By William James
Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans were rejected by parliament’s upper chamber on Monday, setting up a confrontation with pro-EU lawmakers later this week which will test her ability to lead a minority government.
Ministers are seeking approval for the final wording of the legislation that will end Britain’s membership of the European Union – the legal cornerstone of May’s plan to withdraw from the bloc in March next year.
However, the government has fallen into a row with lawmakers in May’s own party who think parliament should have a greater say in the exit process than ministers want to give it.
The outcome of that row, playing out in the intricate process of passing different proposals between parliament’s two chambers over the coming days, will define May’s ability to face down rebels who want a softer version of Brexit.
The latest confrontation took place in the unelected House of Lords, which on Monday voted 354 to 235 in favour of a plan that would allow parliament to shape the government’s next steps in the event that lawmakers reject the deal May negotiates with Brussels, or if she fails to negotiate one at all.
In voting for that plan, the upper chamber rejected a proposal put forward by May’s government to give parliament a symbolic vote on next steps, but which stopped short of giving lawmakers the power to force ministers to change course.
Ministers say they are confident of getting a divorce deal that parliament will accept, and that all discussion of the vote is hypothetical. Nevertheless, they insist parliament cannot be allowed to overturn Brexit or tie the government’s hand is negotiations.
May’s Conservative Party does not have a majority in the Lords, and was expected to lose after compromise talks with rebel lawmakers broke down last week.
The proposal passed on Monday will now be voted upon in the lower House of Commons on Wednesday, with the pro-EU camp still seeking compromise but warning they could collapse the government unless their demands are met.
After an ill-judged election last year, May relies on the help of a deal with a small Northern Irish party to win votes in the Commons and can afford to lose no more than a handful of Conservative rebels if she is to avoid an embarrassing defeat.
Wednesday’s votes will be crucial for May’s attempts to resist a ‘meaningful vote’ plan that is seen as a step towards a softer Brexit – an outcome that would mean closer ties to the EU on issues such as customs and regulations.
Failure to keep her party in line would also signal trouble for several other contentious pieces of legislation needed to prepare for Brexit, including on central issues such as trade and customs policy
8 Comments
Gipsy Eyes
June 19, 2018 at 00:13On Wednesday the Commons will vote on Dominic Grieve’s amendment and it seems the “rebels” will not fall for her tricks this time around and she will lose the vote.
People seem to forget there are two sets of “rebels”: the far right hard Brexiteers. Losing the vote on Wednesday doesn’t mean she has to go. She’s promised a “good deal” so Parliament having a “meaningful vote” over a “bad deal or no deal” will never be used. The problem for her now, however, is will the “hard Brexit rebels” bring her down? I don’t think so.
Who will they put in her place? And should we need another general election, the EU will give us more time to sort ourselves out and put back the leaving date meaning the hard Brexiteers would now be responsible for delaying Brexit.
It will more “fudge” and “shenanigans” as Douglas would say and May will carry on as PM because she is the least worst option.
EGB
June 19, 2018 at 01:23Your last sentence is the depressing reality, neither a Tory revolt and change of leader nor an election that resulted in a Corbyn government would make the situation any better. The third possibility of an election resulting in a hardline Tory majority seems almost the best solution, at least they would be able to ditch the DUP and the peace in Ireland might be saved.
Gipsy Eyes
June 19, 2018 at 07:12A “hard line” Tory majority will not happen since the hard liners are a minority and besides hard liners are not that different to the DUP!
clergham
June 18, 2018 at 23:43She is doing a good job seeing as how she has to corral the anti EU fanatics in her own party, who have already destroyed 4 previous conservative leaders
A is B
June 18, 2018 at 22:22Test her ability. That shouldn’t take long.
Gipsy Eyes
June 19, 2018 at 00:15They haven’t got rid of her in two years and unless Corbyn wants to take over the mess the Conservatives have created she’ll be there till 2022.
gentlegiant161
June 19, 2018 at 14:09It’s not that she is doing a good job, it’s just the corner the cons have backed themselves into and Brexit Re at present the shitty end of the stick and no one else is stupid enough to grasp it.
Even hedge fund Staunch Brexdicker Moggy has opened up a subsidiary of his company in EU remaining Eire!
Gipsy Eyes
June 19, 2018 at 17:18She’s doing a terrible job: problem is Rees Mogg and and the rest of the hard Brexiteers will do an even worse job.
The British public have been fed so much rubbish by the government they’ve completely lost track of the lies they’ve told us.
The one constant over the last two years has been that we will get a “good bespoke deal”…..that actually eliminates the “hard off the cliff” Brexit favoured by the far right of the Tory Party.