Downing Street lobby briefing on Brexit bill defeat and the date of withdrawal
2 min read
A Downing Street spokesman today said the Government had "no plans" to withdraw its amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill enshrining the date of Brexit in UK law.
"On the exit date we have no plans to withdraw the amendment and what we are considering is whether further changes are needed to the bill." Asked if the Government rules it out, he said: "As I’ve said, we’ve got no plans."
The spokesman said the Government would mull the next steps after it was defeated on an amendment calling for a 'meaningful vote' on the final Brexit deal last night.
"As we said last night we are disappointed with the amendment. We now need to consider what the next steps should be and if any further changes are needed to the bill to ensure it fulfils its vital purpose. We will set out that position later today...
"This is a very specific amendment that would compress the time we have to pass secondary legislation under clause 9 in time for exit day. So we now need to consider whether further changes are needed."
Asked if the Prime Minister retains full confidence in her Chief Whip Julian Smith after the defeat last night, the spokesman said: "Yes she has full confidence."
Asked how the Prime Minister would reassure her EU counterparts that she can deliver any agreed Brexit deal after the defeat last night, the spokesman said: "I’m not going to pre-empt what the prime minister will say to her EU counterparts."
The spokesman refused to comment on a range of other issues including alleged bullying behaviour by the whips office, calls for Tory Brexit rebels to be deselected and a rise in statutory homelessness.
