Brexit: Boris Johnson forced to give MPs vote on controversial bill

As minister quits in protest

Boris Johnson has bowed to pressure to offer MPs a  “lock” on controversial plans to tear up part of  the Brexit agreement with the European Union. 

The prime minister will push ahead with the proposals, which a cabinet minister admitted last week could break international law.

But MPs will be offered another vote before the powers can be used, Downing Street announced.

Around 30 Tory MPs are thought to have been planning to rebel and vote for an amendment guaranteeing a similar “lock” next week.

After talks with two of the rebels, Conservative MPs Sir Bob Neill and Damian Green, No 10 released a joint statement saying that “following talks, it is agreed that the Parliamentary procedure suggested by some colleagues provides a clearer, more explicit democratic mandate for the use of these powers, and also provides more legal certainty.”

The climbdown is unlikely to ease the concerns of all those who fear the Bill could wreck the UK’s reputation on the world stage, however.

Even as the final details were being hammered out the Government's top law officer for Scotland resigned in protest at the plans to override the Withdrawal Agreement.

Lord Keen of Elie QC, the Advocate General, said in his resignation letter to the prime minister that he could not reconcile the proposals with his obligations as a law officer.

Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the US House of Representatives, has warned Congress will never pass a free trade agreement with the UK if legislation to override the Brexit divorce settlement was to "imperil" the peace process. 

However, Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State told a press conference that the US “trusted” Britain.