Three crucial Brexit votes could take place in the next fortnight
Theresa May has committed to giving parliament the opportunity to decide on three significant outcomes for Brexit, with both leaving without a deal and delaying the Article 50 process on the table.
In a statement to the House of Commons on Tuesday, the prime minister insisted that her withdrawal agreement will be subject to more talks with European Union leaders before a vote by March 12 “at the latest”.
Should May’s deal be voted down once again, she has pledged to allow MPs the chance to back a no deal Brexit the following day.
The prime minister warned of the dangers of leaving without a deal but told the House: “I believe that, if we have to, we will ultimately make a success of no deal.”
In the event of both May’s withdrawal agreement and no deal being rejected, there will be a parliament vote on delaying the Article 50 process to the end of June. That would take place by March 14, just over two weeks before the current deadline.
“Let me be clear,” the Conservative leader told MPs. “I do not want to see Article 50 extended, our absolute focus should be getting a deal to leave on March 29.
“This short extension would almost certainly have to be a one-off. It cannot take a no deal off the table.
“My aim is to bring the country back together.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised May in response, describing her plans as “grotesquely reckless” with just weeks to go before the March 29 deadline for both the UK government and EU to sign off a deal on an orderly Brexit.
“I’ve lost count of the number of times this prime minister has come to the House to explain a further delay,” said Corbyn.
Last night it emerged that Labour will back an amendment seeking a second Brexit referendum, which Corbyn advocated once again on Tuesday.
“Labour respects the result of the referendum but we believe in getting the terms of the exit right,” he added. “That’s why we believe in our alternative plan.
“If it somehow does pass in some form at a later stage, we believe there must be a confirmatory public vote to see if people feel that’s what they voted for.”
