MPs will have to make a choice between a “really bad deal” or “a really, really, bad deal” over Brexit, the SNP’s Stephen Gethins has said.
The MP was speaking during the first day of Parliament’s scrutiny of the EU Withdrawal Bill, the bill which will repeal the 1972 European Communities Act, which took the UK into the EU.
There’s to be eight days of debate over the course next month.
More than 470 amendments have been tabled by MPs – thought to be a record amount.
Theresa May’s attempt to placate Leave supporting backbenchers in her own party by promising to put the Brexit date down in law, was dismissed as a “desperate gimmick” by Labour, and could be what ends her time as Prime Minister.
Her ministers say it is important to be “crystal clear on the setting of exit day” as 11pm on 29 March 2019.
Tory former Chancellor Ken Clarke, called it a “silly amendment” put forward by the government “because they got a good article in The Daily Telegraph”.
Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer said it would likely constrain the UK’s ability to hold trade talks: “The government’s amendments to their own bill would stand in the way of an orderly transition and increase the chance of Britain crashing out of Europe without an agreement.”
He added: “Theresa May should stop pandering to the ‘no deal’ enthusiasts in her own party and withdraw these amendments.”
There will be sizeable opposition to the amendment when MPs vote on it next month, and it could see the Prime Minister defeated.
The Tories, with support from Northern Ireland’s DUP, have a working majority of just ten.
Yesterday, it was clear there were likely at least ten in her party who would vote against.
Dominic Grieve, who served as Attorney General in David Cameron’s government, told MPs: “I am afraid I am just not prepared to go along with it.”
If passed, it would, he said, “fetter the government’s own ability to carry out the negotiation.”
Meanwhile, there were the clearest signs yet that Brussels doesn’t believe the UK has done enough on the “divorce” to start talking about a trade deal.
Manfred Weber, the German group leader of the centre-right European People’s Party, and a key ally of Angela Merkel, was cautious about the prospect of the EU27 leaders agreeing to start negotiations when they meet in December.
The next opportunity to ask for permission to start those talks would not then be until March.
“Theresa May has asked for talks. She knows the negotiations are in a decisive phase,” said Weber.
“In the coming weeks we will see whether a constructive outcome is possible or whether the uncertainty will continue to grow. In December it doesn’t look like we will be entering into the second phase.”
Speaking at the European Parliament yesterday, Weber added that “the clock is ticking”.
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