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| Brexit: new bill to include MPs' vote on second referendum, May says – live news | Brexit: new bill to include MPs' vote on second referendum, May says – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Theresa May gave her speech the title “New Brexit Deal” and in it she identified 10 ways in which she was changing her Brexit offer to MPs. | |
| Most of these simply reiterated concessions that have already been announced, at various points, over the last six months. See 3.51pm for a summary of what was already on the table. Perhaps the language on workers’ rights is a bit stronger - today May proposed a workers’ rights bill that “guarantees workers’ rights will be no less favourable than in the EU” - but essentially items 1-7 on her 10-point list (see 4.43pm), and item 10 were already in the bag. | |
| But what May said about a second referendum (see 4.59pm) and about customs (see 5.04pm) was new. Here are some thoughts. | |
| 1) May has offered MPs a vote on a second referendum - which, in symbolic terms, is quite significant. Until now she firmly resisted the idea the idea that the government might schedule a vote on this, and last week, when cross-party talks broke down, May implied one reason was because Labour was insisting on a second referendum. | |
| 2) But, in practical terms, this offer means much less than it sounds. During the EU withdrawal agreement bill’s passage, someone was bound to table an amendment calling for a second referendum, and so all (or almost all) May is doing is timetabling a vote that would have happened anyway. She has not promised Tory MPs a free vote on this. | |
| 3) May has also promised to legislate for a referendum if MPs vote for one. The two do not necessarily go together; it was easy to imagine MPs voting for a second referendum, but the government then holding up the legislation required to make it happen. | |
| 4) But May did not explain how she would stop a future Conservative leader blocking second referendum legislation, or repealing it. (A new Tory leader should be in office before the autumn, and it is unlikely the Brexit bill would be law by then, even if it passed its second reading. Labour has already said such a bill would need more time.) Given how pro-Brexit the Conservative party membership is, it is hard to imagine anyone getting elected as leader if they sound keen on implementing a second referendum. | |
| 5) May’s customs offer is much narrower than her second referendum one. She is not proposing a government vote on a permanent customs union, which is what Labour wants, even though she is proposing a vote on a second referendum. Why? Presumably because, while May must be reasonably confident that the Commons will vote against a second referendum, she must be worried that MPs would back a permanent customs union. (As with the second referendum, there will probably be a vote on this anyway, because Labour would table an amendment. But May is only committing to accept the result if MPs vote for the temporary customs union idea she mentioned in her speech.) | |
| 6) May seems to have resolved the question about whether to hold indicative votes before the second reading vote on the bill, or after (assuming it gets defeated) by deciding to hold the indicative votes within the bill. The referendum vote offer and the customs union vote offer seem all that is left of her indicative votes plan. | |
| May’s argument to Labour MPs that, if they want a second referendum, they need to vote for her bill is a plausible one. It is a case that Nick Boles MPs was making powerfully at the end of last week. But, with opposition to her deal already so entrenched, it feels as if she may have left it too late. | |
| And this is what May said in her speech on customs. | And this is what May said in her speech on customs. |
| Now the government has already put a proposal which delivers the benefits of a customs union but with the ability for the UK to determine its own trade and development policy. | Now the government has already put a proposal which delivers the benefits of a customs union but with the ability for the UK to determine its own trade and development policy. |
| Labour are both sceptical of our ability to negotiate that and don’t believe an independent trade policy is in the national interest. They would prefer a comprehensive customs union - with a UK say in EU trade policy but with the EU negotiating on our behalf. | Labour are both sceptical of our ability to negotiate that and don’t believe an independent trade policy is in the national interest. They would prefer a comprehensive customs union - with a UK say in EU trade policy but with the EU negotiating on our behalf. |
| If we are going to pass the withdrawal agreement bill and deliver Brexit, we must resolve this difference. | If we are going to pass the withdrawal agreement bill and deliver Brexit, we must resolve this difference. |
| As part of the cross-party discussions the government offered a compromise option of a temporary customs union on goods only, including a UK say in relevant EU trade policy and an ability to change the arrangement, so a future government could move it in its preferred direction. | As part of the cross-party discussions the government offered a compromise option of a temporary customs union on goods only, including a UK say in relevant EU trade policy and an ability to change the arrangement, so a future government could move it in its preferred direction. |
