BREXIT: Once again the politicians in the United Kingdom will take control of Parliament today, for another series of indicative votes on Brexit
Politicians of the UK Parliament will once again take over control of Parliament again today to vote on alternatives to Theresa May’s Brexit deal. They may have rejected all eight alternatives when a series of votes were held last week – with no single option commanding a majority – but MPs are hoping to whittle their options down and agree their own deal.
Options up for selection include a leaving without a deal or a second referendum – with many plans opting for a ‘softer Brexit’ despite Cabinet warnings of a walkout by Brexiteers.
The Speaker of the House, John Bercow will chose from eight indicative vote options today, with debate and voting expected to begin at 3.30pm. Many of the ideas voted down last week have returned for a second attempt.
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- Motion A: Unilateral right of exit from the backstop Tory backbenchers, led by John Baron, want the UK to leave the EU on May 22 2019 with the Withdrawal Agreement amended to allow the UK unilaterally to exit the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.
- Motion B: No deal in the absence of a Withdrawal Agreement Another proposal from Mr Baron, which calls for a no-deal Brexit on April 12 if no Withdrawal Agreement can be agreed by the Commons.
- Motion C: Customs union Tory former chancellor Ken Clarke’s customs union plan requires any Brexit deal to include, as a minimum, a commitment to negotiate a ‘permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU’. This was defeated by the smallest margin in the first round, falling just six votes short.
- Motion D: Common market 2.0 Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour’s Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell plus the SNP’s Stewart Hosie. The motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a ‘comprehensive customs arrangement’ with the EU after Brexit – including a ‘UK say’ on future EU trade deals – would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
- Motion E: Confirmatory public vote It has been drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson. This motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification. This option, tabled last time by Labour former minister Dame Margaret Beckett, polled the highest number of votes although was defeated by 295 votes to 268.
- Motion F: Public vote to prevent no deal Moved by Labour’s Graham Jones and Tory former minister Dominic Grieve, this proposal would require a referendum, if necessary, to prevent the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
- Motion G: Parliamentary supremacy SNP MP Joanna Cherry joins with Mr Grieve and MPs from other parties with this plan to seek an extension to the Brexit process, and if this is not possible then Parliament will choose between either no-deal or revoking Article 50. An inquiry would follow to assess the future relationship likely to be acceptable to Brussels and have majority support in the UK. Motion H: Efta and EEA A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice – who quit as agriculture minister to fight for Brexit – proposes rejoining the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) at the ‘earliest opportunity’, agree a short extension to the UK’s membership of the EU to conclude accession to EFTA and negotiate with the EU additional protocols relating to the Northern Ireland border and agri-food trade.
