IAN Blackford has called for a General Election after MPs rejected every alternative Brexit plan put before the Commons in a series of indicative votes.
Eight proposals were voted on after MPs seized control of proceedings at Westminster. Every single one, however, was defeated.
Separate motions which called for no deal to be ruled out, Article 50 to be revoked, for an improved commons market arrangement, for EEA/EFTA membership and for customs union membership were all defeated, as was Labour’s Brexit plan, a motion advocating a confirmatory public vote for any withdrawal proposal and a motion based on Contingent preferential arrangements.
Every motion loses
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) March 27, 2019
No deal loses 160-400
Common Market 2.0 loses 188-283
Efta/EEA loses 65-377
Customs union loses 264-272
Labour alt plan loses 237-307
Revoke A50 loses 184-293
2nd referendum loses 268-295
Managed no deal loses 139-422
Making a point of order after the vote, Blackford said: “This is a very serious moment for all of us … We have to reflect that this House of Commons has tried to find a way through the Brexit crisis over the last few months and we have failed.”
He pointed out that the number of votes in favour of Theresa May’s deal in the Commons had twice been lower than the equivalent figure for the motion which would have paved the way for a People’s Vote – the confirmatory public vote proposal.
Blackford continued: “I think it is becoming increasingly clear that this House cannot find a way forward.
“This Government, this Prime Minister, has failed to provide leadership.
“The only thing we should now be doing is going back to the people of the United Kingdom in a General Election to end this impasse.”
READ MORE: Theresa May tells Tories she'll quit if they back her Brexit deal
In his point of order, Tory Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay made a fresh appeal for MPs to support the Prime Minister's withdrawal agreement.
"The deal the Government has negotiated is a compromise, both with the EU and with members across this house. That is the nature of complex negotiations.
"The results of the process this house has gone through today strengthens our view that the deal the Government has negotiated is the best option.
"Furthermore, Mr Speaker, although this was not a significant feature of today’s debate, any deal must include a withdrawal agreement.
"It is the Government’s firm wish to get the withdrawal agreement approved by this house, and I urge all members, no matter the view on what the future relationship should be, if you believe in delivering on the referendum result by leaving the EU with a deal, then it’s necessary to back the withdrawal agreement.
"If we do not do that, then there are no guarantees about where this process will end.
"It is for that reason that I call on all members from across this House, in the national interest, to back the Prime Minister’s deal.
READ MORE: DUP confirm they will not back Theresa May's deal
Here are the full details on each of the alternative Brexit motions:
No deal
Backed by Conservative MPs John Baron, David Amess, Martin Vickers and Stephen Metcalfe, the motion proposes leaving the European Union without a deal on April 12.
Common market 2.0
Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy and Labour's Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell and Diana Johnson.
The motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
EEA/EFTA without customs union
A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice – who quit as agriculture minister this month to fight for Brexit – proposes remaining within the EEA and rejoining EFTA, but remaining outside a customs union with the EU.
The motion was also signed by Conservative MPs including former minister Nicky Morgan and head of the Brexit Delivery Group Simon Hart.
Customs union
Requires a commitment to negotiate a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU" in any Brexit deal.
Tabled by veteran Conservative Europhile Ken Clarke, backed by Labour's Yvette Cooper, Helen Goodman and chair of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn and Tory former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Sarah Newton.
Labour plan
Labour has tabled a motion proposing its plan for a close economic relationship with the EU.
The plan includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant.
Revoke Article 50
Under this plan, if the Government has not passed its Withdrawal Agreement, it would have to stage a vote on a no-deal Brexit two sitting days before the scheduled date of departure.
If MPs refuse to authorise no-deal, the Prime Minister would be required to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50.
The motion, tabled by the SNP's Joanna Cherry, has been signed by 33 MPs including Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Labour's Ben Bradshaw and all 11 members of The Independent Group.
Confirmatory public vote
Drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett with the backing of scores of MPs across the House, this motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.
Contingent preferential arrangements
A group of Conservative MPs, including Marcus Fysh, Steve Baker and Priti Patel, have signed a motion that calls for the Government to seek to agree preferential trade arrangements with the EU, in case the UK is unable to implement a Withdrawal Agreement with the bloc.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel