Brexit latest: Theresa May wins MPs' backing to renegotiate Brexit deal... but EU slaps her down immediately

Hard-line Tory Brexiteers wrestled control of Theresa May’s plan to leave the EU as the PM won support from a majority of MPs to return to Brussels and renegotiate her deal.

Yahoo News UK29 January 2019

MPs also rejected the chance to take a no-deal Brexit off the table. Good night for Mrs May.

On a remarkable night in the House of Commons, of the eight votes that could potentially redefine the course of Brexit, seven of them were favourable towards Mrs May.

In supporting the so-called ‘Brady amendment’ by a slim majority of 317-301, MPs have given Mrs May a mandate to try to renegotiate the Brexit deal with the EU in which she will seek to replace the controversial Irish backstop with an as-yet unspecified alternative.

Crucially, MPs also rejected a vote that would have forced Mrs May to delay Brexit to avoid crashing out with no deal. However, they also supported a separate vote that stated the House of Commons rejected the no-deal option.

The main difference between the two votes is that the latter is not legally binding and therefore doesn’t box Mrs May into a corner.

Critically, the Brady Amendment has received backing from hard-line Brexiteers, who are staunchly opposed to the Irish backstop, which they say could tie the UK to the EU indefinitely.

Mrs May will now go back to Brussels to come up with ‘alternative arrangements’ to the backstop. The backstop is in place to stop the return of border checks.

Reaction from the EU was swift, however. Within 10 minutes of the vote, a spokesperson for Donald Tusk said: “The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for re-negotiation.”

Theresa May admitted that negotiations would not be easy (Picture: PA)

The response

Speaking after the vote during a pivotal evening, Mrs May told MPs: “It’s now clear there is a route that can secure a substantial and sustainable majority in this House for leaving the EU with a deal.

“We will now take this mandate forward and seek to obtain legally binding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop while guaranteeing no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would be willing to enter into Brexit talks with Mrs May.

He said: “Now that the House has voted emphatically to reject the no deal option the Prime Minister was supporting could I say we are now prepared to meet her to put forward the points of view from the Labour Party of the kind of deal we want from the European Union.

“To protect jobs, to protect livings standards, and to protect rights and conditions in this country.”

Jeremy Corbyn has agreed to hold Brexit talks with Theresa May (Picture: PA)

DUP Westminster leader Nigel Dodds told the Commons: “This is a significant night because for the first time the House by majority has expressed what sort of deal will get through and will have a majority, and we will work with the Prime Minister to deliver the right deal for the United Kingdom.”

But the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford claimed that by passing the so-called Brady amendment the Government had “ripped up the Good Friday Agreement”.

To jeers from Tory MPs he said: “We were told the backstop was there to protect the peace process but tonight the Conservative Party has effectively ripped apart the Good Friday Agreement. This House should be ashamed of itself.”

He said Scotland had been “silenced, sidelined and shafted by the Tories”.

An angry Chuka Ummuna hit out at hardline Brexiteers after an amendment tabled by Yvette Cooper to extend Article 50 beyond March 29 was defeated.

He said it showed Theresa May was being ‘held hostage’ by a hardline faction of Brexiteers within her own party and the votes showed Tories were more concerned with keeping their own party unified than serving the best interests of the country.

MPs voted on a series of amendments on Tuesday night (Picture: PA)

What is the Brady Amendment?

Tory MP Sir Graham Brady’s amendment proposed replacing the controversial Northern Ireland backstop with “alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border”.

Ahead of the vote, Sir Graham said he hoped House of Commons backing would give Mrs May “enormous firepower” when she returns to Brussels to seek concessions on her Brexit deal.

It is supported by right-wing Tories and the DUP, which is crucial to the PM ultimately getting a deal from the House of Commons.

It’s unlikely that Europe will allow a renegotiation of the Withdrawal Agreement (Picture: PA)

Non, nein, niet

In Brussels, the EU remains resolute that the Withdrawal Agreement would not be reopened.

In a statement following the dramatic night in Westminster, a spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk said: “The Withdrawal Agreement is and remains the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

“The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for re-negotiation.”

His view was echoed by French President Emmanuel who described the Withdrawal Agreement as “not renegotiable”.

