Theresa May's Brexit amendment 'hijacked' by government figures to 'force their will' on process, Tory MP says

Pro-EU Conservative MP Stephen Hammond criticised the government's 'meaningful vote' motion as 'unbelievably inconsistent'

Theresa May’s Brexit Bill amendment over a meaningful vote may have been “hijacked” by government figures trying to “force their will” onto the process, a pro-EU Tory MP has suggested.

The remarks from Stephen Hammond came after the prime minister faced a fresh crisis over the government’s flagship Brexit legislation after her attempt to compromise with backbench rebels failed.

The Wimbledon MP described the government’s motion on a “meaningful vote” - published on Thursday evening – as “unbelievably inconsistent”.

Mr Hammond was one of a group of potential rebels including former attorney general Dominic Grieve who met the Prime Minister before a crunch vote on Tuesday and said they received assurances over Parliament's role.

While he insisted he still held trust in Ms May to keep her word to those wanting a meaningful vote on the Brexit deal, he claimed that “other people” in the government may have advised the prime minister “badly” or “forced a statement” on her.

Speaking on the BBC’s Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Hammond said he expected talks to on the issue to continue, adding: “I'm sure and I'm convinced the prime minister intends to honour her word.

”What I think has happened is some people in the Government may have got involved in the process late in the day, people who weren't at that meeting, people who hadn't been involved earlier in the negotiations and who may unfortunately have hijacked the process.”

He continued: “Let’s be clear about what this about – it not about the minutiae of the wording on an amendment. This is about the economic future of this country.”

Ms May had avoided defeat in the Commons on Tuesday on the EU (Withdrawal) Bill after providing assurances to pro-EU Tories in her private office in Westminster that their concerns about a “meaningful vote” on the final Brexit deal would be addressed.

But when the government tabled the amendment on Thursday it was immediately denounced as “unacceptable” with one Tory MP branding the move by ministers as “sneaky”.

Conservative MP Mr Grieve told The Independent that he spent Thursday morning negotiating with ministers and agreeing to a new amendment, but claimed what was tabled later in the day had been altered.

“At the very last minute the government suddenly altered the words of the final part, which I thought had been agreed before lunch when I left.“

Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the government’s amendment – published on Thursday evening – is “simply not good enough”.

He continued: “Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of meaningful vote. Parliament cannot – and should not – accept it.”

Solicitor General Robert Buckland acknowledged that previous versions of the amendment had existed until the prime minister decided on the final proposal on Thursday afternoon.

“There were various iterations of the motion, yes there were times in the day when we were looking at different iterations,” he told Sky News.

“The prime minister had a choice to make, she was given a range of options, she has delivered on the promise that she made.”

He added: “I have not lied, certainly not. I promised them that I would deal in good faith, we looked at iterations, they have been involved in the process - as have other colleagues - and in the end a decision was made by the government to table the motion in these terms.”