'Inconceivable' MPs should be denied vote on Theresa May's Brexit negotiations, says Hilary Benn

Mr Benn told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, 'Parliament will want to take a decision on the final deal'

Hilary Benn (Getty)

It is “inconceivable” that MPs would be denied a vote on the outcome of Theresa May's negotiations to take the UK out of the EU, the newly elected chairman of the House of Commons Brexit committee has said.

After his election by MPs on Wednesday, Hilary Benn made clear that he will use the role to press the Prime Minister to reveal more information about her negotiating stance and to give MPs a vote on her objectives in the two-year talks and the deal she eventually achieves.

The Labour MP - who backed Remain in the EU referendum - called on Mrs May to move swiftly to secure a transitional deal which can come into force as soon as the UK leaves, to prevent a “cliff edge” disruption to trade if a long-term arrangement has not been reached.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Benn said: “I am very clear that Parliament will want to have a say, both in scrutinising what the negotiating plan is when it is published - and taking a view on it - but also Parliament will want to take a decision on the final deal.

”Since it was argued during the referendum that one of the arguments for leaving was that it would restore our sovereignty, it is inconceivable that Parliament should not use its sovereignty - which, by the way, it had anyway - to determine what it thinks of the complex deal when it is finally completed.“

The former shadow foreign secretary - who was sacked by Jeremy Corbyn earlier this year for disloyalty - won the position of chairman of the Committee on Exiting the EU ahead of prominent Leave supporter Kate Hoey.

The cross-party panel, which will be charged with scrutinising the work of David Davis's Brexit department, has already been criticised for its roster of 21 members - almost twice the number on most Commons committees - which experts warn will make consensus difficult.

Mr Benn said he would use the position to press for Parliament's right to be informed about Mrs May's intentions, despite her insistence that she will not give a ”running commentary“ on the withdrawal talks taking place under Article 50 of the EU treaties.

”Parliament is entitled to say to the Government, 'Okay, what are your negotiating objectives?'," he said.

”There are some very basic questions - 'what do you want to do to try to ensure we have access to the single market that is so important to our goods and services industries?'

“We know the Government is making assessments of the economic impact of the different options that might be available in these negotiations. If they are doing that, it is really important that they share those assessments with Parliament.”

Mr Benn said he doubted that Mrs May would be able to conclude a new trade deal with the EU within the two-year timeframe to negotiate a separate withdrawal agreement under Article 50, which she has said she will trigger by the end of March.

“One thing the Government could do now is make it absolutely clear that it will seek a transitional agreement so we don't tumble out at the end of two years on World Trade Organisation rules,” he said.

Mr Benn told Today that he accepted the 52% vote to Leave, but added: “This is going to be the most complex and most challenging task that the nation has faced in peacetime since the end of the Second World War.

”It is going to affect all areas of our national life, and Parliament needs to be sure that the Government has got a plan and that the negotiations are successful in trying to get the best deal for the UK while honouring the decision the British people have made.“

Press Association