Speaking in Cyprus moments before MPs voted, the French President Emmanuel Macron said: “As the European Council in December clearly indicated, the Withdrawal Agreement negotiated between the UK and EU is the best agreement possible. It is not renegotiable.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the European Parliament’s Brexit coordinator Guy Verhofstadt told the Independent: “The deal we have is fair and cannot be re-negotiated. The backstop is needed because of UK red–lines and was crafted by the UK and the EU to secure the Good Friday Agreement.”

European Commission vice-president Jyrki Kateinen said there was “no reason to give any concessions” to the UK and there was “not much room for manoeuvre” on the backstop.

It would be “stupid” for the EU to make concessions putting the remaining 27 members at a disadvantage simply to secure a deal, he said.

Theresa May admitted that negotiations would not be easy (Picture: PA)

No-deal or no no-deal?

As part of the series of votes on amendments, MPs approved a cross-party amendment to reject a no-deal Brexit.

The amendment, tabled by Midlands MPs Caroline Spelman and Jack Dromey, is not legally binding on the Government but puts huge pressure on Mrs May to delay Brexit from its scheduled date of March 29 if she cannot secure a new deal from Brussels.

Speaking after the vote, Mrs May told MPs: “I agree that we should not leave without a deal. However, simply opposing no-deal is not enough to stop it.

“The Government will now redouble its efforts to get a deal that this House can support.”

She admitted that negotiating would “not be easy” but Mrs May said she would seek “legally binding changes to the Withdrawal Agreement that deal with concerns on the backstop while guaranteeing no return to a hard border”.

She told MPs: “If this House can come together, we can deliver the decision the British people took in June 2016, restore faith in our democracy and get on with building a country that works for everyone.

“As Prime Minister I will work with members across the House to do just that.”

What happens next?

Theresa May has a fortnight to sort out this mess.

She has promised MPs will get another chance to vote on the new deal – if it is a new deal – in a couple of weeks’ time.

The next meaningful vote is expected to take place on February 14.

If that fails, the PM will need to decide on whether the UK will pursue a no-deal Brexit.

If she succeeds, she may still need to delay Brexit to allow Parliament time to get the deal through the House of Commons.

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/theresa-may-faces-latest-commons-test-mps-vote-amendments-brexit-deal-075222783.html

REUTERS Explainer - The Brexit backstop and why it matters (at 29 January 2019)

A “backstop” mechanism for Northern Ireland’s land border with the European Union is a stumbling block for British lawmakers to endorse Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal with the European Union.

JANUARY 29, 2019 / 6:37 PM 

This is what it is and why it matters:

BOTH SIDES WANT TO AVOID A “HARD BORDER” - WHAT’S THAT?

In 1998, Britain and Ireland made the Good Friday agreement to end 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland over whether it should stay British or join the Irish Republic to the south. That ended controls along the 500-km (300-mile) land border and set up all-Ireland rules and institutions that make Northern Ireland special within the United Kingdom. Brexit means possible new checks along the border and a bombing this month by a new anti-British group has raised fears of a return to violence.

SO THE SOLUTION IS...?

Prime Minister May says a special customs and trade arrangement with the EU, to be negotiated during a status-quo transition of 20 to 44 months, will ensure seamless borders between all the United Kingdom and EU — so there will be no need for intrusive checks on goods at the Irish border.

THAT SOUNDS FAIR - SO WHAT’S THE CATCH?

The Irish government, backed by the rest of the EU, wants an insurance policy in case those future trade talks fail.

AND THAT INSURANCE POLICY IS WHAT?

The Withdrawal Agreement May struck in November with the EU says the UK will remain in a customs union “unless and until” “alternative arrangements” are found to avoid a hard border. The EU had proposed keeping only Northern Ireland in its economic area but May and the pro-British Belfast party that gives her a slim parliamentary majority objected, arguing that it would set Northern Ireland on a course towards union with the Republic.

BUT BRITISH LAWMAKERS OBJECT?

Many dislike the prospect of being bound to EU rules and customs duties that would prevent Britain doing its own trade deals and leave it overseen by EU judges. May has pushed the EU to put a time limit on the backstop, possibly in 2021. Some EU governments have considered such a deadline - perhaps more like 2025 - but Ireland and all other EU leaders have rejected that.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

No one knows. There is little sign May can reverse the huge defeat the treaty suffered in parliament two weeks ago. The EU says it will not renegotiate the withdrawal agreement or the backstop protocol within it, but could rework the political declaration setting out post-Brexit trade terms that may offer a clearer way of avoiding the backstop — say by keeping the UK in a customs union. That, however, remains anathema to May.