| We were not able to agree this as part of our cross-party talks – so it is right that parliament should have the opportunity to resolve this during the passage of the bill and decide between the government’s proposal and a compromise option. | We were not able to agree this as part of our cross-party talks – so it is right that parliament should have the opportunity to resolve this during the passage of the bill and decide between the government’s proposal and a compromise option. |
| This is what May said in her speech about a second referendum. | This is what May said in her speech about a second referendum. |
| For the record, this is what she said about a second referendum | For the record, this is what she said about a second referendum |
| I have also listened carefully to those who have been arguing for a Second Referendum. | I have also listened carefully to those who have been arguing for a Second Referendum. |
| I have made my own view clear on this many times. I do not believe this is a route that we should take, because I think we should be implementing the result of the first referendum, not asking the British people to vote in a second one. | I have made my own view clear on this many times. I do not believe this is a route that we should take, because I think we should be implementing the result of the first referendum, not asking the British people to vote in a second one. |
| But I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the house on this important issue. | But I recognise the genuine and sincere strength of feeling across the house on this important issue. |
| The government will therefore include in the withdrawal agreement bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum. | The government will therefore include in the withdrawal agreement bill at introduction a requirement to vote on whether to hold a second referendum. |
| This must take place before the withdrawal agreement can be ratified. | This must take place before the withdrawal agreement can be ratified. |
| And if the House of Commons were to vote for a referendum, it would be requiring the government to make provisions for such a referendum – including legislation if it wanted to ratify the withdrawal agreement. | And if the House of Commons were to vote for a referendum, it would be requiring the government to make provisions for such a referendum – including legislation if it wanted to ratify the withdrawal agreement. |
| So to those MPs who want a second referendum to confirm the deal: you need a deal and therefore a withdrawal agreement bill to make it happen. | So to those MPs who want a second referendum to confirm the deal: you need a deal and therefore a withdrawal agreement bill to make it happen. |
| Here is the section from May’s speech in which she summed up her offer as a 10-point plan. | Here is the section from May’s speech in which she summed up her offer as a 10-point plan. |
| So our New Brexit Deal makes a ten-point offer to everyone in Parliament who wants to deliver the result of the referendum. | So our New Brexit Deal makes a ten-point offer to everyone in Parliament who wants to deliver the result of the referendum. |
| One - the government will seek to conclude alternative arrangements to replace the backstop by December 2020, so that it never needs to be used. | One - the government will seek to conclude alternative arrangements to replace the backstop by December 2020, so that it never needs to be used. |
| Two - a commitment that, should the backstop come into force, the government will ensure that Great Britain will stay aligned with Northern Ireland. | Two - a commitment that, should the backstop come into force, the government will ensure that Great Britain will stay aligned with Northern Ireland. |
| Three - the negotiating objectives and final treaties for our future relationship with the EU will have to be approved by MPs. | Three - the negotiating objectives and final treaties for our future relationship with the EU will have to be approved by MPs. |
| Four - a new workers’ rights bill that guarantees workers’ rights will be no less favourable than in the EU. | Four - a new workers’ rights bill that guarantees workers’ rights will be no less favourable than in the EU. |
| Five - there will be no change in the level of environmental protection when we leave the EU. | Five - there will be no change in the level of environmental protection when we leave the EU. |
| Six - the UK will seek as close to frictionless trade in goods with the EU as possible while outside the single market and ending free movement. | Six - the UK will seek as close to frictionless trade in goods with the EU as possible while outside the single market and ending free movement. |
| Seven - we will keep up to date with EU rules for goods and agri-food products that are relevant to checks at border protecting the thousands of jobs that depend on just-in-time supply chains. | Seven - we will keep up to date with EU rules for goods and agri-food products that are relevant to checks at border protecting the thousands of jobs that depend on just-in-time supply chains. |
| Eight - the government will bring forward a customs compromise for MPs to decide on to break the deadlock. | Eight - the government will bring forward a customs compromise for MPs to decide on to break the deadlock. |
| Nine - there will be a vote for MPs on whether the deal should be subject to a referendum. | Nine - there will be a vote for MPs on whether the deal should be subject to a referendum. |
| And ten – there will be a legal duty to secure changes to the political declaration to reflect this new deal. | And ten – there will be a legal duty to secure changes to the political declaration to reflect this new deal. |
