Executive loses key Brexit bill vote

The govthas been narrowly defeated in a key vote on its Brexit bill after a riot by eleven Tory MPs.

In a blow to High Minister Theresa Might possibly well also merely, MPs voted to provide Parliament a correct guarantee of a vote on the last Brexit deal struck with Brussels.

The govthad argued this could perhaps jeopardise its potentialities of delivering a tender departure from the EU.

Regardless of a closing-minute strive to provide concessions to rebels, an modification to the bill used to be backed by 309 to 305.

Ministers said the « minor setback » would no longer forestall the UK leaving the EU in 2019.

Of the Conservative MPs who voted in opposition to the govt., eight are outdated faculty ministers.

One of them, Stephen Hammond, used to be sacked as Conservative vice chairman within the aftermath of the vote.

« Tonight I build nation and constituency earlier than birthday party and voted with my tips to provide Parliament a meaningful vote, » he tweeted.

The govtsaid it used to be « disappointed » at losing – its first defeat on Brexit – despite the « solid assurances » it had offered.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the defeat used to be « a humiliating loss of authority » for Mrs Might possibly well also merely on the eve of an EU summit the establish leaders will discuss about Brexit.

What does it mean?

BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg

Or no longer it is the main time that Theresa Might possibly well also merely has been defeated on her possess industry within the Commons. She has to front up in Brussels the next day with slightly a lot of EU leaders easiest hours after an embarrassing loss in Parliament.

Past the red faces in govt tonight, does it in actuality topic? Ministers tonight are divided on that. Two cupboard ministers delight in urged me while it be disappointing it would no longer in actuality topic within the large portray.

Or no longer it’s absolutely aesthetic that the Tory birthday party is so divided over how we creep away the EU that the Parliamentary job used to be repeatedly going to be very, very choppy.

But one other minister urged me the defeat is « unsuitable for Brexit » and used to be openly frustrated and anxious about their colleagues’ behaviour.

Learn the leisure of Laura’s blog

Conservative MPs clash

The defeat came after opposition occasions joined forces with Conservative rebels for the period of a heated debate within the Chamber on the modification.

Critics accused those at the aid of the modification – which used to be authored by outdated faculty attorney frequent Dominic Grieve and championed by slightly a lot of legit-Remain campaigners – of searching for to « frustrate » Brexit and tying the govt.’s arms.

After the tip result used to be presented, one of the well-known rebels, outdated faculty cupboard minister Nicky Morgan, tweeted: « Tonight Parliament took abet watch over of the EU Withdrawal job. »

But slightly a lot of Conservative MPs reacted angrily, with one, Nadine Dorries, announcing the rebels can delight in to be deselected.

The Tory rebels were Mr Grieve, Heidi Allen, Ken Clarke, Jonathan Djanogly, Stephen Hammond, Sir Oliver Heald, Nicky Morgan, Bob Neill, Antoinette Sandbach, Anna Soubry and Sarah Wollaston.

But any other Conservative MP, John Stevenson, abstained by vote casting in both lobbies.

Two Labour MPs, Frank Discipline and Kate Hoey, voted with the govt..

What the vote used to be about

The UK is attributable to creep away the EU in March 2019, and negotiations are taking establish on what their relationship will be love one day.

The EU Withdrawal Invoice is a key fraction of the govt.’s exit system.

Its effects consist of ending the supremacy of EU law and copying existing EU law into UK law, so that the same rules and rules observe on Brexit day.

MPs were making 1000’s of makes an strive to interchange its wording – however that is the main time one has succeeded.

Unless the govt. manages to overturn it additional down the line, it manner a brand recent Act of Parliament will can delight in to be handed earlier than ministers can implement the withdrawal deal struck with Brussels.

Ministers had made a lot of efforts to placate the Conservative rebels, and argued that Mr Grieve’s modification would build pointless time stress on the govt. if talks with the EU persevered till the closing minute.

They had already promised a vote on the last deal and to enshrine the withdrawal settlement in an Act of Parliament.

But critics demanded a guarantee of a « meaningful vote » earlier than the deal is agreed. They said the wording of the bill would enable ministers to bypass Parliament in implementing what is agreed with Brussels.

And minutes earlier than the vote, they offered a closing-minute promise of motion at a later stage of the bill’s scurry by Parliament.

Some Conservatives said this had changed their minds however Mr Grieve said it used to be « too unhurried ».

The response

Speaking afterwards, the govt. said: « We are disappointed that Parliament has voted for this modification despite the solid assurances that we delight in now position out.

« We are as determined as ever that this bill, and the powers within it, are well-known.

« This modification does no longer forestall us from making ready our statute book for exit day. We can now resolve whether or no longer additional adjustments are wished to the Invoice to guarantee it fulfils its a will must delight in reason. »

Justice Minister Dominic Raab said the defeat would no longer abet up the Brexit job.

« Or no longer it’s a setback however it be a somewhat minor setback, it acquired’t frustrate the Brexit job, » he said, adding: « Or no longer it’s no longer going to cease us leaving the EU in March 2019. »

Mr Corbyn said « Parliament has asserted itself » amid a « energy grab » by the high minister.

The European Parliament’s chief Brexit co-ordinator Man Verhofstadt tweeted: « British Parliament takes aid abet watch over. European and British Parliament together will make a resolution on the last settlement. Interests of the electorate will prevail over slim birthday party politics. An valid day for democracy. »