Row erupts as Theresa May challenges MPs to vote down Withdrawal Agreement on 'Brexit Day'
3 min read
A furious row has erupted after Theresa May challenged MPs to vote down her Brexit deal on the day the UK was supposed to leave the European Union.
In a dramatic move, the Government announced that the Commons will sit in a special five-hour session to decide whether or not to back the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement.
Symbolically, it will take place on 29 March - the day when Brexit was initially supposed to happen.
However, the Political Declaration element of her Brexit deal - which will decide what the UK's future relationship with the EU will look like - will not be put to the vote.
The highly-unusual tactic means that it will not be a so-called "Meaningful Vote", but would ensure that the EU will allow Brexit to be delayed until 22 May if it is passed.
But if it is defeated, the Government will have until 12 April to come up with a new Brexit plan or else it could be forced to seek a much lengthier extension - and take part in May's European Parliament elections.
Announcing the move, Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said: "The European Union will only agree an extension until 22 May if the Withdrawal Agreement is approved this week.
"Tomorrow’s motion gives Parliament the opportunity to secure that extension. I encourage all MPs to support it and ensure that we leave the EU on 22 May, giving people and businesses the certainty they need."
Opposition MPs reacted with fury to the announcement. Shadow Commons leader Valerie Vaz said: "The treatment of this House is absolutely disgraceful. Members have been told they have to come back for tomorrow's motion.
"This underlines the disrespect for this House of Commons and for Parliament."
She added: "This is the Government playing games. Parliament, our constituents, future trading partners and the country will not countenance this."
Labour backbencher Mary Creagh said the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration were "two horns on the same goat" which could not be separated under the terms of the EU Withdrawal Act.
She said: "This is an extraordinary and unprecendented reverse ferret of the commitments that have been given by ministers to this place... that we should have our say on both items together.
"And is it not extraordinary that we have this coming right on the day when we know there are going to be far-right demonstrators gathering in Parliament Square?"
Her Labour colleague Stephen Doughty accused the Government of "trickery of the highest order".
Meanwhile, both the DUP and Labour confirmed they will vote against the motion, meaning the Prime Minister is heading for yet another heavy defeat.
However, Westminster insiders pointed out that would allow Mrs May to blame them and Tory rebels if the UK ends up taking part in the European elections.
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