| All of these commitments will be guaranteed in law – so they will endure at least for this parliament. | All of these commitments will be guaranteed in law – so they will endure at least for this parliament. |
| Q: Some of your MPs seem to be opposed to this because it is you asking them to back it. What do you say to those who say you should step aside now? | Q: Some of your MPs seem to be opposed to this because it is you asking them to back it. What do you say to those who say you should step aside now? |
| May says this is not about her. If it were about her, the UK would be leaving, she says. | May says this is not about her. If it were about her, the UK would be leaving, she says. |
| And that’s it. The Q&A is over. | And that’s it. The Q&A is over. |
| Q: You came into office committed to delivering Brexit and to bring the Tories together. How successful have you been? | Q: You came into office committed to delivering Brexit and to bring the Tories together. How successful have you been? |
| May says she admitted in her speech she has not delivered Brexit. | May says she admitted in her speech she has not delivered Brexit. |
| Q: If MPs vote for a confirmatory referendum, will it happen? And if MPs vote to stay in a customs union permanently, will you implement that? | Q: If MPs vote for a confirmatory referendum, will it happen? And if MPs vote to stay in a customs union permanently, will you implement that? |
| May says she is not proposing a vote on a permanent customs union. She is proposing one on a temporary customs union. A future government would then be able to decide what happened in the future. | May says she is not proposing a vote on a permanent customs union. She is proposing one on a temporary customs union. A future government would then be able to decide what happened in the future. |
| Q: Will you publish the bill before the recess? | Q: Will you publish the bill before the recess? |
| May says it will be published “in the next few days”. | May says it will be published “in the next few days”. |
| May says EU withdrawal agreement bill will be published shortly. | May says EU withdrawal agreement bill will be published shortly. |
| Q: Do you want a Brexiter to replace you, or will that just prolong the conflict? | Q: Do you want a Brexiter to replace you, or will that just prolong the conflict? |
| Nice try, says May. She says she will not comment on the leadership contest. That is a matter for the Conservative party. | Nice try, says May. She says she will not comment on the leadership contest. That is a matter for the Conservative party. |
| May is now taking questions. | May is now taking questions. |
| Q: The opposition parties say they will not vote for this. Isn’t this too late? | Q: The opposition parties say they will not vote for this. Isn’t this too late? |
| May urges MPs to look at the detail of the bill. It will be published, she says. She has compromised, she says. | May urges MPs to look at the detail of the bill. It will be published, she says. She has compromised, she says. |
| Q: If you lose the vote, can you confirm you will resign? | Q: If you lose the vote, can you confirm you will resign? |
| That was last week’s news, says May. She made a statement with the chair of the 1922 Committee. | That was last week’s news, says May. She made a statement with the chair of the 1922 Committee. |
| May says this deal will set the groundwork for life outside the EU. | May says this deal will set the groundwork for life outside the EU. |
| But in future, Britain will be able to choose how it develops. Some will want it to move closer to the EU. Others will want it to move further away. | But in future, Britain will be able to choose how it develops. Some will want it to move closer to the EU. Others will want it to move further away. |
| Future governments will be able to decide, she says. | Future governments will be able to decide, she says. |
| She says over the next two weeks the government will try to get MPs to back this deal. | She says over the next two weeks the government will try to get MPs to back this deal. |
| Tomorrow she will make a statement to MPs, she says. | Tomorrow she will make a statement to MPs, she says. |
| She says she has compromised. It is up to MPs to compromise too, she says. | She says she has compromised. It is up to MPs to compromise too, she says. |
| May says this is a great time to be alive. | May says this is a great time to be alive. |
| Britain can make a success of the 2020s and 2030s. | Britain can make a success of the 2020s and 2030s. |
| But it will not do that if it remains stuck in the Brexit impasse, she says. | But it will not do that if it remains stuck in the Brexit impasse, she says. |
| She says, with the right Brexit deal, she can end this debate. | She says, with the right Brexit deal, she can end this debate. |
| She says the UK will have opportunities outside the EU. And it will be able to do even more if it has a deal. It can protect trade, and protect security partnerships. | She says the UK will have opportunities outside the EU. And it will be able to do even more if it has a deal. It can protect trade, and protect security partnerships. |
| This is a huge opportunity for the UK, she says - out of the EU, out of every closer union, free to do things differently. | This is a huge opportunity for the UK, she says - out of the EU, out of every closer union, free to do things differently. |
| May says this opportunity is practical and deliverable. | May says this opportunity is practical and deliverable. |
| But it is “slipping away from us”, she says. | But it is “slipping away from us”, she says. |