David Davis is making a last-ditch bid to win round Tory rebels as the government faces its first defeat on flagship Brexit laws today.
The Brexit Secretary has sent a letter to MPs assuring them there will be a Commons vote on the terms of the divorce deal with the EU before it is implemented.
But the concession is not likely to be enough to satisfy restive Remainers led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve, who have been calling for the final agreement to be enshrined in statute before it can take effect.
Mr Grieve has vowed to force through his amendment writing the need for a ‘meaningful vote’ into the EU Withdrawal Bill tonight.
Brexit Secretary David Davis (pictured centre at a meeting in Whitehall yesterday) has sent a letter to MPs assuring them there will be a Commons vote on the terms of the divorce deal with the EU before it is implemented
Theresa May (pictured in Paris yesterday with French President Emmanuel Macron) has been warned she faces defeat on her flagship Brexit laws without further concessions to rebel MPs
He claims there are as many as 20 Tory rebels, enough to overturn the government’s slender majority as Labour and other opposition parties are backing the change.
Defeat would be deeply embarrassing for Mrs May, who has never lost a Commons vote on legislation, just before a crunch EU summit which is expected to approve her divorce deal.
Brexiteers have branded the measure an attempt to derail the Bill.
In his letter to MPs, Mr Davis specifically referred to Mr Grieve’s attempt to rewrite the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill and said he was responding to concerns ‘by making clear that there will be a number of votes for Parliament on the final deal we strike with the EU’.
The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier wants the withdrawal deal finalised by October 2018 and the Government has committed to hold a vote in Parliament as soon as possible after the negotiations have concluded.
In an attempt to address Mr Grieve’s point about the power to use secondary legislation, Mr Davis said: ‘The Government will not implement any parts of the withdrawal agreement – for example by using Clause 9 of the European Union (Withdrawal) bill – until after this vote has taken place.’
In addition, he said the deal would have to go through the normal treaty ratification process and there would be primary legislation on the Brexit deal.
‘If Parliament supports the resolution to proceed with the withdrawal agreement and the terms for our future relationship, the Government will bring forward a Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill to give the withdrawal agreement domestic legal effect.
‘The Bill will implement the terms of the withdrawal agreement in UK law as well as providing a further opportunity for parliamentary scrutiny.
‘This legislation will be introduced before the UK exits the EU and the substantive provisions will only take effect from the moment of exit.’
Senior Tory Dominic Grieve (pictured in the Commons yesterday) has vowed to force through his amendment writing the need for a ‘meaningful vote’ into the EU withdrawal laws tomorrow night
The Government announced a U-turn earlier this week to avert a possible defeat on so-called Henry VIII powers in the legislation.
Another very tight vote is expected next Wednesday as ministers stand behind controversial plans to write the Exit Date into the withdrawal legislation.
Mr Grieve confirmed yesterday that he was determined to force a vote on an amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill unless ministers back down.
With up to 20 Conservative MPs reportedly willing to support the change in the division lobbies on Wednesday, he said they could well have the votes needed to get it through.
‘I think there are quite a few who may support me – I think enough, if this comes to a vote, to defeat the Government,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s The World At One.
‘I think there is a real possibility that that will happen.’
The move threatened to wreck the fragile unity in the Conservative ranks in the wake of Mrs May’s divorce deal agreement in Brussels on Friday.
Conservative former leader Iain Duncan Smith accused Mr Grieve and his supporters of ‘grandstanding’ and trying to tie the Government’s hands in the Brexit talks.
‘I think this is looking for ways to derail the bill,’ he told The World At One.
‘There comes a moment when really grandstanding has to stop. Tying the Government’s hands in the way that he would wish to tie them so early on is quite wrong.’
MPs gathered yesterday for the sixth day of committee stage debate (pictured) on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill. Ministers have won every vote contested so far
‘