AND IF THERE IS NO DEAL?

If no one gives ground, Britain will leave the EU on March 29. Ireland and Britain say they have no plan to impose customs controls that would be an immediate target for militants. But the EU has said that no deal means a hard border, of some kind.

SO IRELAND IS IN A BIND?

Very much so. Its EU partners insist they will stand by it and defend the backstop. But they also want to avoid a no deal. If there were no deal, Ireland would not be able for long to let the only EU land border with the UK stand open. If it failed to check goods coming in from Britain, Ireland itself could find the EU raising questions on whether Irish exports to the rest of the Union should remain free of all checks at their ports.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-backstop-explainer/explainer-the-brexit-backstop-and-why-it-matters

Brexit ‘plan C’ emerges after Jacob Rees-Mogg joins forces with Tory Remainers in astonishing compromise

Pro- and anti-EU Tories are putting pressure on Theresa May to accept a Brexit ‘plan C’, after joining forces in a remarkable secret compromise.

Rob Merrick

The Independent29 January 2019

Remainers including current ministers have struck a deal with hardliners Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker to deliver EU withdrawal on 29 March, while preventing an implosion of the warring Conservative party.

It is unclear whether the prime minister endorsed the talks – although Nicky Morgan, the pro-EU former education secretary who played a key role, insisted she did know about them.

Furthermore, the plan – which involves replacing the current Irish backstop and a longer transition period even if the EU refuses – seems certain to be rejected in Brussels, even if adopted by the government.

Nevertheless, Ms Morgan argued it could succeed, saying: “People like me want to avoid a no-deal outcome, a crashing out on 29 March. We have to look for ways to do that. We are all prepared to compromise on that.”

Mr Baker, the deputy chairman of the anti-EU European Research Group, said: “We need to get out of the EU on time and with a functioning government. This is how.”

Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, declined to set out the government’s view, but said ministers were “open to listening to all ideas”.

But Ben Bradshaw, a Labour MP campaigning for a Final Say referendum, condemned it as unrealistic, tweeting: “More time-wasting, chasing more unicorns, which makes a crash-out no-deal Brexit more likely.”

Under the proposals, the prime minister would seek to renegotiate the backstop – designed to prevent the return of Irish border checks – based on a reliance on unproven technology.

If that failed, the EU would be asked to still grant the cushion of a transition period, extended to December 2021, in return for the UK paying the full £39bn divorce bill and protecting EU citizens’ rights.

This would give both sides time to prepare for a hard Brexit departure on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms at the end of 2021 – or to strike a trade deal to kick in at that time.

However, as recently as November, Michel Barnier, the EU’s Brexit negotiator, told the UK: “Without an operational backstop, there will not be an accord and there will not be a transition period. That is certain.”

The Democratic Unionist Party then announced it backed what has been dubbed the “Malthouse Compromise” - after the minister, Kit Malthouse, who brokered it - piling further pressure on Ms May to do the same

“We believe it can unify a number of strands in the Brexit debate including the views of Remainers and Leavers. It also gives a feasible alternative to the backstop proposed by the European Union,” said Arlene Foster, the DUP’s leader.

The new Brexit twist came ahead of a crucial Commons debate, which could see MPs vote to force the government to seek a nine-month Article 50 extension, if no deal has been passed by the end of February.

However, the radical attempt for parliament to “take control” – by passing its own legislation to delay Brexit – can only succeed if Jeremy Corbyn backs the amendment.

Late on Monday, Ms May threw her weight behind an amendment that “requires the Northern Ireland backstop to be replaced” – even though it effectively rips up her own agreement with the EU.

But, without ERG support, the amendment, tabled by Tory backbenchers’ leader Graham Brady, appeared doomed to fail – wrecking No 10 hopes it would deliver an ultimatum to persuade the EU to give way.

Dr Fox urged Tory MPs to step into line, confirming the prime minister would then seek to reopen the withdrawal agreement to give any change legal force.

He insisted the EU was now readier to compromise, arguing: “We have seen the German economy weakening, we have seen the French economy weakening.”

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/brexit-plan-c-emerges-jacob-090807323.html

May asks MPs to send a message to Brussels on Brexit deal (at 29 January 2019)

Prime Minister Theresa May will on Tuesday ask her Conservative lawmakers to send a message to Brussels that they would support her Brexit deal if a plan to avoid a hard border in Ireland is replaced.

