Biodun.BBC: BREAKING: Brexit: Vote on Theresa May's deal may not happen next week

Saturday, March 23, 2019

BREAKING: Brexit: Vote on Theresa May's deal may not happen next week

by Emily Straton and Biodun Iginla, BBC News, London

Theresa May has told MPs there might not be a third vote on her Brexit deal next week if there is insufficient support for it to pass.

If it does not pass, the EU has set a deadline of 12 April for the UK to propose a new plan.

Meanwhile, supporters of another EU referendum will march through central London later.

Labour's Tom Watson will speak at the event, pledging to back May's deal if she agrees to hold a referendum on it.

'Clear choices'

If Mrs May's deal is approved by MPs next week, the EU has agreed to extend the Brexit deadline until 22 May. If it is not - and no alternative plan is put forward - the UK is set to leave the bloc on 12 April.

In a letter to all MPs on Friday evening, Mrs May offered to talk to MPs over the coming days "as Parliament prepares to take momentous decisions".

She said: "If it appears that there is not sufficient support to bring the deal back next week, or the House (of Commons) rejects it again, we can ask for another extension before 12 April - but that will involve holding European Parliament elections."

That was one of four "clear choices" she outlined, along with revoking Article 50 - cancelling Brexit - which she said would "betray the result of the referendum", leaving with no deal, or getting her deal approved next week.

The final option relies on Commons Speaker John Bercow allowing her to bring the deal back after he previously ruled that another vote couldn't be held without "substantial" changes to the deal.

Theresa May getting out of car — Image captionTheresa May said asking for an extension was a matter "of great personal regret"

Her letter came after the DUP - whose support will be crucial if the Government is to win - indicated they still would not back her deal.

Media captionTheresa May's televised address, blaming MPs for a delay, caused anger in Westminster

Mrs May also referred to her televised address on Wednesday, in which she blamed the delay to Brexit on MPs.

She acknowledged that "a number of colleagues had raised concerns" about her words and it had not been her intention to make their "difficult job... any more difficult".

Andrew Mitchell, Conservative MP for Sutton Coldfield and a former Tory chief whip, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that "there was a very strong feeling she'd made an error of judgement".

But dismissing reports of growing pressure on Mrs May to quit, he said: "To change prime minister would be a colossal error - it won't change the numbers [in the vote for Mrs May's deal]".

Mrs May also confirmed in her letter that the government would change the law to officially change the UK's departure date from the EU next week.

Analysis

By Jonathan Blake, political correspondent

Theresa May's admission that there may not be a third vote on her deal after all will focus minds on what an alternative plan might be.

To avoid asking the EU for a longer extension and holding European parliament elections, the prime minister will need a new course of action.

A series of indicative votes in Parliament looks the most likely way to decide that - but there is no agreement on whether the government should lead that process or relinquish control to Parliament.

And when and if a consensus in Parliament emerges, there is no guarantee it will automatically become government policy.

It has taken two years for the government to formulate, negotiate and attempt to get a Brexit deal through Parliament.

Finding an alternative which ministers, MPs and the EU are happy to embrace within the next two weeks will be a very tough task indeed.

Meanwhile, supporters of another referendum will march through central London on Saturday.

Campaigners say they expect hundreds of thousands of people to attend the 'Put It To The People' demonstration, which will be addressed by Labour's deputy leader, Tom Watson, Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, London Mayor Sadiq Khan and others.

Mr Watson will say: "I've come to the reluctant view that the only way to resolve this and have legitimacy in the eyes of the public is for the people themselves to sign it off."

James McGrory, the Director of the People's Vote campaign, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Politicians are unable to agree on a way forward so it seems to the People's Vote campaign that the only way forward it to put any Brexit deal - whether it's the government's deal or any alternative form of Brexit - put it to the people."

Ms Sturgeon said now was "the moment of maximum opportunity" to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

A petition on Parliament's website calling for Brexit to be cancelled by revoking Article 50 has attracted nearly four million signatures.

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran said the petition could "give oxygen" to the campaign for another Brexit referendum.

'Anything is possible'

Speaking in Brussels on Friday after the European Council agreed to delay the Brexit date, Mr Tusk said that until 12 April, "anything is possible" including a much longer delay or cancelling Brexit altogether.

"The fate of Brexit is in the hands of our British friends. As the EU, we are prepared for the worst, but hope for the best. As you know, hope dies last."

European Council President Donald Tusk, pictured with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker — Image captionEuropean Council President Donald Tusk, left, with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker

According to the final summit conclusions, the UK is expected to "indicate a way forward" before 12 April, if MPs do not approve the withdrawal deal negotiated with the EU, which would then be considered by the European Council.

The UK must decide by then whether it will take part in European Parliamentary elections from 23-26 May - if it does not, then a long delay would become "impossible", Mr Tusk said.

Mrs May will need to table secondary legislation to remove the date March 29 from Brexit laws.

Timeline

29 March: Current Brexit date in UK law

12 April: If MPs do not approve the withdrawal deal next week - "all options will remain open" until this date. The UK must propose a way forward before this date for consideration by EU leaders

22 May: If MPs do approve the deal next week, Brexit will be delayed until this date

23-26 May: European Parliamentary elections are held across member states