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MPs granted vote ‘to block no-deal Brexit’ in Theresa May’s deal with rebel Tories

'Parliament will have a meaningful vote and to be clear there will be no hard Brexit', Anna Soubry says

Deputy Political Editor

Thursday 14 June 2018 16:37 BST

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What is the Brexit 'transition'?

MPs will be granted a vote which they believe would block a “no-deal” Brexit if the negotiations in Brussels fail, under a deal struck with Theresa May.

The prime minister has agreed to the showdown, in February 2019, to avert a threatened revolt by pro-EU Tory rebels after talks today, The Independent has learned.

Full details of the amendment to be tabled to the EU Withdrawal Bill will be published later, ahead of a 5pm deadline for debating it in the House of Lords on Monday.

Leading rebel Anna Soubry tweeted her delight with the outcome, saying: “Dominic Grieve should be hailed a hero for what he has achieved for democracy.

“Deal or no deal parliament will have a meaningful vote and to be clear there will be no hard #Brexit when the EU Withdrawal Bill is passed.”

Mr Grieve, the former attorney general leading the revolt, had insisted that MPs must have the power to prevent a “no deal” – threatening Ms May with defeat next week if she refused.

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

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1/8The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Post-Brexit immigration

workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Customs union

A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that “Brexit means Brexit” and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UK’s economic outlook become clearer.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Northern Ireland-Irish border

Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Party’s coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a “specific solution” would need to be found.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Transition period

Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Rights of EU citizens living the UK

The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Future trade agreement (with the EU)

Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union.

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The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Future trade agreements (internationally)

The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period.

EPA

The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU

Financial services

Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period.

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He was also pushing to force the government to give MPs a decisive say on the next steps if the talks are still deadlocked at the end of November – or if the Commons has rejected a deal.

It was unclear whether that part of his amendment would survive in the fresh text to be put forward for next week’s clashes.

The prospects of leaving with no deal had appeared to be receding, amid criticism of the government for failing to prepare for border queues and warnings of shortages in shops and hospitals.

One senior Tory, foreign affairs committee chairman Tom Tugendhat, claimed a protection was unnecessary because the prime minister would be toppled anyway if there was no deal and there would be “a new government”.

But No 10 alarmed the rebels, when a spokesman said: “We have to be in a position to honour the result of the referendum in all circumstances.”

There was no confirmation from No 10 of what had been agreed in the talks with backbenchers, ahead of publication of the new amendment.

In a sign of caution among the rebels, Mr Grieve’s original amendment was set to re re-tabled in the Lords, to give them continued leverage over the government.

One part would require ministers to obtain approval from MPs on what happens next if no agreement has been reached in Brussels by 30 November

A further, tougher clause would then force the government to follow any “direction” given by MPs if there is no agreement by 15 February.

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