LONDON: The battle over Parliament’s say in the Brexit process between MPs, peers and ministers resumes in the Lords later. Peers will vote on an amendment forcing ministers to consult Parliament in the event of there being no deal.
Theresa May avoided defeat on the issue last week but rebels say concessions made by Downing Street are “valueless”.
MPs overturned a series of changes to the EU Withdrawal Bill made by peers and now the Upper Chamber must decide whether to give way or stand firm.
A dozen or so Tory MPs, led by former attorney general Dominic Grieve, want a bigger role for Parliament, should a final Brexit deal be rejected by MPs or if no deal is reached – the so-called “meaningful vote”.
After two days of talks last week, Mr Grieve said a government amendment drawn up to avert a rebellion was changed at the last minute and that he and his colleagues would not back down.
He has drafted his own amendment to the legislation – which would require ministers to report to Parliament if no deal was in place by the end of November and allow MPs to vote on what to do next – will be considered by peers later when it is tabled by the ex-cabinet minister Lord Hailsham.
The amendment – which may have changed before coming before the Lords – set out what should happen in three different scenarios.
If MPs reject the Brexit deal, ministers must make a statement within four weeks, with a Commons vote to follow on the government’s proposed approach.
If no withdrawal agreement is reached by the end of November 2018 – MPs will get to vote on a government motion setting out its proposed course of action.
If no withdrawal agreement is reached by 15 February 2019, within five days the government must bring a motion in front of MPs and follow any direction to negotiations voted on by MPs and debated by the Lords.
The BBC’s parliamentary correspondent Mark D’Arcy said it was likely to be approved, given the previous version of the amendment passed by 91 votes.
If that happens, there will be a fresh showdown in the Commons on Wednesday when the bill returns there as part of the parliamentary “ping-pong” process – whereby both houses agree on the final form of legislation
Mr Grieve warned on Sunday that Tory rebels could potentially “collapse the government” if they were denied a real say on the prospect of the UK leaving the EU without an agreement.
He told BBC One’s Sunday Politics he thought both sides had agreed MPs could have an “advisory” vote, that would not order the government to do anything, but would help people to “keep calm”.
He said he was not prepared to sign up to a position where the UK risked going “over the edge of a cliff” without Parliament expressing its view.
“I’m absolutely sure that the group is quite determined that the meaningful vote pledge, which was given to us, has got to be fulfilled,” he said.
