Brexit: Which amendments are MPs voting on today?
Letwin amendment would pave the way for ‘indicative votes’ on wide range of Brexit options
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Your support makes all the difference.As Theresa May battles to stay in power, MPs are seeking to seize control of parliamentary business from her government in a bid to secure a softer Brexit or a second referendum.
The Commons will vote on a series of motions – including one which would force “indicative votes” on alternatives to the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement.
Speaker John Bercow has decided which proposals will be debated, with the votes expected to start at 10pm tonight.
These are the amendments he has chosen:
Letwin
This is the key, cross-party plan backed by Sir Oliver Letwin, Dominic Grieve and Hilary Benn, which aims to pave the way for a series of indicative votes in the Commons on Wednesday, effectively taking control of the Brexit process out of the hands of the government.
Among the different amendments, this is deemed the most likely to pass and by far the most significant.
Labour
Jeremy Corbyn’s party has tabled an amendment instructing the government to provide parliamentary time this week so MPs can find a majority for an alternative to the PM’s Brexit plan. The party has said the other options could include Labour’s plan, a customs union, a second referendum or a Common Market 2.0.
Beckett
Labour MP Dame Margaret Beckett’s amendment seeks to make the government move a motion on whether the Commons approves the UK leaving without a deal and on whether there should be an extension to Article 50 if Britain comes within seven days of crashing out.
These are the amendments he did not select:
Cooper
Labour MP Yvette Cooper’s amendment rejects a no-deal Brexit and demands the government sets out by the end of Thursday how it will ensure the UK does not crash out of the EU on April 12 without a withdrawal agreement, if the PM’s plan is rejected again. Tory MPs Sir Oliver Letwin and Dame Caroline Spelman are among the signatories.
TIGs
The Independent Group are joined by Liberal Democrats and some Labour MPs in calling for the prime minister to immediately make the “necessary preparations” for a second referendum.
Quince
Backed by prominent Brexiteers from across the House, Tory MP Will Quince’s amendment seeks only to reaffirm Parliament’s “commitment to honour the result of the referendum that the UK should leave the European Union”.
Liberal Democrats
With support from members of the Independent Group, the Lib Dem amendment calls for a two-year extension to Article 50 to hold a second referendum on whether to leave the EU under the terms of the withdrawal agreement or to stay a member.
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