Brexit amendments: The key amendments to Theresa May's deal that MPs voted on tonight

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Theresa May today faced a ‘Super Tuesday’ showdown in the Commons as MPs competed to stamp their mark on the course of Brexit.

With parliamentary tradition upended by the battle for control of Brexit, what would normally have been just a bland neutral motion by the Government on the Prime Minister's policy stance threatened to take on a life of its own.

Both sides in the often incendiary debate were hoping for a lightning strike moment to illuminate the way out of the Brexit impasse.

As a result of a previous rebellion, MPs tabled amendments to the motion. A handful selected by Speaker John Bercow were voted on tonight which could potentially have altered the course of the scheduled EU exit.

Speaker John Bercow will select the amendments
AP

Mr Bercow chose seven from the myriad of amendments put down using a selection process which is believed to include taking into account the backing each one has amassed and the likelihood of it passing.

Dominic Grieve has tabled one of the most far-reaching amendments
Reuters

Dominic Grieve, the Tory former attorney general and one of the sharpest pro-European thorns in Theresa May's side, is the rebel who paved the way for the parliamentary showdown and he tabled one of the most far reaching amendments.

Mr Bercow selected motions tabled by Yvette Cooper, Mr Grieve, Jeremy Corbyn, Caroline Spelman, Rachel Reeves, Ian Blackford and Sir Graham Brady for consideration in debate on the Government's Brexit deal.

The order in which the amendments were taken   

A – Labour amendment

O – Blackford amendment

G – Grieve amendment

B – Cooper amendment

J – Reeves’ amendment

I – Spelman amendment

N – Brady amendment

 

If Labour’s amendment (A) is passed, the Blackford amendment (O) will fall.

If the Cooper amendment (B) is passed, the Reeves amendment (J) will fall.

After voting on amendments, the Speaker will then put Mrs May’s full motion to the House

Any successful amendment would not be binding on the Government, but the Prime Minister would find it hard to ignore the declared will of a majority in Parliament.

Here is what each amendment could have meant for the Government:

Grieve Amendment G

The former attorney general wanted the Government to hand over power to the Commons on every Tuesday from February 12 to March 26 so backbenchers could discuss, amend and vote on Brexit.

Support: 12 Tories including former minister Justine Greening and Remain campaigners Anna Soubry and Dr Sarah Wollaston. Plus Labour backbenchers, Lib Dems and the SNP.

Taking Control, Cooper Amendment B

Labour MP Yvette Cooper talking about her amendment on the BBC's Andrew Marr show 
PA

Would have forced Theresa May to extend Article 50 beyond March 29 up until December in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

Support: Dozens of Labour backbenchers, the SNP, Lib Dems and nine Tories. The Labour leadership endorsed it at the last minute.

Brady Amendment N

Removed the backstop from the withdrawal agreement, and asked the PM to come up with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border. Tabled by Tories friendly to Mrs May.

Support: Eight Tories including former Cabinet minister Damian Green. Mrs May urged her own MPs to back it to bolster her plans to get back to the EU and renegotiate the backstop.

No to no deal, Spelman Amendment I

Tabled by Tory Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour’s Jack Dromey and ruled out a no-deal Brexit.

Support: 129 MPs have put their names to it, including 10 Tories, among them former minister Nicky Morgan. More than 220 MPs have also written a public letter to say they do not support a no deal.

Labour's Amendment A

This called for MPs to be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal exit, such as a customs union with the EU, as well as the possibility of a new Brexit referendum. Jeremy Corbyn has been careful not to commit Labour to officially back such a poll, though.

Amendments have been tacked on to the Labour push, with the Liberal Democrats calling for Remain to be on the ballot paper in any referendum, and Labour backbenchers urging Parliament to legislate for a public vote.

Blackford Amendment O

This was spearheaded by the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford. It required the Government to ask for Article 50 to be extended and that Scotland not be forced to leave the EU as it voted to remain.

Reeves Amendment J

A cross-party effort from Dominic Grieve, Hilary Benn and business select committee chair Rachel Reeves. It asked the Goverment to ask the EU to delay Brexit if no deal is passed by parliament by end of February. It did not specify how long for.

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