Brexit news: MPs submit indicative vote plans as government rejects 'Revoke Article 50' petition
Follow The Independent's coverage of how the day unfolded
Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK
Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight
MPs are gearing up for a series of votes on different Brexit scenarios after dramatically wresting control of the EU exit process from the government.
Different Brexit factions must put forward their preferred options by the end of the day for “indicative votes” on Wednesday, including bids for a Norway-style deal and a second referendum.
The move could pave the way for a softer Brexit, prompting infighting among Eurosceptic hardliners over whether to back Theresa May‘s deal instead.
On Tuesday, the prime minister’s Brexit strategy was left in disarray and her leadership under threat after three of her ministers resigned and MPs dramatically voted to take control of the process.
Her authority was left in tatters after 30 members of her party defied her instructions and voted for the move. Three government resigned in order to vote against the prime minister.
How newspapers reported MPs seizing control of Brexit
Show all 10It comes as the government rejected a petition with more than 5.78 million signatures calling for Brexit to be halted by revoking article 50.
In an official response posted on the parliamentary petitions website, the Department for Exiting the EU (DExEU) said: “This government will not revoke Article 50.
“We will honour the result of the 2016 referendum and work with parliament to deliver a deal that ensures we leave the European Union.”
The petition will still be debated by MPs in the Commons’s secondary chamber Westminster Hall on 1 April.
A government minister will be required to respond to the petition, but there will be no vote on the action it demands.
Follow our coverage of how the day unfolded
More than 80 per cent of people think the government has handled Brexit badly, a new survey has found.
The NatCen Social Research poll found that just 7 per cent of voters think Theresa May's team has done well, while 81 per cent said the opposite.
The figures are significantly worse for the government those from 2017, when only 41 per cent said Brexit was being managed badly, while 29 per cent thought the government was doing well.
Former Conservative deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine has said Theresa May's premiership is "hanging by the flimsiest thread".
He told the BBC:
"I think she's playing with fire when she says that she is not going to take any notice of what the House of Commons says."
"Her premiership has been hanging by the flimsiest thread now for some weeks."
Full story: Fresh Brexit referendum or revoking Article 50 are "on the table", resigning Tory minister admits
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the European Research Group (ERG) of Tory Brexiteers, has hinted that he is close to agreeing to support Theresa May's deal.
Speaking on his podcast for the ConservativeHome website, he said he believed that Ms May "will not deliver a no-deal Brexit".
Asked if this meant the only options were the prime minister's deal or potentially no Brexit, he said:
"That, I think, becomes the choice eventually.
"Whether we are there yet is another matter, but I have always thought that no-deal is better than Mrs May's deal, but Mrs May's deal is better than not leaving at all."
He added: "Leaving the European Union, even leaving it inadequately and having work to do afterwards is better than not leaving at all".
NEW: Jacob Rees-Mogg hints that he will vote for Theresa Mays Brexit deal
Jacob Rees-Mogg's hint that he will now back Theresa May's deal is significant. As chairman of the European Research Group (ERG), he is an influential Brexiteer and his climbdown is likely to lead to others following suit. All eyes will now be on other prominent Eurosceptics, including Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith.
However, the ERG is deeply divided and there remains a significant number of its members who have said they simply will not back the prime minister's plan. The DUP also said yesterday that its opposition to the deal "remains unchanged". So while Mr Rees-Mogg's support is a significant - and much-needed - boost for Ms May, it is unlikely to be enough to secure a Commons majority for her deal. Which, in the end, is all that really matters.
Following Jacob Rees-Mogg's comments this morning, Tory MP Michael Fabricant has also suggested that he is now ready to support Theresa May's deal.
The Leave.EU campaign has reminded Jacob Rees-Mogg of his previous comments about Theresa May's Brexit deal, which he is now suggesting he might support...
NEW: Theresa May will address the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs at 5pm tomorrow (Wednesday) night, it has been confirmed.
The announcement has sparked speculation in Westminster that the prime minister could use the meeting to announce a timeline for her resignation if MPs agree to support her Brexit deal.
To be clear, though, that is all hear-say. The prime minister has given no hint that she is ready to quit and is unlikely to do so until she is certain that stepping down will ensure her deal will definitely pass.
Conservative MP Ben Bradley, who opposed Theresa May's deal, then voted for it, then said he opposed it again, has now said he will support it:
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments