The Prime Minister is so desperate to get her Withdrawal Agreement Bill through Parliament she could dangle the prospect of a second vote in front of them as she runs out of options. Downing Street could urge MPs to back the deal initially and then promise to amend it later – with the prospect of a second referendum or customs union added to the agreement.

One cabinet source said: “That’s the only way left to thread the needle”.

Another Downing Street source told the Mirror: “It’s one of the options. It’s viable – every man and his dog is going to be hitching his wagon to this.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock urged MPs to back Mrs May’s deal after the Tory leader ramped up efforts to get her Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) through parliament.

He said: “If you want as an MP to leave the EU, and deliver on the result of the referendum, no matter what the details you want to see in terms of the future relationship, you need to vote for this legislation – and then have the debate in the committee stages later on exactly what the details are.

“And no doubt there will be votes on some of the really big issues like whether to have a people’s vote and whether to have a customs union. Both of which I am against, but Parliament will have its chance to have its say. 

“But if people don’t vote for the second reading of this Bill there will be no vehicle to get us out of the EU in Parliament.”

Theresa May is planning to put her “bold offer” to a vote in the Commons next month and before she steps down as Prime Minister.

On Sunday, Mrs May announced her plans to begin discussions on a new package of measures to be included in the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB) following the collapse of cross-party talks with Labour.

Writing in the Sunday Telegraph, she said: “I still believe there is a majority in Parliament to be won for leaving with a deal.

“When the Withdrawal Agreement Bill comes before MPs, it will represent a new, bold offer to MPs across the House of Commons, with an improved package of measures that I believe can win new support.

“Whatever the outcome of any votes, I will not be simply asking MPs to think again. Instead I will ask them to look at a new and improved deal with fresh pairs of eyes – and to give it their support.”

Mrs May has said she will bring the Brexit deal before MPs for its second reading vote in the first week of June following the short Whitsun recess.

Regardless of how the vote goes, she will then meet the chairman of the Tory backbench 1922 Committee, Sir Graham Brady, to agree a timetable to elect her successor as party leader, paving the way for her departure from Number 10. 

Source: Read Full Article