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Brexit: Theresa May promises meaningful vote after more talks with EU Brexit: Theresa May promises meaningful vote after more talks with EU
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has promised MPs a final, decisive vote on her Brexit deal with the EU - but not until she has secured changes to the Irish backstop clause.Theresa May has promised MPs a final, decisive vote on her Brexit deal with the EU - but not until she has secured changes to the Irish backstop clause.
Speaking in the Commons, the PM said she had a "mandate" to seek changes to the backstop as MPs had voted for it.Speaking in the Commons, the PM said she had a "mandate" to seek changes to the backstop as MPs had voted for it.
"We now need some time to complete that process", she added."We now need some time to complete that process", she added.
If no agreement is reached by 26 February, then MPs will get more non-binding votes on Brexit options the following day.If no agreement is reached by 26 February, then MPs will get more non-binding votes on Brexit options the following day.
The final vote on whether Britain leaves the EU on 29 March with a deal would be pushed back into March.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the PM of "recklessly running down the clock" in an effort to "blackmail" MPs into backing her deal, and asked when MPs would get a final, "meaningful" vote.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accused the PM of "recklessly running down the clock" in an effort to "blackmail" MPs into backing her deal, and asked when MPs would get a final, "meaningful" vote.
He said: "We were promised a meaningful vote on a deal in December, it didn't happen. We were told to prepare for a further meaningful vote this week after the prime minister again promised to secure significant and legally binding changes to the backstop and that hasn't happened.He said: "We were promised a meaningful vote on a deal in December, it didn't happen. We were told to prepare for a further meaningful vote this week after the prime minister again promised to secure significant and legally binding changes to the backstop and that hasn't happened.
"Now the prime minister comes before the House with more excuses and more delays.""Now the prime minister comes before the House with more excuses and more delays."
The backstop arrangement is the the "insurance" policy in Mrs May's deal to avoid a return to border checks on the island of Ireland. The SNP's leader at Westminster, Ian Blackford, was reprimanded by Commons Speaker John Bercow for shouting "liar" at the prime minister as she was making her statement.
Mr Blackford agreed to withdraw his remark "in deference" to the Speaker, but did not apologise to Mrs May. MPs are banned by Commons rules from calling other MPs liars in the chamber.
The backstop arrangement is the "insurance" policy in Mrs May's deal to avoid a return to border checks on the island of Ireland.
The EU has reiterated it will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.The EU has reiterated it will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement.
Mrs May is making a statement to MPs, ahead of a debate on Thursday on the next steps for Brexit.Mrs May is making a statement to MPs, ahead of a debate on Thursday on the next steps for Brexit.
It comes after Parliament voted last month for the PM to find alternatives to the current backstop arrangement.It comes after Parliament voted last month for the PM to find alternatives to the current backstop arrangement.
The PM told Parliament she still believes it is possible to get a deal that MPs can support. She promised to give MPs a "stronger and clearer role" in the next steps, and said she would return to the Commons for a meaningful vote on her deal "when we achieve the progress we need".
"By getting the changes we need to the backstop; by protecting and enhancing workers' rights and environmental protections; and by enhancing the role of Parliament in the next phase of negotiations I believe we can reach a deal that this House can support," she said. The PM said she was discussing a number of options with the EU to secure legally-binding changes to the backstop: Replacing it with "alternative arrangements", putting a time limit on how long it can stay in place or a unilateral exit clause so the UK can leave it at a time of its choosing.
But if negotiations had not secured this, Mrs May would table an amendable motion on 26 February to be voted on the next day, giving MPs more of a say.
The PM said talks were at a "crucial stage", but she still believes it is possible to get a deal that MPs can support.
"We now all need to hold our nerve to get the changes this House requires and deliver Brexit on time," Mrs May told the Commons.
'Deeply flawed deal'
The Labour leader said MPs were being "blackmailed into supporting a deeply flawed deal", calling it "an irresponsible act".
He said Mrs May was "merely engaged in the pretence of working across Parliament to find solutions", but she has "not indicated she will move one iota" on her red lines.
Mr Corbyn criticised other members of government too, adding: "No minister serious about protecting jobs in this country would allow a prime minister to deliberately run down the clock and play chicken with people's livelihoods.
"To stand by and do nothing would be a complete dereliction of duty."
Mrs May updated her cabinet on Tuesday morning about the talks with the EU and said it was "clear that these discussions with the EU will need a little more time to conclude".Mrs May updated her cabinet on Tuesday morning about the talks with the EU and said it was "clear that these discussions with the EU will need a little more time to conclude".
Speaking after a dinner with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay on Monday night, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the talks had been "constructive", but added it was "clear from our side we're not going to reopen the withdrawal agreement, but we will continue our discussions in the coming days".Speaking after a dinner with Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay on Monday night, EU negotiator Michel Barnier said the talks had been "constructive", but added it was "clear from our side we're not going to reopen the withdrawal agreement, but we will continue our discussions in the coming days".
A statement from the Department for Exiting the European Union said Mr Barclay and Mr Barnier had agreed to further talks and their teams would continue to work in the meantime "on finding a way forward".A statement from the Department for Exiting the European Union said Mr Barclay and Mr Barnier had agreed to further talks and their teams would continue to work in the meantime "on finding a way forward".
Mrs May also said in her statement that the pair were discussing ideas for alternative arrangements that had come from a working group of MPs back in London.
Mr Barclay will be joined by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington in Strasbourg on Tuesday for further talks with MEPs and a meeting with the European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt.Mr Barclay will be joined by Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington in Strasbourg on Tuesday for further talks with MEPs and a meeting with the European Parliament's chief Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt.
