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MPs defeat motion seeking to block no-deal Brexit MPs defeat motion seeking to block no-deal Brexit
(30 minutes later)
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. Conservative leadership candidates including Boris Johnson hoping to force through a “deal or no deal” Brexit in October have been handed a boost after MPs defeated a Labour-led attempt to begin legislation to stop the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
MPs seeking to take steps to prevent a no-deal Brexit lost a Commons vote by 309 votes to 298 – a majority of 11. MPs seeking to take steps to prevent a no-deal departure lost a vote in the House of Commons by 309 votes to 298 on Wednesday.
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.” Tory MPs cheered as the motion was defeated, after which the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, was heard to say: “You won’t be cheering in September.”
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 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 is 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.” The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, vowed the move would be 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.” One shadow minister said opponents of a no-deal Brexit 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,” they said. “The timing in the midst of [the] Tory leadership [contest] 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. However, the former Conservative MP Nick Boles warned opponents of a no-deal departure 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.”“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. 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 agreement. He said he would abstain because he could not countenance parliamentary manoeuvres that would lead to a further delay.
“We will have been responsible for a no-deal Brexit by default because of our inability to make a decision.” “We will have been responsible for a no-deal Brexit by default because of our inability to make a decision,” Snell said.
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. The former attorney general Dominic Grieve said he was prepared to resign the Conservative whip and go 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 Gill 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 this 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. 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 prevent a no-deal Brexit.
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.
“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,” Starmer said.
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 an 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 Green party.
Boris Johnson Brexit plan difficult or impossible, says Philip Hammond The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said it was a “blind motion” that gave no indication as to what path MPs would try to pursue to block a no-deal departure, and 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 and that it would have “virtually unlimited scope”. Tory MPs who said they intended to back the plan included Antoinette Sandbach, Dominic Grieve, Sam Gyimah and Jonathan Djanogly, plus 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 and Jonathan Djanogly plus the independent MP Boles, who had 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 was installed and before the start of the summer recess. There are no further opposition day debates scheduled. MPs working across parties believed it was essential to take the opportunity to begin efforts to stop a no-deal Brexit before the next prime minister was installed and prior to the start of the summer recess. There are no further opposition day debates scheduled.
Leadership candidates including Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart, who have opposed no deal, had earlier made it clear they would not back the motion.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. Hancock said the motion proved what tactics parliament would use to stop a no-deal departure. “Parliament will do all it can to block no deal. We should stop banging our heads against the brick wall of parliament,” he said.
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