Dominic Grieve: Talk of government collapse over crunch Brexit vote 'complete nonsense'
2 min read
Dominic Grieve has dismissed as "complete nonsense" claims that the Government could collapse if it loses a key vote on Brexit tomorrow.
The leading Tory rebel rubbished claims that the Government would collapse if MPs back a Lords amendment giving the Commons the power to intervene to prevent a no deal Brexit.
The amendment was attached to the Government's flagship EU Withdrawal Bill last night, and closely mirrors a deal the ex-attorney general and fellow Brexit rebels believed they had struck with the Prime Minister over the issue.
Speaking to the Today programme, the pro-EU backbencher said he still hoped ministers could offer an acceptable compromise after Mrs May last week appeared to row back on her agreement with the rebels.
“At the moment I am very much hopeful that the Government will listen to what has come back from the Lords and that we may be able to achieve some sort of sensible compromise," he said.
“The difference between us is not very great - but it is a significant difference.”
Mr Grieve was forced to dismiss claims that he wanted to reverse Brexit after coming under fire from Leave-supporting colleagues over the weekend when he said those pushing for a so-called 'meangful vote' on the final Brexit deal "could collapse the Government".
The former attorney general today said those comments had been “misreported”.
"Indeed, one of the reasons I’ve supported [the Lords amendment] is exactly to avoid the kind of crisis where a Government would immediately collapse," he said.
"In fact, I’ve been misreported on that because it has been suggested I want to collapse the Government. I don’t."
Mr Grieve added: "It is precisely because of that reason that having a mechanism that the House of Commons can express a view without moving a vote of confidence which could collapse the Government that we can give ourselves both time to influence the Government and think of what next to do next.
"All of us must hope that this does not happen, but there is a risk it will happen, and if we have no deal at the very end then it is a very serious crisis."
But the leading rebel was adamant that a Commons defeat on the amendment itself tomorrow would not bring down Theresa May's administration.
"This is the end stage of the consideration of the details of a piece of legislation," he said.
"Whichever way the vote ultimately goes, the idea that the Government is going to be endangered by this difference of view within the House of Commons which might lead to its defeat is complete nonsense."
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