JANUARY 29, 2019 / 8:07 AM 
REUTERS

FILE PHOTO: Prime Minister Theresa May waits for her New Zealand's counterpart Jacinda Ardern at Downing Street in London, Britain, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Parliament will on Tuesday try to shape the future of the country’s exit from the European Union by debating and voting on what changes they want May to seek to her Brexit deal.

With exactly two months until Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, there is no agreement yet in London on how and even whether to leave the world’s biggest trading bloc after May’s plan was rejected by an overwhelming majority in parliament.

On Tuesday, lawmakers will debate and vote on May’s next steps, with some hoping to gauge the level of support for alternatives to her deal and others even seeking to wrestle control of the process from government.

It is not a rerun of the Jan. 15 vote on whether to approve May’s Brexit deal, but a chance to discover what sort of changes would be required to win the support of parliament, so the prime minister can try to renegotiate the agreement in Brussels.

At the centre of many pro-Brexit lawmakers’ concerns is the Irish “backstop”, an insurance policy aimed at preventing a hard border between the Republic of Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland. It would require EU rules to apply in Northern Ireland if no other solutions can be agreed.

Senior Conservative lawmaker Graham Brady has put forward a proposal, known as an amendment, calling for the backstop to be removed and replaced with “alternative arrangements”.

CLEAR MESSAGE

On Monday, May told a private meeting of Conservative lawmakers that the government wanted them to support Brady’s amendment, if it is chosen by the speaker of the House of Commons to be put to a vote.

Strong support for the amendment will allow May to demonstrate to the EU that changes to the backstop could be enough to allow her to get parliamentary approval for a deal.

“It allows the PM to give a very clear message about what the parliament wants and where the party is,” Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis said after the meeting.

It is not certain to pass, as a group of prominent pro-Brexit Conservative lawmakers have said they do not plan to support it. The small Northern Irish Party which props up May’s minority government but opposes her deal, has not said how it would vote.

The EU’s deputy chief negotiator Sabine Weyand said on Monday that the bloc was “open to alternative arrangements” on the Irish border but that Brady’s proposal did not spell out what they were.

Lawmakers have proposed more than 10 different amendments to be debated on Tuesday but only a small number are likely to be chosen to be voted on. Voting will begin at 1900 GMT.

Aside from Brady’s proposal, the other key amendment expected to garner a large amount of support, possibly enough to be approved by parliament, is one put forward by opposition Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper.

Cooper’s amendment seeks to shift control of Brexit from May’s government to parliament and if successful could have a profound effect, giving lawmakers who want to block, delay or renegotiate Brexit a possible legal route to do so.

If a subsequent piece of legislation is passed, it would give May until Feb. 26 to get a deal approved by parliament or face a vote on whether to ask the EU to delay Britain’s exit to avoid leaving without a deal on March 29.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu/may-asks-mps-to-send-a-message-to-brussels-on-brexit-deal

British PM's Brexit 'plan B': What happens next in parliament? ( at 28 Jan 2019)

LONDON (REUTERS) - Lawmakers will on Tuesday (Jan 29) debate and vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May's response to the overwhelming rejection of her Brexit plan earlier this month.

Pro-Brexit campaigners stand outside Downing Street in London, Britain, on Jan 24, 2019. PHOTO: REUTERS

The vote is not a rerun of the Jan 15 vote on whether to approve the exit deal she had negotiated with the European Union, which she lost by 432 to 202.

Instead, Tuesday is a chance to discover what sort of changes to her strategy would be required to win the support of parliament, so May can try to renegotiate the deal in Brussels and then ask lawmakers to approve it.

May has said she wants to secure concessions relating to the border with Northern Ireland in order to win the support of pro-Brexit lawmakers in her own party and the small Northern Irish party which props up her government, who voted against her deal.

Some lawmakers want to shift control of the process away from government and give parliament the chance to define Brexit. If successful, this could have a profound effect, giving lawmakers who want to block, delay or renegotiate Brexit a possible legal route to do so.

Other lawmakers have proposed alternatives to May's deal to gauge support for them and persuade the prime minister to change course by seeking closer EU ties or holding a second referendum.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Lawmakers are officially discussing a bland statement saying they have debated May's next steps. But, using a parliamentary device known as an amendment, some hope to turn it into something that will persuade or force May into taking a different path.

So far 14 amendments have been put forward. The Speaker, John Bercow, will announce at around 1300 GMT (9pm Singapore time) on Tuesday which of these have been selected for debate and vote.

