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Brexit: MPs reject Labour plan for no-deal vote | Brexit: MPs reject Labour plan for no-deal vote |
(32 minutes later) | |
MPs have rejected a Labour-led effort to take control of Parliament's timetable, blocking the latest attempt to stop a no-deal Brexit. | |
The Commons opposed the move by 309 votes to 298. | The Commons opposed the move by 309 votes to 298. |
If passed, it would have given opponents of a no-deal Brexit the chance to table legislation to thwart the UK leaving without any agreement on the 31 October deadline. | If passed, it would have given opponents of a no-deal Brexit the chance to table legislation to thwart the UK leaving without any agreement on the 31 October deadline. |
The result of the vote was greeted with cheers from the Tory benches. | The result of the vote was greeted with cheers from the Tory benches. |
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by shouting "you won't be cheering in September". | But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by shouting "you won't be cheering in September". |
Ten Tory MPs rebelled against the government by backing Labour's motion, whilst eight Labour MPs defied party instructions and voted against it. | |
No deal would mean the UK leaving the EU without any agreement about the "divorce" process. | |
Overnight, the country would be out of the single market, customs union and institutions such as the European Court of Justice and Europol. | |
There are fears about widespread disruption in such an event - to trade, travel and the functioning of the Irish border, in particular. | |
'Blank cheque' | 'Blank cheque' |
The opposition said the Commons defeat was disappointing, but it still believed there was a majority in the Commons against a no-deal and it remained "determined to win this fight". | |
"There will be other procedural mechanisms we can use," shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said. "We are already looking at what those other opportunities will be." | |
No 10 said giving MPs a "blank cheque" to dictate Brexit policy would have set a troubling precedent. | No 10 said giving MPs a "blank cheque" to dictate Brexit policy would have set a troubling precedent. |
The UK was originally supposed to leave the EU on 29 March. | The UK was originally supposed to leave the EU on 29 March. |
But the EU decided on a seven-month extension after MPs rejected the terms of withdrawal on three occasions. | But the EU decided on a seven-month extension after MPs rejected the terms of withdrawal on three occasions. |
Opponents of a no-deal exit are concerned that Theresa May's successor as prime minister could seek to take the UK out of the EU without parliamentary approval for such an outcome. | Opponents of a no-deal exit are concerned that Theresa May's successor as prime minister could seek to take the UK out of the EU without parliamentary approval for such an outcome. |
'Burning bomb' | |
Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson and several of his rivals have said the UK must leave the EU by the revised date, whether a deal is passed or not. | Tory leadership frontrunner Boris Johnson and several of his rivals have said the UK must leave the EU by the revised date, whether a deal is passed or not. |
Tuesday's motion - supported by the Lib Dems, the SNP and Plaid Cymru, as well as some Conservatives, would not, by itself, have ruled out a no deal. | Tuesday's motion - supported by the Lib Dems, the SNP and Plaid Cymru, as well as some Conservatives, would not, by itself, have ruled out a no deal. |
However, its supporters hoped to start a process on 25 June which could culminate with Parliament blocking the UK leaving without an agreement - in effect, tying the next prime minister's hands. | However, its supporters hoped to start a process on 25 June which could culminate with Parliament blocking the UK leaving without an agreement - in effect, tying the next prime minister's hands. |
Backing the motion, Conservative ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin said the case for ensuring Parliament had a "decisive vote" on the next PM's Brexit plan ahead of the 31 October deadline transcended party politics. | Backing the motion, Conservative ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin said the case for ensuring Parliament had a "decisive vote" on the next PM's Brexit plan ahead of the 31 October deadline transcended party politics. |
Given that leaving without a deal remains the default legal position, he said it was "perfectly possible" for the next PM to usher in a no-deal exit by "simply doing nothing" at all. | Given that leaving without a deal remains the default legal position, he said it was "perfectly possible" for the next PM to usher in a no-deal exit by "simply doing nothing" at all. |
With Parliament not due to sit for most of August or September, due to the six-week summer holidays and four-week party conference season, he said time was limited and it was critical MPs acted now. | With Parliament not due to sit for most of August or September, due to the six-week summer holidays and four-week party conference season, he said time was limited and it was critical MPs acted now. |
"Although it isn't a fast-burning fuse, it is a bomb the fuse of which is already burning. If we don't put the fuse out now, we won't be able to disassemble the bomb in September or October." | "Although it isn't a fast-burning fuse, it is a bomb the fuse of which is already burning. If we don't put the fuse out now, we won't be able to disassemble the bomb in September or October." |
'Loyalty first' | |
But veteran Eurosceptic Conservative Sir Bill Cash said it was a "phantom motion" which paved the way for "government by Parliament". | |
"It just simply opens the door for any bill of any kind to take precedence over government business," he told by MPs. "It is inconceivable as a matter of constitutional convention." | "It just simply opens the door for any bill of any kind to take precedence over government business," he told by MPs. "It is inconceivable as a matter of constitutional convention." |
After the defeat, the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson, accused the Conservatives of "putting party loyalty ahead of national interest". | |
This is not the first time that MPs have attempted to seize control of the Commons order paper in order to shift government policy on Brexit. | This is not the first time that MPs have attempted to seize control of the Commons order paper in order to shift government policy on Brexit. |
MPs voted in March to oblige Mrs May to seek a Brexit delay from the EU. | MPs voted in March to oblige Mrs May to seek a Brexit delay from the EU. |
But efforts by Sir Oliver and others to come up with an alternative Brexit plan failed in April after MPs rejected all the options in a series of indicative votes. | But efforts by Sir Oliver and others to come up with an alternative Brexit plan failed in April after MPs rejected all the options in a series of indicative votes. |