Brexit deal: Theresa May takes maximum time available over plan B as debate scheduled for January 29

Ministers have announced that the key vote will not take place until Tuesday 29 January

Joe Watts
Political Editor
Thursday 17 January 2019 12:09 GMT
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MPs vote in confidence of Theresa May's government following her Brexit deal defeat

Theresa May will run-down the clock towards Brexit for another week after opting to take the full amount of time she can before allowing a vote on her next steps.

Ministers announced on Thursday that the vote – at which point MPs will also be able to make their suggestions for the way forward – will not take place until 29 January.

Many MPs had expected it early next week so as to allow more time for the government to act upon the results.

It comes amid fears that Ms May will delay any action until Brexit day comes closer to increase pressure on MPs to back her deal or face a no-deal Brexit.

Commons leader Andrea Leadsom told MPs they will debate the government’s proposed Brexit next steps on January 29.

She said: “A statement and a motion on the Government’s next steps under section 13 of the EU Withdrawal Act will be tabled on Monday 21 January 21.

“A full day’s debate on the motion will take place on Tuesday 29 January, subject to the agreement of the House.”

Due to previous decisions by the Commons, Ms May must table a motion on Monday setting out her plans following the defeat of her Brexit withdrawal agreement this week.

The motion will be amendable, meaning it will offer the opportunity for MPs to suggest their own ideas and have them voted on. There are likely to be at least four competing amendments put down.

Jeremy Corbyn will likely table his own, setting out his alternative Brexit vision, and there may also be one from Tory Brexiteers seeking to banish the hated "Irish backstop" from Ms May’s withdrawal agreement.

There could be two further motions facilitating a new referendum, which the Labour MPs plan to stand behind. One could directly demand a new vote, while the other, if tabled, would begin to unlock a longer process.

It would likely be submitted by Conservative ex-attorney general Dominic Grieve, who has masterminded much of the Remain-rebellion on the Tory benches, and would mean that draft laws brought forward by backbenchers would take priority in the schedule over government business – upending the usual practice in the Commons.

On Wednesday, Mr Grieve brought forward plans for new legislation that would deliver a second referendum, indicating that they are the draft laws that he and other People’s Vote supporters want to be debated and voted on.

It comes as Ms May and senior cabinet ministers met representatives of other parties in a bid to find consensus to break the parliamentary deadlock over Brexit.

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