Voting on these amendments will take place one by one from 1900 GMT (3am Wednesday Singapore time). Each vote takes around 15 minutes and the result is read out in parliament.

Once voting on all amendments has taken place, a vote is held to give final approval to the wording of the statement. This final statement does not automatically dictate government policy.

KEY AMENDMENTS TO WATCH:

AMENDMENT B - Signed by 103 lawmakers. This seeks to shift control of Brexit from May's government to parliament by demanding that on Feb 5, the rule that government business takes precedence in parliament is overturned.

Providing it has the support of 10 lawmakers from at least four political parties, it makes time for a piece of legislation giving May until Feb 26 to get a deal approved by parliament.

If not, parliament would be given a vote on asking the EU for a postponement of the Article 50 deadline to prevent Britain leaving without a deal on March 29. It proposes a nine-month extension to Dec 31.

Put forward by Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper, this plan has a strong chance of succeeding as the opposition Labour Party has said it is likely to back it and it is supported by several of May's Conservatives.

AMENDMENT N - Signed by eight lawmakers. Supported by Graham Brady, chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of Conservative lawmakers, it calls for the backstop to be replaced with alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border in Ireland and says parliament would support May's Brexit deal if this change were made.

On Monday, May asked her lawmakers to support this amendment. It is potentially useful to the government if passed because it would show the EU there is popular support in parliament for her attempt to renegotiate.

AMENDMENT G - Signed by 74 lawmakers. This has been proposed by Conservative lawmaker Dominic Grieve and has a chance of succeeding as it is supported by lawmakers from several parties.

It demands that, one day a week in February and March, the rule that government business takes precedence in parliament is overturned, giving lawmakers the opportunity to propose their own debates on Brexit. Any proposals approved by parliament on those days would not be binding on the government but would be politically difficult to ignore.

AMENDMENT A - Signed by 52 lawmakers. Proposed by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, it calls for parliament to consider alternative options to prevent Britain leaving without a deal, including seeking a permanent customs union with the EU and holding a second referendum.

This is unlikely to be approved as pro-EU lawmakers in May's Conservative Party have indicated they will not rebel against their leader by supporting it.

Several Labour lawmakers and the pro-EU Liberal Democrats have proposed changes to this amendment so that it would call only for parliament to vote on holding a second referendum and that remaining in the EU should be an option in that referendum.

OTHER AMENDMENTS THAT COULD BE VOTED ON:

AMENDMENT C - Signed by 11 lawmakers. Proposed by Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable and his lawmakers, it calls on the government to rule out a no-deal exit and prepare for a second referendum in which the option to remain in the EU would be on the ballot paper.

AMENDMENT D - Signed by 11 lawmakers. Proposed by Liberal Democrat lawmaker Tom Brake, it demands that a committee of no more than 17 lawmakers from across political parties be created and given control of the parliamentary Brexit process.

AMENDMENT F - Signed by 17 lawmakers. This has been put forward by Labour lawmaker Hilary Benn, who chairs parliament's Brexit select committee. It calls on the government to hold indicative votes on the following options: 1) Holding another vote in parliament on May's deal; 2) Leaving with no deal on March 29; 3) Calling on the government to renegotiate May's deal; and 4) Holding a second referendum.

AMENDMENT H - Signed by 37 lawmakers. Put forward by a group of Labour lawmakers, this calls on the government to request an extension to the Article 50 deadline so that a "Citizen's Assembly" of 250 people can be created to consider the way forward and make recommendations to parliament within 10 weeks of being set up.

AMENDMENT I - Signed by 129 lawmakers. Put forward by Conservative lawmaker Caroline Spelman and supported by lawmakers from most political parties, it seeks to rule out a no-deal Brexit.

AMENDMENT J - Signed by 78 lawmakers. Proposed by lawmakers from Labour, May's Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats, this calls on the government to request an extension to the Article 50 deadline if a deal has not been approved by Feb 26.

AMENDMENT L - Signed by 17 lawmakers. Proposed by Conservative lawmaker John Baron, it states that parliament will not approve a Brexit deal which includes a Northern Ireland backstop lasting any longer than six months.

AMENDMENT M - Signed by 18 lawmakers. Also put forward by Baron, it calls for parliament to reject any Brexit deal that does not give Britain a unilateral right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop.

https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/british-pms-brexit-plan-b-what-happens-next-in-parliament