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As it happenedended1551374805

Labour amendment defeat paves way for party supporting second referendum

Follow all the latest updates from Westminster

Benjamin Kentish
Political Correspondent
,Ashley Cowburn,Lizzy Buchan
Wednesday 27 February 2019 20:42 GMT
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Results of vote on Brexit Labour amendment

MPs have emphatically rejected Jeremy Corbyn's Brexit vision, placing huge pressure on the Labour leader to row in behind a second referendum.

Mr Corbyn told Labour MPs earlier this week that he was ready to back a Final Say vote "to prevent a damaging Tory Brexit being forced on the country" if his plan was defeated.

The move came during a series of Commons votes, which saw a surprise Brexiteer rebellion on a bid by Labour's Yvette Cooper to cement the prime minister's promise to allow MPs to rule out a no-deal exit.

Ms May tried to take the heat out of the clash by allowing MPs to vote on delaying the UK's EU withdrawal beyond March 29 amid threats of a ministerial resignations.

Meanwhile, Labour was embroiled in fresh controversy after Derby North MP Chris Williamson was suspended for saying the party had been "too apologetic" over antisemitism.

As it happened...

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Independent Group table second referendum amendment to 'break Brexit gridlock'

MPs from the newly-formed Independent Group has tabled an amendment seeking to pave the way for a second Brexit referendum.

The move comes after Labour's announcement the party would back attempts in the Commons for a fresh public vote, if it fails to force MPs to adopt its own Brexit plans in a series of votes on Wednesday evening in the chamber. 

The fresh bid has the support of MPs in the Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, and Plaid Cymru - increasing the chances of it being selected by the Commons Speaker on Wednesday morning. 

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 08:35
1551256548

Third of ‘most critical’ no-deal Brexit preparations are behind schedule, government admitsNearly one-third of the “most critical” preparations for a no-deal Brexit are behind schedule, according to newly released government papers on the implications of a disorderly exit from the EU.The documents – published on Tuesday after demands from MPs – also say that UK citizens are not preparing for a no-deal scenario as it is not viewed as a “sufficiently credible” outcome by the public. Reporting analysis supplied to the cabinet, the documents add that leaving the bloc without a deal could leave the UK economy between 6.3 and 9 per cent smaller after 15 years than it would otherwise have been.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 08:35
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Corbyn facing furious backlash from MPs after shifting Labour towards supporting second referendumJeremy Corbyn has faced a furious backlash from his own MPs after he dramatically shifted Labour‘s Brexit stance in favour a second referendum.Brexiteers on his own benches warned the move could cause “catastrophic” damage to support in Labour heartlands and acted as a “distraction” to finding a way out of the Brexit chaos.The Labour leader won plaudits from pro-EU MPs when he ended months of uncertainty by rowing in behind a Final Say vote, if his own softer Brexit plan is rejected by MPs, as expected.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 08:36
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MPs will this evening given another chance to vote on Theresa May's negotiating strategy for Brexit on Wednesday night.

The Commons will vote on a series of amendments to the government motion ahead of another "meaningful vote" on the withdrawal agreement next month.

It will be down to Speaker John Bercow which proposals are selected for a vote. Any successful amendments will not have the force of law but will carry heavy political weight.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 08:38
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Labour MP filmed telling activists party is too 'apologetic' about antisemitismOne of Jeremy Corbyn’s closest allies has attacked his own party for being “too apologetic” over accusations of antisemitism.Derby North MP Chris Williamson was filmed telling a meeting of pro-Corbyn activists Labour should have pushed back more during the long-running row over antisemitism within the party.Speaking to a meeting in Sheffield of the Momentum group on Tuesday evening, Mr Williamson said it was wrong that his party, which had done more than any other to combat racism, had allowed itself to be portrayed as racist.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 08:57
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Fiona Onasanya MP may wear electronic tag in Commons after early release from prisonMP Fiona Onasanya may have to wear an electronic tag in the House of Commons if she attends key Brexit votes, after being released from prison today one month into her sentence.Jailed last month for perverting the course of justice, the Peterborough MP, who has been disowned by the Labour Party and refused to stand down as an MP,  did not comment as she was driven out of HMP Bronzfield in Ashford in Surrey on Tuesday.It means she will be able to attend crucial votes in the Commons on Wednesday on Theresa May's plans to take Britain out of the European Union. 

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 09:05
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Jacob Rees-Mogg - the chair of the hardline group of Conservative Brexiteers in the European Research Group - told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that people who want an extension to Article 50, are "using it by and large to try and stop Brexit".

He added: "Because, otherwise you just have this repeat at the end of June.

"Because, if there is still no majority in Parliament for the Prime Minister's deal, or any tweaks that can be got to it by the end of June, we are still faced with the same situation."

Asked if there were any circumstances in which he could vote for Mrs May's withdrawal deal, Mr Rees-Mogg said: "I can live with the de facto removal of the backstop, even if it isn't de jure.

"What do I mean by that?

"I mean that if there is a clear date that says the backstop ends, and that that is in the text of the treaty, or equivalent to the text of the treaty.

"If it were to be an appendix to the treaty - bear in mind the Irish backstop is in itself an appendix to the treaty - so, if you had a further appendix that said this will not go beyond a particular date - and a short date, not a long date - then that would remove the backstop in the lifetime of parliament.

"And that would have a reasonable effect, from my point of view."

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 09:10
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Opinion: Theresa May has decided the only way forward on Brexit is to defeat herselfTheresa May said she will herself introduce legislation to let the commons vote to delay Article 50, then told them not to do it. The government is literally defeating itself, says political sketch writer Tom Peck

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 09:32
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The Electoral Commission - responsible for overseeing donations to political parties - has released figures from each party from the final quarter of 2018. 

They show the Conservative Party received significantly more money than the other parties in terms of private donations - totalling £7,396,361. 

This compares with just over £1.6m for the Labour Party, and £950,000 for Vince Cable's Liberal Democrats. 

But these figures don't include membership fees for party members - and considering Labour has over half a million members - Jeremy Corbyn's party will be far ahead on this measure.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 09:46
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Tom Watson demands suspension of Labour MP who claimed party was 'too apologetic' over antisemitismLabour’s deputy leader is demanding the suspension of backbench MP Chris Williamson after he claimed the party had been “too apologetic” over antisemitism. Tom Watson is writing to Labour’s chief whip calling for the whip to be stripped from Jeremy Corbyn’s ally, amid mounting anger over his behaviour in the party, The Independent has learned.

Ashley Cowburn27 February 2019 10:15

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