Brexit news: MPs submit indicative vote plans as government rejects 'Revoke Article 50' petition
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MPs are gearing up for a series of votes on different Brexit scenarios after dramatically wresting control of the EU exit process from the government.
Different Brexit factions must put forward their preferred options by the end of the day for “indicative votes” on Wednesday, including bids for a Norway-style deal and a second referendum.
The move could pave the way for a softer Brexit, prompting infighting among Eurosceptic hardliners over whether to back Theresa May‘s deal instead.
On Tuesday, the prime minister’s Brexit strategy was left in disarray and her leadership under threat after three of her ministers resigned and MPs dramatically voted to take control of the process.
Her authority was left in tatters after 30 members of her party defied her instructions and voted for the move. Three government resigned in order to vote against the prime minister.
It comes as the government rejected a petition with more than 5.78 million signatures calling for Brexit to be halted by revoking article 50.
In an official response posted on the parliamentary petitions website, the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) said: “This government will not revoke Article 50.
“We will honour the result of the 2016 referendum and work with parliament to deliver a deal that ensures we leave the European Union.”
The petition will still be debated by MPs in the Commons’s secondary chamber Westminster Hall on 1 April.
A government minister will be required to respond to the petition, but there will be no vote on the action it demands.
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The Leave.EU campaign has responded to more Tory MPs saying they are ready to back Theresa May's deal by accusing the Conservatives of treachery. It tweets...
Former business minister Richard Harrington, who resigned last night, has predicted that "a lot" more government ministers will resign unless Theresa May gives Conservative MPs a free vote during tomorrow's indicative votes on Brexit.
He told BBC 5Live's Emma Barnett Show:
“I think she should have a free vote tomorrow. And I think if she doesn't, she will face a lot of resignations from her own ministers.”
Mr Harrington also criticised Ms May, saying meetings with her were "frustrating" because she does not say what she thinks. He said:
“You know, you put your point, you're given as much time as you like. She's not looking at her watch and trying to get you out of the room. And then she nods and thanks you for her opinion - but you don't know.”
Richard Harrington has this morning been discussing his decision to resign from the government last night over Brexit
Labour's shadow minister for disabled people, Marsha de Cordova, has hit out at Theresa May for failing to appoint a new minister for disabled people after Sarah Newton resigned almost two weeks ago:
John Bercow has said Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin will table a motion linked to the indicative votes procedure at around 4pm.
The Speaker told the Commons: "Members have until the rise of the House this evening to table motions to be considered tomorrow under the indicative votes procedure.
"The indicative votes procedure itself, I must advise the House, will be set out in the amendable motion which the House will debate tomorrow."
Andrea Leadsom, the Commons leader, is due to make a statement at about 1.15pm on the upcoming business in parliament too. Something to watch out for.
Westminster is very twitchy at the moment - so a tweet like this sends everyone into a state of panic. It appears that they are taking part in regular Brexit meetings, but who knows?
The official line from cabinet is that despite the humbling defeat in the Commons on Monday, the PM is pushing on with trying to gather support for her troubled Brexit deal, writes Independent political editor Joe Watts.
It looks like Downing Street wants to go for a further meaningful vote on her deal on Thursday, which would be the final day it could pass in order for the UK to secure the 22 May departure date under current plans set out by the European Council.
This morning’s announcement from Jacob Rees-Mogg will no doubt have cheered Theresa May, but there is still a feeling today that she does not yet have enough support to push it through.
The PM’s official spokesman also said that there was a long discussion that pondered “the votes that took place last night”, which undoubtedly would have been the less comfortable part of the chat.
The reality is that Ms May has little power now to stop ministers voting in a particular direction when a series of different options are put to MPs on Wednesday for the way forward for Brexit. If she did try to, further resignations would follow, only weakening her grip more.
Given the even split of her cabinet, you could even see a pact with ministers allowed to vote for their respective preferred options.
Whatever the outcome is, it will look bad for May as she tries to get through tomorrow’s indicative votes without appearing thoroughly impotent, before the possible vote on her deal on Thursday.
The European Parliament's top Brexit official, Guy Verhofstadt, has said "a real Brexit revolt" is currently underway in the United Kingdom.
It comes amid an online petition to revoke Britain's decision to leave the EU, which has been signed by more than five million people, and hundreds of thousands taking to the streets to stay in the EU.
Mr Verhofstadt said he felt especially encouraged by the vote in the House of Commons seizing more control over the stalled Brexit process.
Read our story here.
Important - Andrea Leadsom has said MPs will hold indicative votes first tomorrow, before debating changes to Brexit date.
Andrea Leadsom has strongly suggested that the Easter recess will be cancelled. It was due to start on April 4 and run until April 23.
Pressed on the issue in the Commons, she said: "As is always the case, recess dates are announced subject to the progress of business.
"We will need time in the house either to find a way forward or to pass the Withdrawal Agreement bill, and I think the country will rightly expect parliament to be working flat out in either scenario.
"So further announcements on future recess dates will be announced in due course in the usual way."
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