"Many Photos" - MPs back Cooper and Letwin plan to stop No Deal and delay Brexit again in knife-edge 315-310 vote

MPs backed a controversial plan to force Theresa May to stop a no-deal Brexit in a close Commons vote tonight.

A cross-party manoeuvre hatched by Tory Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour's Yvette Cooper to force a new law through Parliament in a day look set to succeed after a 315-310 decision in the Commons to allow it to proceed.

If passed by both the Commons and the Lords new the law would require the Prime Minister specifically to ask the EU to delay Britain's withdrawal beyond April 12 - currently the day we are due to leave without a deal. 

The attempt to wrestle control of Brexit by the cross-party Remainers sparked fury among Brexiteers.

But it has already largely been overtaken by events elsewhere. Mrs May announced yesterday that she would sit down for talks with Jeremy Corbyn or ask the Commons to form a Brexit alternative if they cannot see eye-to-eye. 

This means that she has already effectively ruled out a No Deal departure in nine days, because these would both require a longer delay.

Should the bill make it through both the Commons tonight and the Lords tomorrow the final stage would be to get the Queen to give it the formal Royal Assent and become law.

Speaker John Bercow tonight broke the first tied vote since 1993 to rule against holding a third round of Brexit alternative votes. MPs had been split 310-310 on whether to stage votes on Monday. He used his casting vote after a heated discussion in the Commons (above)

The second reading vote passed by just five is almost certain to be repeated when MPs vote again after 10pm after the third reading.

But the closeness of the vote suggests that many MPs are uneasy at the backbench attempt to force the Prime Minister's hand, or see it not as slightly less powerful.

The single-clause Cooper Bill requires the Prime Minister to table her own motion seeking MPs' approval for an extension to the Article 50 process of Brexit talks to a date of her choosing.

MPs next debate the bill in 'committee stage' this evening before the vote on the third reading stage, which is expected at around 10pm.

The second reading vote was passed by just five votes tonight, 315 to 310

If it passes this vote the bill then passes to the House of Lords where an identical process takes place.

 Should that go to plan without any further changes requested by peers it would then be ready to be sent to the Queen for Royal Assent.

The group behind the Bill, which also includes former Tory chairwoman Dame Caroline Spelman, Commons Brexit Committee chair Hilary Benn, former attorney general Dominic Grieve and Liberal Democrat Norman Lamb, hopes once it has passed the Commons it could be approved by the House of Lords tomorrow and granted Royal Assent in time for the emergency EU summit on April 10. 

Ms Cooper, speaking at second reading, said her Bill was still needed because although the PM has signalled she wants to extend Article 50 'there is no clear process of how those decisions will be taken', adding her Bill 'adds some clarity'.

But Tory Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said the Bill would amount to 'supplication to the EU', which he said would be a 'profound humiliation for the British people'.

He added: 'As I and others have made clear over the years, it will be decided by Germany, in the council of ministers, and the European Council.

'I say this is a German Europe, it is run by Germany and that is the bottom line, and that will happen in relation to this decision as well.'

Shadow Brexit minister Paul Blomfield offered Labour's support while Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay outlined the Government's opposition, saying: 'It's constitutionally irregular.'

John Bercow had earlier broke a tie to rule against holding a third round of Brexit alternative votes on Monday tonight.  

MPs were tied for the first time in decades after they voted 310-310 on whether to stage a third day of indicative votes on Monday night. 

Labour's Hilary Benn had tried to amend the rules of the House to stage more votes on alternatives to Mrs May's Brexit deal - in defiance of Tory rebel Oliver Letwin, who has masterminded the way backbench MPs seized control from the Government.

Mr Bercow said he had to use his casting vote - for the first time in his nine years as Speaker - against the move. 

Mr Bercow's decision is helpful to the Government which may need Monday's time in the Commons to debate and vote on a new Brexit plan.

It effectively ends rebel control of the Commons following today's proceedings as Mr Letwin had opted against booking any more days. 

Explaining why he broke the tie against the amendment, Mr Bercow said: 'The rationale .. for the exercising of the casting vote is .. that it is not for the chair to create a majority that doesn't otherwise exist.'

The main vote on whether today's rebel control of the Commons can go ahead was won 312-311 - suggesting the Commons is on a knife edge for when draft laws which seek to block a No Deal next week are voted on later tonight. 

John Bercow broke a tie to rule against holding a third round of Brexit alternative votes on Monday tonight

It is the first time since 1993 a Speaker has broken a tie in the Commons. On that occasion, the result was later changed after a recount.

The last successful tie breaker was cast in 1980 on a vote on whether to allow TV cameras into the Commons for the first time. 

The extraordinary scenes came after a bad tempered debate on whether Rebel MPs should be allowed to try to ram through laws to try and block No Deal. 

Labour MP Yvette Cooper has published draft laws that would oblige the Government to seek a long delay to Brexit next week if there is not a deal by April 10. 

Veteran Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash complained the idea was 'unconstitutional' today and urged the Commons Speaker to block it.

But Mr Bercow told him pushing through laws in a single day was 'not particularly unusual' in itself, pointing out the Government does so in an emergency.

The Speaker has repeatedly been accused of helping Remainers to frustrate Brexit and has threatened to block any further votes on Mrs May's Brexit deal. 

Veteran Brexiteer Sir Bill Cash complained the idea was 'unconstitutional' today and urged the Commons Speaker to block it

Of tonight's legislation, the Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom said: 'The Government regrets the position that Parliament is in today. Not only does it challenge again our constitutional conventions, but it offers Parliament hardly any time to consider, let alone to debate, the legislation before us.

'The people of the UK rightly expect our democracy to be upheld at all times and for our democratic institutions to take their responsibilities seriously.

'The Prime Minister also set out the Government's next steps to leave the EU in a way which can command support from a majority of parliamentarians, in that context, I question why the legislation before the House today is necessary.'

She added: 'The Government has consistently said that we do not support the unprecedented removal of Government control of the order paper, no matter the circumstances.' 

photo link
https://textbacklinkexchanges.com/mps-back-cooper-and-letwin-plan-to-stop-no-deal-and-delay-brexit-again-in-knife-edge-315-310-vote/
News Photo MPs back Cooper and Letwin plan to stop No Deal and delay Brexit again in knife-edge 315-310 vote
Advertising
You don’t have to pack away your dress just because you’re the wrong side of 20. These body-beautiful stars reveal their secrets to staying in shape and prove you can smoulder in a two-piece, whatever your age. Read on and be bikini inspired!

Kim says: “I am no super-thin Hollywood actress. I am built for men who like women to look like women.”
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/03/21/11827524-6883063-image-a-15_1554323374671.jpg