Labour launch bid to force Government to publish legal advice on Irish border plan
2 min read
Ministers could be forced to publish the legal advice they received on their plans for avoiding a hard Irish border, it has emerged.
Labour say the documents should be made public so that MPs are not "in the dark" when they vote on Theresa May's final Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister has proposed a temporary customs union between the UK and the EU as a way of maintaining an open border in Ireland which a free trade deal is negotiated.
However, Brussels has insisted that the British government cannot unilaterally withdraw from this "backstop" arrangement, leading to deadlock in the negotiations.
Cabinet ministers, led by Environment Secretary Michael Gove, have demanded to see the full legal advice given to Mrs May on the subject by attorney general Geoffrey Cox.
Labour will tomorrow table a so-called "humble address" which, if passed by the Commons, would force the Government to make that advice available to every MP.
The ancient Parliamentary tactic was used successfully earlier this year to force ministers to release their internal assessments of the impact of Brexit.
Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said: "It’s simply untenable for the Government to put forward any Brexit deal to Parliament without providing the legal advice on what’s been agreed.
"At this critical stage, MPs can’t be kept in the dark nor can we risk Parliament being bounced into a decision without having all of the facts available.
"Ministers should accept this motion and allow MPs to have an informed debate about the UK’s future relationship with the EU after Brexit."
Meanwhile, Downing Street has dismissed claims by chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier that a Brexit breakthrough is imminent.
Mr Barnier suggested that Mrs May would be able to present the "perameters" of a deal to her Cabinet at a crunch meeting tomorrow.
But a spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "I have talked about taking things with a pinch of salt before. I would apply a bucket of salt to this one. Talks are ongoing."
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