Theresa May admits she has failed to secure legally-binding time limit on backstop from EU, just a day before pivotal vote in parliament
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Your support makes all the difference.Theresa May made a last-ditch attempt to convince MPs to back her Brexit deal, as she warned that parliament could block Britain's withdrawal from the EU.
Speaking ahead of tomorrow's "meaningful vote" on her proposed agreement, the prime minister admitted she had failed to secure a legally-binding time limit on the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.
But she insisted her plan was the only way to avoid a no-deal Brexit and guarantee that Britain exits the EU as planned.
Delivering a speech at a factory in Stoke, Ms May claimed some in Westminster would use “every device available to them” to “delay or even stop Brexit”.
She hailed letters of clarification on the backstop that were published by EU leaders Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk on the eve of the vote, but admitted she "did not achieve" a time limit on the controversial backstop.
“What if we found ourselves in a situation where parliament tried to take the UK out of the EU in opposition to a Remain vote?” she said.
“People’s faith in the democratic process and their politicians would suffer catastrophic harm.”
As it happened...
Labour MP Jim Fitzpatrick has said he is likely to vote for Theresa May's Brexit deal.
He told the Commons:
"I'm totally opposed to a no deal - I think that would be wrong - and at the moment the two options on the table are no deal or this deal.
"If I don't vote for this deal and we end up with no deal I will feel more guilty than if I vote for this and it doesn't pass.
"I can't see me voting against it - I will wait til tomorrow night to make a final decision but I can't see me voting against it."
Sky News is predicting that Theresa May will lose tomorrow's vote by a margin of 225...
NEW: While conventional wisdom had decided that this photo was some sort of joke, The Independent understands that it was NOT. Apparently Mel Stride, the financial secretary to the Treasury, wanted to discuss the matter of there being possibly being "no food" and no operational Channel Tunnel, presumably in the case of a no-deal Brexit...
We've now got more information on the alternative Brexit plan being put forward by Nick Boles, Sir Oliver Letwin and Nicky Morgan, which would give Parliament control if Theresa May is unable to get her deal through Parliament.
Here's how it would work.
If Ms May's deal is rejected tomorrow, she will have three parliamentary days to come back to Parliament and put forward a motion laying out her proposed "plan B". That takes us to Monday 21 January.
MPs will be able to amend this motion to suggest what they think should happen.
Sir Oliver, Mr Boles and Ms Morgan will table an amendment that would lead to the following happening:
A second EU Withdrawal Bill would be introduced, and would take precedence over government business. All of the Commons debates on this bill would take place on the same day.
Under the terms of the proposed new bill...
1. The government would be given a few more weeks to get its deal through Parliament.
2. If it failed, control of Brexit would be handed to the Commons Liaison Committee, which is made up of the chairs of all the other select committees.
3. The Liaison Committee would be instructed to propose and try to seek MPs' support for its own Brexit plan, including possible changes to Ms May's deal or plans for a second referendum. The government would be forced to implement this plan if it was approved by Parliament.
4. If the Liaison Committee was also unable to secure backing for its plan (or if it was of the view that more time was needed for negotiations), the government would have to ask the EU to extend Article 50.
5. If the EU refused, the UK would have to unilaterally revoke Article 50.
There's no doubting this is a radical proposal with cross-party support, but will it secure the backing of MPs? At this stage we just don't know.
Theresa May is now updating the Commons on Brexit, following the publication of letters from Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk this morning.
Theresa May says she is aware that MPs want a unilateral exit clause from the backstop or a legally-binding time limit on it.
She says she tried to secure these from Brussels "but the EU would not agree to this because they fear that such a provision could allow the UK to leave the backstop at any time without any other arrangements in place".
Theresa May urges MPs to "give this deal a second look".
She says people "will look at the decision of this House tomorrow" and ask: did we deliver on the result of the referendum, or did we let the British people down?
She finishes by saying:
"I say we should deliver for the British people, and get on with building a brighter future for this country by backing this deal tomorrow."
↵Leading Eurosceptic Steve Baker confirms that the European Research Group (ERG) will vote against all of the proposed amendments tomorrow...
Answering questions from MPs in the Commons, Theresa May again refuses to rule out extending Article 50. She says she does not believe it should be extended, and insists the government wants the UK to leave the EU on 29 March, but yet again declines to rule out an extension.
Full story: Treasury minister photographed carrying document referring to "no food" and "no Channel Tunnel"
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