David Davis today warned Remain rebels are trying to reverse Brexit by forcing a ‘meaningful vote’ amendment into crucial laws on quitting the EU.
The Brexit Secretary demanded MPs strip a Lords amendment from the flagship legislation as a showdown in Parliament finally began this afternoon.
Mr Davis warned nothing should be done to tie the Government’s hands in its negotiations with Brussels or to re-write the UK constitution in a bid to stall Brexit.
But Mr Davis stopped just short of ruling out accepting an amendment from rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve – insisting he had not properly read the new draft.
A series of crucial votes will begin in the Commons at 4.15pm.
David Davis (pictured in the Commons today) warned Remain rebels are trying to reverse Brexit by forcing a ‘meaningful vote’ amendment into crucial laws on quitting the EU
The Brexit Secretary (pictured addressing MPs today) demanded the Commons strip a Lords amendment from the flagship legislation as a showdown in Parliament finally began this afternoon
But Mr Davis stopped just short of ruling out accepting an amendment from rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve (pictured in the Commons today) – insisting he had not properly read the new draft
Opening today’s debate, the Brexit Secretary insisted it was ‘not practical, not desirable and not appropriate’ for Parliament to dictate the terms of Brexit talks instead of ministers.
He said: ‘We must never do anything that undermines the Government’s negotiating position or encourages delay in the negotiation.
‘We can’t change fundamental constitutional structures that makes the Government responsible for international relations and international treaties.
‘We must under all circumstances respect the result of the referendum. That is what this House has voted on with Article 50.’
Mr Grieve, who has tabled an amendment for a meaningful vote in a bid to force concessions from ministers, insisted the Government had to move or face defeat.
He told Mr Davis: ‘The Government has not made provision for no deal.
‘One of the key issues for me is whether we can make make some progress on having a proper structure to address no deal.
‘I don’t think this Bill can finish its course and get Royal Assent until we have that.’
In his main speech later, Mr Grieve added: ‘I really am worried, the irrationality of the debate we are having on details of Brexit is truly chilling.’
Father of the House Ken Clarke, one of the leading Tory rebels, insisted Mr Grieve’s amendment was a ‘perfectly serious proposition’ and urged the Government to accept it.
He accused the Government whips of an ‘intolerant response’ to rebel demands and condemned pressure heaped upon Mr Grieve.
But grandee Sir Edward Leigh swung behind the Government.
He warned potential rebels they would be inflicting a ‘catastrophic blow’ on the Government and insisted Mr Grieve’s plan was the ‘ultimate wrecking amendment’ that sought to ‘wreck the will of the people’.
grandee Sir Edward Leigh swung behind the Government and warned potential rebels they would be inflicting a ‘catastrophic blow’ on the Government
For Labour, shadow Brexit minister Matthew Pennycook paid tribute to the House of Lords for their ‘diligent and considered manner in which they so thoroughly scrutinised the Bill before us’.
Ahead of today’s debate, Justice minister Phillip Lee dramatically quit today in protest at Mrs May’s approach – saying he could not ‘look my children in the eye’ and stay in his job.
The resignation is a massive blow for Mrs May, who this morning gathered her Cabinet in No10 ahead of the Commons showdown.
The Lords had insisted that Parliament be put in charge of negotiations if MPs did not accept the terms sealed with the EU, effectively undermining Mrs May’s position.
Father of the House Ken Clarke (pictured in today’s debate), one of the leading Tory rebels, insisted Mr Grieve’s amendment was a ‘perfectly serious proposition’ and urged the Government to accept it
A series of crucial votes will begin in the Commons at 4.15pm
Downing Street insisted today that it would not accept a compromise tabled by Mr Grieve, which would force the government to come up with a new strategy in the event of the Brexit deal being rejected, and put that to MPs again for approval.
Mr Davis this morning stepped up warnings that Britain’s negotiating leverage would be seriously damaged if key amendments were not overturned.
Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street today) is battling to protect her flagship Brexit legislation from rebels
He dismissed the idea that a ‘meaningful vote’ could reverse the 2016 referendum result.
‘A meaningful vote is not the ability to reverse the decision of the referendum,’ he said.
‘We will put in front of Parliament the decision for them to vote… after that there will be a process of primary legislation to put the actual details of it in Parliament so Parliament will actually decide on the application of the detail.’
