February. |
Mr Brokenshire refused to commit to this in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, saying there could be more votes on amendments to the proposed deal instead. | |
"If the meaningful vote has not happened, so in other words things have not concluded, then Parliament would have that further opportunity by no later than 27 February," said Mr Brokenshire. | "If the meaningful vote has not happened, so in other words things have not concluded, then Parliament would have that further opportunity by no later than 27 February," said Mr Brokenshire. |
"I think that gives that sense of timetable, clarity and purpose on what we are doing with the EU - taking that work forward and our determination to get a deal - but equally knowing that role that Parliament very firmly has." | "I think that gives that sense of timetable, clarity and purpose on what we are doing with the EU - taking that work forward and our determination to get a deal - but equally knowing that role that Parliament very firmly has." |
Other options likely to be debated by MPs on Thursday - include extending Article 50, the legal mechanism taking the UK out of the EU on 29 March, to allow more time to reach an agreement with Brussels. | Other options likely to be debated by MPs on Thursday - include extending Article 50, the legal mechanism taking the UK out of the EU on 29 March, to allow more time to reach an agreement with Brussels. |
There are fewer than 50 days until Brexit. The law is already in place which means the UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019. | There are fewer than 50 days until Brexit. The law is already in place which means the UK will leave the EU on 29 March 2019. |
Mrs May's Brexit deal - which she spent months negotiating and had agreed with the EU - covers the terms of the UK's divorce and the framework of future relations. | Mrs May's Brexit deal - which she spent months negotiating and had agreed with the EU - covers the terms of the UK's divorce and the framework of future relations. |
But it was rejected by the UK Parliament and if it is not approved by Brexit day, the default position would be a no-deal Brexit. | But it was rejected by the UK Parliament and if it is not approved by Brexit day, the default position would be a no-deal Brexit. |
Last month, Parliament voted in favour of an amendment that supported most of the PM's deal but called for backstop - which is a last-resort option to prevent a hard border in Ireland - to be replaced with "alternative arrangements". The prime minister is now in talks with Brussels to seek these changes to the backstop. | Last month, Parliament voted in favour of an amendment that supported most of the PM's deal but called for backstop - which is a last-resort option to prevent a hard border in Ireland - to be replaced with "alternative arrangements". The prime minister is now in talks with Brussels to seek these changes to the backstop. |
A number of government ministers will also be meeting their counterparts across the continent this week, in order to underline Mrs May's determination to achieve a deal. | A number of government ministers will also be meeting their counterparts across the continent this week, in order to underline Mrs May's determination to achieve a deal. |
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Tony Blair - who wanted the UK to stay in the EU - has told Sky News that a no-deal exit could be "devastating" for Northern Ireland's peace process. | Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Tony Blair - who wanted the UK to stay in the EU - has told Sky News that a no-deal exit could be "devastating" for Northern Ireland's peace process. |
He told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that it would lead to a "very hard border" on the island of Ireland and is contrary to the Good Friday Agreement, the peace deal he helped negotiate which brought an end to The Troubles. | He told the Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that it would lead to a "very hard border" on the island of Ireland and is contrary to the Good Friday Agreement, the peace deal he helped negotiate which brought an end to The Troubles. |
Critics of the backstop in Mrs May's current deal say they could tie the UK to EU rules indefinitely or mean Northern Ireland ends up under a different system to the rest of the UK. | Critics of the backstop in Mrs May's current deal say they could tie the UK to EU rules indefinitely or mean Northern Ireland ends up under a different system to the rest of the UK. |
But the Irish government and the EU have repeatedly rejected calls for changes. | But the Irish government and the EU have repeatedly rejected calls for changes. |