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From a Labour deal to EU citizens' rights: amendments to third Brexit motion Which Brexit amendments have been selected by the Speaker?
(32 minutes later)
Theresa May has published her third Commons motion which allows MPs to add their own amendments on the next stage of the Brexit process. Theresa May has published her third Commons motion, which allows MPs to add their own amendments on the next stage of the Brexit process.
The latest government motion is written in neutral terms and states: “This house notes the prime minister’s statement on leaving the European Union of 26 February 2019; and further notes that discussions between the UK and the EU are ongoing.”The latest government motion is written in neutral terms and states: “This house notes the prime minister’s statement on leaving the European Union of 26 February 2019; and further notes that discussions between the UK and the EU are ongoing.”
MPs’ amendments are not legally binding but if any of them get majority support there will be considerable pressure on the government to act on them.MPs’ amendments are not legally binding but if any of them get majority support there will be considerable pressure on the government to act on them.
However, some pressure has been taken off Wednesday’s amendments after the prime minister promised on Tuesday to hold another meaningful vote on her Brexit deal on 12 March. If that fails to pass, MPs will be given a vote on leaving with no deal and, if that also fails, on extending article 50 beyond the 29 March departure deadline.However, some pressure has been taken off Wednesday’s amendments after the prime minister promised on Tuesday to hold another meaningful vote on her Brexit deal on 12 March. If that fails to pass, MPs will be given a vote on leaving with no deal and, if that also fails, on extending article 50 beyond the 29 March departure deadline.
The Speaker will choose which of the following amendments, tabled before the start of the debate, will be put to a vote on Wednesday: Here are the amendments selected by the Speaker:
A Labour Brexit dealA Labour Brexit deal
The Labour frontbench has put down an amendment that would give parliament a say on a Brexit deal the party could support, including a full customs union, stronger single market alignment and more robust protection for the environment and workers’ rights.The Labour frontbench has put down an amendment that would give parliament a say on a Brexit deal the party could support, including a full customs union, stronger single market alignment and more robust protection for the environment and workers’ rights.
The five demands on the amendment mirror those sent by Jeremy Corbyn in a letter to Theresa May, spelling out changes the prime minister would need to seek in order to gain Labour support.The five demands on the amendment mirror those sent by Jeremy Corbyn in a letter to Theresa May, spelling out changes the prime minister would need to seek in order to gain Labour support.
The amendment is unlikely to pass and if it does not, the party has committed to support any future amendments at the next voting opportunity, likely to be on 12 March.The amendment is unlikely to pass and if it does not, the party has committed to support any future amendments at the next voting opportunity, likely to be on 12 March.
Guarantee May’s promises to hold a vote on 14 March Guarantee May’s promise to hold vote on extending article 50
Labour’s Yvette Cooper and the Conservatives’ Sir Oliver Letwin had rattled Downing Street with an amendment that would pave the way for a bill to extend article 50, which ministers had threatened to resign in order to support. Labour’s Yvette Cooper and the Conservatives’ Sir Oliver Letwin had rattled Downing Street with an amendment that would pave the way for a bill to extend article 50, over which ministers had threatened to resign in order to support.
Letwin and that amendment’s other Tory backer, Nick Boles, have now said they are happy with the prime minister’s pledge to hold the votes on 13 and 14 March.Letwin and that amendment’s other Tory backer, Nick Boles, have now said they are happy with the prime minister’s pledge to hold the votes on 13 and 14 March.
However, in order to hold the prime minister to her word, Cooper has tabled an amendment to reiterate May’s statement, in effect forcing the government to vote for her amendment.However, in order to hold the prime minister to her word, Cooper has tabled an amendment to reiterate May’s statement, in effect forcing the government to vote for her amendment.
Give MPs a vote on the form of the future relationship with the EU Give MPs a bill to extend article 50
The Tory and Labour MPs Caroline Spelman and Jack Dromey respectively won a vote on an amendment in early February to rule out a no-deal Brexit, though it was not legally binding. The Tory MP Caroline Spelman tabled twoamendments, one of which would pave the way for Cooper’s bill to be debated on Wednesday.
