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Soft Brexit Tories might back deal if WTO loophole closed More Tories might back PM's Brexit timetable if no-deal loophole closed
(30 minutes later)
Soft Brexit Tories could back Boris Johnson’s plan to push through his deal in three days if the government agrees to close a loophole that would allow the UK to crash out on World Trade Organisation terms at the end of next year. Soft-Brexit Conservatives could back Boris Johnson’s plan to push through his deal in three days if the government agrees to close a loophole that would allow the UK to crash out on World Trade Organization terms at the end of next year.
Rory Stewart, one of the 21 Tories who had the whip withdrawn, said he and some of his fellow rebels had been negotiating “through the night” to give parliament more control over the next phase of the Brexit negotiations, including being able to vote for an extension to the talks.Rory Stewart, one of the 21 Tories who had the whip withdrawn, said he and some of his fellow rebels had been negotiating “through the night” to give parliament more control over the next phase of the Brexit negotiations, including being able to vote for an extension to the talks.
He said that a “central role” in the trade negotiations would be more important than guaranteeing that the UK remains in a customs union with the EU, which Labour is looking to secure. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has also been in the discussions. He said a “central role” in the trade negotiations would be more important than guaranteeing that the UK remains in a customs union with the EU, which Labour is looking to secure. Philip Hammond, the chancellor, has also been in the discussions.
“I think there is a bigger prize which is making sure that any parliament that is sitting has proper control over the mandate for the future trading negotiations,” Stewart told the BBC. “I think there is a bigger prize, which is making sure that any parliament that is sitting has proper control over the mandate for the future trading negotiations,” Stewart told the BBC.
“Parliament should be involved in the mandate, the progress of those and the outcome and determining the extension. That’s the bigger prize. If we can make sure that parliament has a central role in the future negotiations then that’s our democratic opportunity.”“Parliament should be involved in the mandate, the progress of those and the outcome and determining the extension. That’s the bigger prize. If we can make sure that parliament has a central role in the future negotiations then that’s our democratic opportunity.”
He suggested he was still against “ramming through” the bill without due scrutiny, with talks ongoing.He suggested he was still against “ramming through” the bill without due scrutiny, with talks ongoing.
It is understood that No 10 is preparing to concede on some amendments but is putting pressure on the former Tories not to block the programme motion, arguing this would delay Brexit. There are believed to be only a handful of the group still threatening to vote with the opposition parties to give parliament more time to scrutinise the bill. Nick Boles, a former Tory, said he had tabled an amendment that would go even further, making a two-year extension to the transition period automatic if there were no trade deal in place by the end of next year.
Margot James, another of the whipless Tories, told the Guardian she was planning to support the government on all votes. Ed Vaizey, another former Tory, also indicated he was planning to vote for the current timetable, although he said he may change his mind if Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, continued to send “ludicrous tweets” saying “a vote against the programme motion is a vote against Brexit”. He said it would “would require the government to seek an extension to the transition to December 2022 unless MPs vote to the contrary… essential to stop hardline ERG members forcing through No Deal Brexit in Dec 2020.”
A third former Tory, Richard Benyon, then told Sky News that he would be backing the programme motion too. “Whether you had three days, three weeks or three months debating this, you would not hear one original argument that we hadn’t otherwise heard in this process,” he said. It is understood No 10 is preparing to concede on some amendments but not on the idea of an automatic extension and it is putting pressure on the former Tories not to block the programme motion, arguing this would delay Brexit. There are believed to be only a handful of the group still threatening to vote with the opposition parties to give parliament more time to scrutinise the bill.
The support of the former Tory independents will be crucial for Johnson’s chances of getting his timetable through but the prime minister would probably also need some Labour MPs and former Labour independents to back him. Margot James, another of the whipless Tories, told the Guardian she was planning to support the government on all votes. Ed Vaizey, another former Conservative, also indicated he was planning to vote for Johnson’s timetable, although he said he may change his mind if Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, continued to send “ludicrous tweets” saying “a vote against the programme motion is a vote against Brexit”.
The key issue at stake for many of the Tories who want a soft Brexit is whether parliament will be able to stop the government taking the UK out of the EU on World Trade Organisation terms at the end of the transition period next year. A third former Tory, Richard Benyon, told Sky News he would be backing the programme motion, too. “Whether you had three days, three weeks or three months debating this, you would not hear one original argument that we hadn’t otherwise heard in this process,” he said.