Asked what would happen if they voted against the deal, he said: ‘If they throw it out well they throw it out.’
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that claims he had threatened to quit last week over the customs backstop were ‘just nonsense’ and ‘scurrilous allegations’.
Conservative rebels, Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems hailed the resignation of Dr Lee.
But a Downing Street source tried to play down the impact, saying: ‘We will get a good Brexit deal that works for everybody in the UK. The Government’s amendment today provides for a meaningful vote.’
Eurosceptics complained that Dr Lee was actually defying his own constituents – who voted 53-47 per cent to Leave in the referendum.
Last night Mrs May delivered a direct warning to backbench Tory MPs that any defeats would encourage Brussels to turn the screw.
The resignation came as ministers including Boris Johnson (left) and David Davis gathered for a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street
Environment Secretary Michael Gove was among those attending the meeting of Mrs May’s senior team today
Remainer Nicky Morgan (pictured left) is backing a customs union compromise amendment which was negotiated by former minister Oliver Letwin (pictured right)
Last night former education secretary Nicky Morgan, a leading Remainer, indicated she would support Mrs May in tomorrow’s vote on an amendment designed to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU.
Mrs Morgan said she would back a compromise plan – with the words ‘customs union’ being replaced with ‘customs arrangements’ – adding that it would help ‘buy time’ for the Prime Minister ahead of a crunch Brussels summit at the end of this month. The fudge was put together by another former minister, Oliver Letwin. Asked whether the deal was ‘kicking the can down the road, Mr Letwin said: ‘That is a very sensible thing to do.’
The big moments will come this afternoon – when MPs debate calls for Parliament to be given a so-called meaningful vote on the final Brexit deal – and tomorrow, when they debate the customs union.
Tory whips are particularly anxious about the so-called ‘meaningful vote’ amendment, with rumours that concessions last week could be pushed further.
The outcome could rest on the position of a handful of Brexit-supporting Labour MPs.
Passing the amendment would mean a major shift away from the UK’s existing constitutional settlement – which gives the executive powers to negotiate treaties.
Mr Grieve told the BBC’s Newsnight last night that he would be tabling a compromise proposal.
‘I hope very much the government will look at that, because I think it provides a solution which would satisfy everybody,’ he said.
‘If it’s not accepted, I will have to consider very carefully tomorrow — I might well vote against the government. I’ve made that quite clear.’
Addressing the 1922 Committee of backbench MPs last night, Mrs May said: ‘We must think about the message Parliament will send to the European Union this week. I am trying to negotiate the best deal for Britain.
‘I am confident I can get a deal that allows us to strike our own trade deals while having a border with the EU which is as frictionless as possible. But if the Lords amendments are allowed to stand, that negotiating position will be undermined.’
Mrs May is keen to send a clear message to Brussels and the Lords by showing she can deliver on her Brexit legislation. Ministers have accepted one minor Lords amendment and will seek to amend or overturn a further 14 in the coming 48 hours.
Former Chancellor Ken Clarke said he would back the measure, adding: ‘Without our involvement, the Government will face the same situation it faced last week, when the final agreement comes round, because the Brexiters will give threats and briefings against any deal unless they’re satisfied with it.
‘They will have a veto, and Parliament will have no effective control.’
Party whips were last night understood to be close to a deal with Tory Remainers designed to avert defeat tomorrow on the amendment designed to keep Britain in the customs union.
Mrs May could yet accept a compromise tabled by former Cabinet minister Dominic Grieve (pictured), which would force the government to come up with a new strategy in the event of the Brexit deal being rejected, and put that to MPs again for approval
It would require ministers to report back to Parliament on the efforts they had made to keep Britain in a customs union with Brussels.
Solicitor General Robert Buckland predicted the Tory rebellion would fizzle out. ‘We will hang together or we’ll all hang separately,’ he said.
But Mr Clarke said Donald Trump’s approach to trade made it vital to stick close to the customs union and single market. ‘We are going to need it more in the future than in the past,’ he said.
However, others plan to keep their powder dry until next month when they will use the Trade Bill to push for membership of a customs union with the EU.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Corbyn is trying to contain a Labour rebellion over membership of the single market. Dozens of his MPs are expected to defy his order to abstain on an amendment that would keep the UK in the European Economic Area.