Labour demands 'cast iron guarantee' MPs will vote on Brexit deal before withdrawal
2 min read
Keir Starmer today demanded a “cast iron guarantee” that parliament will get a vote on the final Brexit deal before the UK quits the EU.
The Shadow Brexit Secretary urged his counterpart David Davis to clear up the “mess” after government policy on the issue was thrown into confusion.
The Government has promised MPs a “meaningful” vote on the final Brexit deal that will amount to a 'take it or leave on World Trade Organisation terms' offer.
But asked during a Brexit Select Committee hearing yesterday whether that vote might happen after March 2019, Mr Davis said: "It could be. It depends when it concludes."
Theresa May and a spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the European Union have since tried to play down the comment – but nobody has ruled out MPs voting after Brexit happens.
Mr Starmer today deplored the “mess” before fuming: “The text of A50 is clear: No withdrawal agreement can be approved until the European Parliament has voted on it.
“It would be wholly unacceptable for the European Parliament to vote on this, but for this House not to do so.”
He added: “That’s why we need a cast iron guarantee that won’t happen.”
But Mr Davis insisted there would be a "proper and meaningful" vote on any Brexit deal "at the right time".
"Of course this vote cannot happen until there is a deal to vote upon, but we are working to reach an agreement on a final deal in good time before we leave the European Union in March 2019,” he told the Commons.
"Clearly we cannot say for certain at this stage when this will be agreed, but as Michel Barnier said, he hopes to get a draft deal agreed by October 2018 - and that's our aim as well.
"So we fully expect there will be a vote in the UK Parliament on this before the vote in the European Parliament, and before we leave the European Union."
'INSULT TO DEMOCRACY'
Furious Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: “Liam Fox promised this would be the easiest trade deal in history.
"Now the Government can’t even guarantee a deal will be reached before we leave the EU.
“David Davis needs to up his game and get a deal in time for it to be voted on by Parliament and the British people. Anything else would be an insult to democracy."
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