MPs to be given six chances to amend Theresa May's Brexit deal in crunch Commons votes
2 min read
MPs from across the political divide will fight to secure changes to the Brexit deal struck by Theresa May after the Government said it will allow votes on six amendments.
Labour has already tabled an amendment to the so-called ‘meaningful vote’ designed to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without any Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister faces all-but certain defeat when she puts her Brexit strategy to the Commons on 11 December – with almost 100 Tory MPs saying they will vote against it.
Ministers were mulling plans to hold the main vote first followed by amendments, but have decided allowing amendment votes in advance could highlight the lack of majority for any other plan.
MPs are expected to table add-ons calling for a second referendum on EU membership, a snap general election and keeping the UK in a so-called 'Norway model' after Brexit, among other things.
The motion tabled by Labour says the House “declines to approve the United Kingdom’s leaving the European Union without a withdrawal agreement”.
It commits the Government to “pursue every option that prevents the United Kingdom’s either leaving the European Union without a withdrawal agreement” or on the terms struck by the PM.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Labour will oppose Theresa May’s botched Brexit deal that puts jobs, rights and people’s livelihoods at risk…
“It is a miserable failure of negotiation by a Government that has wasted the last two years fighting with itself, rather than securing a better deal with the EU.
“The Tories have no right to inflict the chaos that would following crashing out of the European Union without a deal. That is why we will work with all sides in Parliament to oppose no deal.”
Labour has called for a Brexit deal that would keep the UK in a permanent customs union, and has said it will fight for a general election in order to renegotiate with the EU if the deal put forward by the PM fails.
But Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell yesterday said a second referendum on Brexit was “inevitable” – although Labour argued that was not what the senior figure meant.
MPs will get five days to debate the deal starting on 4 December.
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