Theresa May is facing a Tory Remainer revolt today as she pushes for the Brexit date to be written into law.
Conservative MPs are plotting with Labour to thwart key parts of the EU Withdrawal Bill – despite the government making a major concession with the offer of a veto on the final deal with Brussels.
Former ministers Dominic Grieve, Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan are among those pledging to vote against plans to put the date we leave the EU on the domestic statute books.
But Tory Brexiteers warned that the public would ‘not forgive’ any efforts to defy the result of the referendum.
Tonight sees the first of eight marathon parliamentary sittings in which the Government is trying to fend off efforts to water down the legislation by a coalition of Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and Tory Remainers.
In a significant concession last night, David Davis said the final Brexit deal would be enshrined in a dedicated Act of Parliament – meaning it could be voted down by MPs just weeks before the UK leaves in March 2019.
Pro-Remain MPs were initially wrong-footed by the intervention from Mr Davis, with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer welcoming the ‘last-minute climbdown’.
But senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper has now tabled a new amendment demanding a guaranteed vote before Brexit can formally happen.
David Davis (pictured arriving for Cabinet in Downing Street this morning) said to be angry with colleagues for pushing their own Brexit agendas. He announced the Brexit deal would have its own law last night
Michael Gove (right arriving for Cabinet this morning) and Boris Johnson (left outside No 10) were among the top ministers turning out for Cabinet today
Ministers including Culture Secretary Karen Bradley and new chief whip Julian Smith were seen walking up Downing Street to Cabinet this morning (pictured)
Newly promoted Aid Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Trade Secretary Liam Fox were also in Downing Street today
Tory Remainers have said they are still determined to inflict defeats on the government after Mr Davis confirmed that despite his concession the UK will leave the EU without a deal if MPs voted down an agreement negotiated with Brussels.
Former attorney-general Mr Grieve, who is leading a group of about a dozen Tory rebels, has tabled 19 amendments.
He again made clear today that he will oppose the Government’s decision to enshrine the Brexit date in law, a proposal he described as ‘incoherent and thoroughly stupid’.
Mr Grieve dismissed criticism from Brexiteers about his revolt, saying those accusing him of disloyalty had previously defied the whip dozens of times.
‘It is worth bearing in mnind that if the legislation is not fit for purpose it will not deliver what the public wants,’ he said.
Fellow Tory Antoinette Sandbach has branded Mr Davis’s announcement ‘meaningless’ without further guarantees, while Heidi Allen, another rebel, described the concession as ‘pointless’.
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has warned that rebel MPs will put the future of the Government at risk if they inflicted defeats over the EU Withdrawal Bill, which paves the way for Brexit.
‘If people keep voting against the Government on this they make the Government’s position more untenable,’ he said.
Mr Duncan Smith also rounded on the Labour leadership after Sir Keir suggested Labour would accept a deal that kept Britain under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) indefinitely.
Pro-Remain MPs were initially wrong-footed by the intervention from Mr Davis, with shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer welcoming the ‘last-minute climbdown’
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith yesterday warned that rebel MPs would put the future of the Government
Mr Duncan Smith accused Labour of betraying its voters, who backed Brexit in droves last year. ‘Staying inside the ECJ would be tantamount to staying in the EU,’ he said.
Government lawyers have told ministers that the exit deal needs to be enshrined in law to minimise the risk of future legal challenges.
But they first have to pass the EU Withdrawal Bill, which begins its detailed scrutiny by MPs this afternoon. Parliament is expected to sit until midnight to debate the first of 188 pages of amendments tabled by pro-Remain MPs.
The legislation is designed to ensure a smooth Brexit by transferring all existing EU regulations into British law. But pro-Remain MPs view it as an opportunity to frustrate the Brexit process – and possibly even halt it.
Tory whips hope the concession from Mr Davis could win over enough wavering MPs to avoid a string of damaging defeats.
They also believe the rebels could be partly balanced by pro-Brexit rebels in Labour’s ranks, making it possible that the legislation will pass.
Party whips are expecting a string of tight votes over the coming weeks, and all leave has been cancelled.
The new offer from Mr Davis means the final Brexit deal will be enshrined in a dedicated Act of Parliament. Government sources played down the prospect of it being used to stop Brexit, saying any amendments to it would simply mean the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Last night the Lord Mayor of the City of London called on Theresa May to agree a Brexit transition deal when she meets EU leaders in Brussels next month.
Charles Bowman suggested a ‘no deal’ exit from the EU would hit the City’s competitiveness, and insist that bankers and other financial workers would rather stay in London than move to Frankfurt.
Speaking at the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet, attended by the Prime Minister, Mr Bowman said it was vital a transition deal was ‘agreed early’ to give firms ‘time to prepare and adjust’.
Last night the Lord Mayor of the City of London called on Theresa May to agree a Brexit transition deal when she meets EU leaders in Brussels next month