Mrs Leadsom told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Parliament had been very clear it would support Mrs May's deal, "provided the UK can't be held in the backstop against its will permanently". Are we running out of time?
The EU has continuously said it will not re-open the withdrawal agreement - the so-called "divorce bill" laying out the terms of how the UK leaves. By Daniel Kraemer, BBC Westminster
But Mrs Leadsom said it would be "an extraordinary outcome" if the EU was "completely intransigent" on the backstop so that "they actually incur the thing they are seeking to avoid" - a no-deal Brexit with the immediate return of visible border checks. The prime minister's critics say she is just pretending to try to get changes to the deal she signed with the EU so she can push the final vote on it right down to the wire.
However, she would not rule out there being a change to the political declaration part of the deal instead - the non-binding statement on the future relationship - something ardent Brexiteers have previously rejected. Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer 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.
To get a deal through Parliament there needs to be a "meaningful vote" by MPs, and a date has still not been set. Holding such a vote a few days before Britain leaves the EU might scare enough Labour MPs worried about a no-deal Brexit into backing the prime minister to get it through.
Mrs Leadsom said the PM was "working flat out" to bring back a revised deal to the Commons "just as soon as it possibly can", and if it is not by the end of February, another amendable motion will be put to Parliament for MPs to air their views. The government insists this is not its strategy and it will hold a "meaningful vote" as soon as it gets the changes to the deal it is seeking from Brussels.
She denied that the government were "running down the clock" to turn it into a choice between the PM's deal and leaving with no deal - but she would not rule out the meaningful vote being delayed until the final days before Brexit on 29 March. Read more from Daniel
Labour MP Owen Smith, who supports another referendum, accused Mrs May of trying to "blackmail and bully" MPs into voting for her deal or "risk the cataclysm of a no deal Brexit".
He told BBC News that Mrs Leadsom's denial that the prime minister was running down the clock was "totally unbelievable" and said he thought the PM "is anticipating MPs will blink at the last minute as they can't countenance having no deal [forced on] their constituents".
Analysis
By Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political editor
Look away now if you are of a nervous disposition. This week's Brexit votes may not come to much.
The prime minister is essentially asking for more time to get something to show for her promise of changes to the controversial backstop.
That might mean that she's back before the end of this month with something concrete to vote on. Or it may well not.
I know that sounds nebulous, a word you might choose to use.
But there's a building impression in Westminster, and in Brussels, that there simply won't be a resolution to these months of indecision until weeks before, maybe even days before we are due to leave (that's why some cabinet ministers believe that, even though it's not desirable, the government may end up asking to extend the whole process as we discussed here before).
Read more: A resolution to months of Brexit indecision?
It also follows an exchange of letters between Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.It also follows an exchange of letters between Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
The Labour leader wrote to the PM on Wednesday with a list of five demands to secure his party's support for her deal, including a permanent customs union.The Labour leader wrote to the PM on Wednesday with a list of five demands to secure his party's support for her deal, including a permanent customs union.
The prime minister has struck a conciliatory tone in her response and said she looked forward to the two parties meeting again "as soon as possible" to discuss ways forward on Brexit.The prime minister has struck a conciliatory tone in her response and said she looked forward to the two parties meeting again "as soon as possible" to discuss ways forward on Brexit.
But No 10 said it rejected any proposals to remain in a customs union with the EU.But No 10 said it rejected any proposals to remain in a customs union with the EU.
Some of Mrs May's cabinet colleagues also quashed the idea, with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox calling Mr Corbyn's proposal a "dangerous delusion".Some of Mrs May's cabinet colleagues also quashed the idea, with International Trade Secretary Liam Fox calling Mr Corbyn's proposal a "dangerous delusion".
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said there was "no chance" of Mrs May accepting Labour's Brexit vision, adding that the prime minister had been "absolutely clear" the UK was leaving the customs union.Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said there was "no chance" of Mrs May accepting Labour's Brexit vision, adding that the prime minister had been "absolutely clear" the UK was leaving the customs union.
Mrs May told the Labour leader: "It is good to see that we agree that the UK should leave the European Union with a deal and that the urgent task at hand is to find a deal that honours our commitments to the people of Northern Ireland, can command support in Parliament and can be negotiated with the EU - not to seek an election or second referendum."
This is despite Mr Corbyn repeatedly saying there should be a general election if Mrs May cannot get a deal through Parliament. He has also faced pressure from some of his MPs to push for another public vote on Brexit.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said his "key question" about Mrs May's response was: "Is she prepared to move her red lines and find a consensus?"
"I don't see that in the letter," he said.
"The point of the exercise was to say, look, there is a majority for a close economic relationship, if you're prepared to try to find it, and I've said for some time we should test that by having a vote on a customs union."
Labour MP Lisa Nandy told the BBC's Politics Live that there were between 40 and 60 of her colleagues "who are actively looking for ways to support" a revised Brexit deal.
She said the government needed to "get serious" about policy on a customs union and guarantee to "legislate for the protections around workers' rights".
Mr Corbyn's letter to the prime minister was "interesting in tone and substance", Mr Barnier said.
Mr Barclay met a group of Tory MPs on Monday, ahead of his trip to Brussels, who are working on possible alternatives to the backstop.
Members of the Alternative Arrangements Working Group - including Conservative MPs Steve Baker, Marcus Fysh, Owen Paterson, Damian Green and Nicky Morgan - attended the meeting.
Mr Baker said the talks had been "constructive".