PM’s compromise on Brexit branded unacceptable by pro-EU Tories

By Andrew Woodcock

Theresa May's flagship Brexit legislation has once more been thrown into doubt, after a compromise designed to keep Tory backbenchers on board was branded "unacceptable" by leading rebels.

The Prime Minister saw off defeat on the EU Withdrawal Bill at the last minute on Tuesday by persuading rebels that she would offer concessions to address their concerns about being given a truly "meaningful vote" on the final Brexit deal.

But an amendment tabled by Brexit Secretary David Davis on Thursday gives MPs no chance to block a "no deal" EU withdrawal if agreement has not been reached with Brussels by January 21 next year.

Instead, MPs would be allowed to vote only on a "neutral" motion, confirming that they have considered a statement by a minister on the issue. And crucially, the statement would be unamendable.

Leading pro-EU Conservative Dominic Grieve told the Press Association: "It is unacceptable in my view. It is not in accordance with the normal procedures of the House of Commons and it totally negates the point of the amendment, which was to give MPs a say."

Mr Grieve indicated that the final text of the amendment tabled in the House of Lords at the last possible moment on Thursday had been changed from the wording which he believed had been agreed earlier in the day.

He told PA: "After what had been a very sensible negotiation, I thought we had an agreement, and at the last moment, part of the text was changed to make the final motion unamendable if there isn't a deal by the end of January 21.”

"I think it is unacceptable because it seems to me to be contrary to what the whole intention was behind this whole amendment."

Mr Grieve previously tabled his own proposals, which would have allowed Parliament to dictate the next steps the Government should take if no deal was reached by the end of February. This was seen as a means for MPs to ensure that the UK did not crash out of the EU without a deal.

However, the Grieve amendment was not put to a vote on Tuesday, after would-be rebels accepted "personal assurances" from the PM that a compromise would be found.

Instead, the majority of the pro-EU Tories backed the Government in voting down a Lords amendment to give them the power to tell ministers to go back to Brussels and renegotiate.

Now Conservative peer Viscount Hailsham has re-tabled Mr Grieve's amendment in the House of Lords, setting the scene for a fresh Government defeat when the Bill returns to the Second Chamber on Monday.

The row sets up the very real possibility of defeat for the Prime Minister as the EU Withdrawal Bill bounces between the Lords and Commons in the process of "parliamentary ping-pong" over the coming weeks, ahead of a crunch summit of European leaders in Brussels on June 28.

Pro-EU Tories were quick to voice their anger.

Shortly before the text of the amendment was tabled, former minister Anna Soubry tweeted to say that "deal or no deal Parliament will have a meaningful vote and ... there will be no hard Brexit".
But following the release of the Government's proposals, she said: "I understand the Government has tabled an amendment that has not been agreed by Dominic Grieve. Grateful for the conversations but without consultation what was agreed earlier today has been changed."

And Sarah Wollaston tweeted: "So just to be clear we are now going to have to amend the 'unamendable' after the agreed amendable amendment acquired a sneaky sting in the tail.”
"Would be funny if only it wasn't such a serious issue, Preventing the most destructive Brexit matters to the majority in Parliament... The majority of MPs will not support a cliff-edge no-deal Brexit & will insist on a meaningful vote.”

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said: "The Government's amendment is simply not good enough.”

"Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of the meaningful vote. Parliament cannot - and should not - accept it."

Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: "It appears Theresa May has been caught red-handed making conflicting offers to Tory rebels and hard-right Brexiters. It was clear she couldn't keep both promises - we are now finding out which lie she was telling.

"The Prime Minister should be left in no doubt; any attempt to water down her promise to give Parliament a 'meaningful vote' will end with MPs forcing a defeat on her.

"This meaningful vote must be comprehensive and offer the possibility of MPs putting the deal to the people.

"Ultimately, this saga demonstrates that the Tories are more interested in party unity than the country. They cannot be trusted with Brexit. The people must be given the final say on the deal, and an opportunity to Exit from Brexit."
(PA)