The pair have tabled two further amendments, one of which puts legal guarantees on May’s commitment to give MPs a vote on delaying Brexit. Spelman may not push her amendment to a vote if there are sufficient assurances from ministers during Wednesday’s debate.
Like Cooper, Dromey and Spelman may not push their amendment to a vote if they get sufficient assurances from ministers during Wednesday’s debate. Her second amendment was not selected, which would have given MPs a chance to vote on 19 March on different forms of the future relationship with the EU.
Their second amendment would give MPs a chance to vote on 19 March on the form of the future relationship with the EU.
Protect EU citizens’ rightsProtect EU citizens’ rights
The amendment of the Conservative backbencher Alberto Costa has drawn the most cross-party support. It calls on the government to implement the part of the withdrawal agreement that includes citizens’ rights at “the earliest opportunity” regardless of the outcome of negotiations.The amendment of the Conservative backbencher Alberto Costa has drawn the most cross-party support. It calls on the government to implement the part of the withdrawal agreement that includes citizens’ rights at “the earliest opportunity” regardless of the outcome of negotiations.
Supporters include Corbyn, the former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, the chair of the European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, who is a high-profile supporter of a second referendum, and the Brexiter and former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.Supporters include Corbyn, the former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, the chair of the European Research Group, Jacob Rees-Mogg, the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve, who is a high-profile supporter of a second referendum, and the Brexiter and former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith.
The home secretary, Sajid Javid, has indicated the government will support the amendment, though May sounded more pessimistic about its guarantees when answering questions from MPs on Tuesday.The home secretary, Sajid Javid, has indicated the government will support the amendment, though May sounded more pessimistic about its guarantees when answering questions from MPs on Tuesday.
Hold a second referendum Costa has resigned as a PPS in the Scotland office in order to table the amendment.
The Independent Group of former Labour and Tory MPs has tabled an amendment demanding that the government start preparing for a second EU referendum.
The amendment has the support of the Scottish National party (SNP), the Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru and is aimed at provoking a further split in Labour by wooing MPs who want the party to support a new vote immediately.
Chris Leslie, who defected from Labour last week, called on his former party for support. “If the Labour leadership support this amendment, we could make real progress on a ‘people’s vote’.”
In reality, Labour’s leadership is unlikely to support the amendment because Corbyn wants to pursue his own Brexit plan.
Keep no deal on the table
The Conservative Eurosceptic John Baron has a caveat in his amendment, which says that “an extension to article 50 cannot take no deal off the table”. It has been signed by two other Brexiters, Mike Penning and Henry Smith.
Protect the environment
The Green party MP Caroline Lucas has tabled an amendment calling for the government to rule out no deal on environmental grounds.
The amendment “expresses alarm at the disastrous implications of a no-deal Brexit for the UK’s environment, including vital protections for wildlife, nature and the marine environment, and calls on the government to urgently rule out a no-deal scenario.” It has cross-party support, including from the former Labour leader Ed Miliband and Plaid Cymru’s Liz Saville Roberts.
Protect against job losses
Tabled by the Lib Dem leader, Vince Cable, this amendment calls on the government to create “an emergency Brexit support fund of at least £7.5bn to mitigate job losses caused by Brexit uncertainty.”
It notes an estimated 750,000 people “would become jobless if the UK left the EU with no deal”.
Revoke article 50
This amendment from the SNP’s Angus MacNeil says the government should revoke article 50 so the UK cannot crash out without a deal. It has been signed by the Conservative remainer Ken Clarke.
Rule out no deal at any possible dateRule out no deal at any possible date
The SNP and Plaid Cymru have tabled an amendment suggesting the UK should not leave without a deal at any time, even if article 50 is extended.The SNP and Plaid Cymru have tabled an amendment suggesting the UK should not leave without a deal at any time, even if article 50 is extended.
More involvement for devolved assemblies
This amendment from Plaid Cymru says Brexit should be delayed until the end of 2021 and that the government should “honour the will” of the Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly, which have called for a delay to the process.
BrexitBrexit
Article 50Article 50
European UnionEuropean Union
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