Thursday, 28 Mar 2024

Brexit latest: What votes has Bercow approved today? What will MPs vote on now?

Last week, MPs voted on alternate options for the direction of Brexit, none of which received a majority vote. Following the Prime Minister’s deal being voted against for a third time, MPs will this evening again vote on alternate options for Brexit. House Speaker John Bercow has the final say on which of the proposed eight options will be voted on in the House tonight.

However, Mrs May does not have to follow the result of these votes.

The four Brexit alternative motions selected by Mr Bercow were:

Motion C: Any Brexit deal to include a commitment to negotiate a “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU”.

This was tabled by Tory former chancellor Ken Clarke.

Motion D: Common market 2.0, which proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area.

This motion allows continued participation in the single market and a “comprehensive customs arrangement” with the EU after Brexit – including a “UK say” on future EU trade deals – would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.

This was tabled by Tory former minister Nick Boles, Labour’s Lucy Powell and others.

Motion E: This proposal requires a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.

This was tabled by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson.

Motion G: SNP MP Joanna Cherry joins with Tory Dominic Grieve and MPs from other parties with this plan to seek an extension to the Brexit process, and if this is not possible then Parliament will choose between either no-deal or revoking Article 50.

An inquiry would follow to assess the future relationship likely to be acceptable to Brussels and have majority support in the UK.

With the mounting uncertainty over Brexit and the UK’s future Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the indicative vote process shows the House of Commons “no longer has confidence in Her Majesty’s Government”.

He said he was “sympathetic” to the comments by Labour MP Chris Bryant, who said the “historic precedent is that when the Government loses its major policy…the Government resigns”.

Speaking in the Commons debate, the Tory MP for North East Somerset said the Fixed-Term Parliament Act has “created a constitutional muddle” where the Government “does not command the official confidence but nonetheless carries on as if it did”.

He said ministers need to get back control of the business of the House as “this approach is deeply unsatisfactory” and “leads ultimately to chaotic relationships between the legislature and the executive”.

MPs will begin to vote on the four selected options at 8pm GMT today. 

The results of that vote are expected at approximately 10.30pm tonight.

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