Brexit latest: Theresa May faces huge parliamentary bust-up as Tory Remainers denounce compromise as ‘unacceptable’

Theresa May is facing the biggest parliamentary bust-up yet over Brexit
Getty Images
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Theresa May is facing the biggest parliamentary bust-up yet on her flagship Brexit legislation after Tory Remainers denounced a promised compromise as “unacceptable”.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister saw off a move by MPs to secure a “meaningful vote” on the eventual deal with the EU by guaranteeing concessions, although no concessions were actually agreed.

The wording of the compromise has now been published, with one senior pro-EU Tory saying it was changed at the last minute to deny MPs the chance of blocking a "no deal" Brexit.

In a move branded "sneaky" by one backbencher, the amendment to the EU withdrawal bill simply leaves Parliament facing a "deal or no deal" choice.

What does the government's amendment say?

The amendment says that if no deal has been reached by January 21 2019, a minister must make a statement in Parliament and give MPs a chance to vote.

However the vote would only be on a "neutral motion" stating that the minister's statement on the issue has been considered.

Crucially, the motion will be unamendable, meaning that MPs cannot insert a requirement for Mrs May to go back to the negotiating table, extend the Brexit transition or revoke the UK's withdrawal under Article 50.

Leading pro-EU Conservative Dominic Grieve said: "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."

Mrs May had avoided almost certain defeat in the House of Commons by inviting potential rebels into her private office and assuring them that their concerns would be addressed.

Peers are to vote on Monday on the amendment as a potentially bloody round of "parliamentary ping-pong" gets under way.

'Parliamentary ping-pong'

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.

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.

DExEU tests

A spokesman for the Department for Exiting the EU said the amendment met the tests set down by Brexit Secretary David Davis and the PM.

The tests state that any changes to the bill must not undermine negotiations or change the constitutional roles of parliament and government and must respect the referendum result.

The spokesman said the wording "ensures that in all circumstances Parliament can hold Government to account while also allowing Government to deliver on the will of the British people as expressed in the referendum".

He added: "This remains hypothetical and the Government is confident we will agree a good deal with the EU which Parliament will support."

Pro-EU Tories 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".

However, 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."

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."

'Not good enough'

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.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in