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MPs defeat motion seeking to block no-deal Brexit MPs defeat motion seeking to block no-deal Brexit
(about 1 hour later)
MPs seeking to take steps to prevent a no-deal Brexit have lost a Commons vote by 309 votes to 298 – a majority of 11 – in a boost to Conservative leadership contenders such as Boris Johnson who are hoping to force the UK’s exit from the EU by 31 October. Tory candidates including Boris Johnson hoping to force a “deal or no deal” exit in October were handed a boost as MPs defeated a Labour-led attempt to begin legislation to stop the UK leaving the EU with no agreement.
The cross-party motion would have given MPs time to begin to pass legislation that may have significantly constrained a future prime minister, but Labour sources said they feared would-be Tory rebels had preferred to hold their fire until they see which candidate was installed. MPs seeking to take steps to prevent a no-deal Brexit lost a Commons vote by 309 votes to 298 – a majority of 11.
The vote followed a debate in the House of Commons led by the shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, who urged MPs to back the cross-party effort, calling it a “safety valve”, so MPs can begin legislation to stop a new prime minister suspending parliament. Tory MPs whooped and cheered as the motion was defeated on Wednesday, to which the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was heard to say: “You won’t be cheering in September.”
Speaking before the crunch vote on giving MPs control of the parliamentary agenda on 25 June, Starmer said MPs had to seize the opportunity to grant themselves time to stop a no-deal Brexit. The cross-party motion would have given MPs parliamentary time to begin to pass legislation that may have significantly constrained a future prime minister, but Labour sources said they feared would-be Tory rebels had preferred to hold their fire until they see which leadership candidate was installed.
The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, vowed it was the first of many such efforts. “Labour stands ready to use whatever mechanism it can to protect jobs, the economy and communities from the disastrous consequences of a no-deal Brexit,” he said. “Any Tory leadership candidate should know that parliament will continue to fight against no deal.”
One shadow minister said opponents of no deal had missed a crucial opportunity but plans would be made to find an alternative. “This isn’t the end of it. We’ll just have to be doubly creative,” the shadow minister said. “The timing in the midst of Tory leadership is poor – but not our choice.”
However, the former Conservative MP Nick Boles warned that opponents of no deal were fast running out of options – apart from a confidence vote. “No-deal Brexit on 31 October is back to being a racing certainty,” he said.
“It is very hard to see where any further legislative opportunities will come from. So it’s now a question of politics – specifically whether a PM pursuing a no-deal Brexit can command and sustain the confidence of the House of Commons.”
The debate before the vote revealed fraying tempers in all wings of both parties. The Labour MP Gareth Snell, who represents the leave-voting seat of Stoke-on-Trent Central, said he regretted not voting for Theresa May’s Brexit deal. He said he would abstain because he could not countenance parliamentary manoeuvres that would lead to more delay.
“We will have been responsible for a no-deal Brexit by default because of our inability to make a decision.”
In another bombshell revelation, the former attorney general Dominic Grieve said he was prepared to resign the Conservative whip and vote against the government in a no-confidence vote if it would prevent a no-deal Brexit. “I simply have to say, here and now, I will not hesitate to do that if that is what is attempted,” he said.
Labour’s bid to block no deal is an audacious move against a new PM | Martha GillLabour’s bid to block no deal is an audacious move against a new PM | Martha Gill
The motion proposed giving MPs control of the parliamentary agenda in a fortnight’s time. That day could then potentially be used to begin legislation to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal – though it is still uncertain what form that would take. The motion proposed giving MPs control of the parliamentary agenda in a fortnight’s time. That day could then have been used to begin legislation to prevent the UK from leaving the EU without a deal – though it is uncertain what form that would take.
Starmer said MPs were forced to act because of suggestions from leadership candidates including Johnson and Dominic Raab that the UK will leave – come what may – on 31 October, with Raab even suggesting he would be prepared to prorogue parliament to stop MPs efforts to thwart no deal. Speaking in the debate, Starmer said MPs had been forced to act because of suggestions from leadership candidates including Johnson and Dominic Raab that the UK would leave – come what may – on 31 October. Raab had even suggested he would be prepared to prorogue parliament to stop MPs’ efforts to thwart no deal.
“If the next prime minister is foolish enough to try to pursue a no-deal Brexit without gaining the consent of this house, or to try to prorogue parliament in order to force through no deal, then parliament will have the means to prevent that,” he told MPs. “It will introduce a safety valve in the Brexit process and it will be a reminder to all Conservative leadership candidates that this house will take every step necessary to prevent a no deal,” Starmer said.
“It will introduce a safety valve in the Brexit process and it will be a reminder to all Conservative leadership candidates that this house will take every step necessary to prevent a no deal.” The motion, which Labour tabled during Wednesday’s opposition day debate,was signed by the former Conservative minister Oliver Letwin and the leaders of the Scottish National party, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
The motion, which Labour tabled during Wednesday’s opposition day debate, has the backing of the former Conservative minister Oliver Letwin and the leaders of the Scottish National party, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.
Opening the debate, Starmer said, if passed, MPs could use 25 June, to “set out a schedule for the stages of a parliamentary bill relating to our departure from the EU”. He said the motion did not set out the form of legislation or prevent the government from starting to pass a Brexit deal.
Boris Johnson Brexit plan difficult or impossible, says Philip HammondBoris Johnson Brexit plan difficult or impossible, says Philip Hammond
“It is a first and limited step to ensure parliament cannot be locked out of the Brexit process over the coming weeks and months,” he said. “It paves the way for parliament to take further action including to prevent no deal, should the house consider that necessary.” The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said it was a “blind motion” that gave no indication what path MPs would try to pursue to block no deal and that it would have “virtually unlimited scope”.
The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said it was a “blind motion” that gave no indication what path MPs would try to pursue to block no deal, saying it would have “virtually unlimited scope”. Tory MPs who said they intended to back the plan include Antoinette Sandbach, Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah and Jonathan Djanogly plus the independent MP Boles, who had flown back to the UK specifically to vote on the motion.
Tory MPs who said they intended to back the plan include Antoinette Sandbach, Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah, Jonathan Djanogly and the former Conservative Nick Boles, who has flown back to the UK specifically to vote on the motion.
Gyimah said there were “two principles at stake” – the right of the government to control the parliamentary agenda and whether the government could prorogue parliament in pursuit of its policy objectives, including involving the Queen.Gyimah said there were “two principles at stake” – the right of the government to control the parliamentary agenda and whether the government could prorogue parliament in pursuit of its policy objectives, including involving the Queen.
“I believe the latter of those two principles is the weightier one, the one we should be bearing in mind as we vote today,” he said.“I believe the latter of those two principles is the weightier one, the one we should be bearing in mind as we vote today,” he said.
MPs working cross-party believed it was essential to take the opportunity to begin efforts to stop no deal before the next prime minister is installed and before the start of the summer recess. MPs working cross-party believed it was essential to take the opportunity to begin efforts to stop no deal before the next prime minister was installed and before the start of the summer recess. There are no further opposition day debates scheduled.
The Conservatives will whip against the motion, Downing Street confirmed on Wednesday, meaning ministers who oppose no deal would need to resign in order to support it. Theresa May’s spokesman said it would set an “uncomfortable and troubling” precedent. Leadership candidates including Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart, who have opposed no deal, had earlier made it clear they would not back the motion.
Hancock said the motion proved what tactics parliament would use to stop no deal. “Parliament will do all it can to block no deal. We should stop banging our heads against the brick wall of parliament,” he said.
BrexitBrexit
Keir StarmerKeir Starmer
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
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