The support of the former Tory independents will be crucial for Johnson’s chances of getting his timetable through, but the prime minister would probably also need some Labour MPs and former Labour independents to back him.
The key issue at stake for many of the Tories who want a soft Brexit is whether parliament will be able to stop the government taking the UK out of the EU on World Trade Organization terms at the end of the transition period next year.
The withdrawal agreement bill (WAB), which gives legal effect to the Brexit plan, sets out that parliament must approve any ministerial requests to extend the so-called transition period beyond the end of December next year.The withdrawal agreement bill (WAB), which gives legal effect to the Brexit plan, sets out that parliament must approve any ministerial requests to extend the so-called transition period beyond the end of December next year.
However, the bill does not give MPs themselves any means to request an extension to the transition period, indicating that if the government decided it did not want this, the UK could exit the transition without a deal, even against the will of parliament.However, the bill does not give MPs themselves any means to request an extension to the transition period, indicating that if the government decided it did not want this, the UK could exit the transition without a deal, even against the will of parliament.
Clause 30 is among a series of contentious clauses identified in the 115-page WAB, which MPs first saw on Monday evening, less than 24 hours before they will be asked to vote on the bill for the first time, for its second reading.Clause 30 is among a series of contentious clauses identified in the 115-page WAB, which MPs first saw on Monday evening, less than 24 hours before they will be asked to vote on the bill for the first time, for its second reading.
Hilary Benn, the Labour MP who chairs the Brexit select committee, noted this element in a tweet, saying: “What happens if the government doesn’t propose an extension? Parliament would have no say and we would exit the transition period on the 31 Dec 2020 even if a trade agreement hadn’t been reached by then with the EU; ie no deal.”Hilary Benn, the Labour MP who chairs the Brexit select committee, noted this element in a tweet, saying: “What happens if the government doesn’t propose an extension? Parliament would have no say and we would exit the transition period on the 31 Dec 2020 even if a trade agreement hadn’t been reached by then with the EU; ie no deal.”
Clause 30 of the EU (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill. What happens if the Government doesn’t propose an extension? Parliament would have no say and we would exit the transition period on the 31 Dec 2020 even if a trade agreement hadn’t been reached by then with the EU; ie no deal. pic.twitter.com/mbCAsrX0eB
Yvette Cooper, another senior Labour backbencher, said it appeared to be “a really important problem with the bill”.Yvette Cooper, another senior Labour backbencher, said it appeared to be “a really important problem with the bill”.
She said: “It looks as though ministers can just decide unilaterally to move to no deal in December 2020, ruling out any further extension to the transition period even if future trade agreements or security arrangements aren’t yet agreed.”She said: “It looks as though ministers can just decide unilaterally to move to no deal in December 2020, ruling out any further extension to the transition period even if future trade agreements or security arrangements aren’t yet agreed.”
Similar points were made by the Lib Dems and Greens. Sam Gyimah, the former Tory minister who defected to the Lib Dems last month, said the risk of no deal “is real”.Similar points were made by the Lib Dems and Greens. Sam Gyimah, the former Tory minister who defected to the Lib Dems last month, said the risk of no deal “is real”.
He tweeted: “The decision would have to be made in the next 8 mths (end of June), and Johnson has ruled out asking for an extension to the transition. This deal does not stop no deal.” He tweeted: “The decision would have to be made in the next eight months (end of June), and Johnson has ruled out asking for an extension to the transition. This deal does not stop no deal.”
Green MP Caroline Lucas called the clause “the trapdoor to no deal”, adding: “If the government doesn’t propose an extension to the transition, MPs have no say, and therefore if negotiations on future relationship unfinished by end of December next year, we’re out.” The Green MP Caroline Lucas called the clause “the trapdoor to no deal”, adding: “If the government doesn’t propose an extension to the transition, MPs have no say, and therefore if negotiations on future relationship unfinished by end of December next year, we’re out.”
Ah, just found the trapdoor to No Deal.Clause 30 - if the Government doesn’t propose an extension to the transition, MPs have no say, & therefore if negotiations on future relationship unfinished by end of December next year, we’re out - it’s #NoDeal pic.twitter.com/1KeCj7eQuD
There is speculation that Downing Street might give way on the issue to gather more support ahead of Tuesday evening’s crucial vote on the second reading, and then on the accelerated timetable for the bill’s passage, which the government hopes to push through in three days.
Rory Stewart
BrexitBrexit
Rory Stewart
European UnionEuropean Union
EuropeEurope
Foreign policy
Boris Johnson
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