The first great battle of Westminster over Brexit legislation has been won by Theresa May during last night’s vote but worried Tory MPs have warned the war is far from over.
The vote of an unusually packed House of Commons handed the Government a victory by 36 votes after seven Labour MPs defied their leader Jeremy Corbyn to support the Government and its EU Withdrawal Bill.
Conservatives fell in line behind their Prime Minister and did as they were ordered – no matter how they felt personally – to ensure the 326-290 outcome. Those Tories who are not in favour of the entire package of the bill feel they can live to fight another day to make significant changes further down the parliamentary path as it progresses through Parliament. Up to 12 Tory MPs have indicated support for such amendments, more than enough to force changes.
Keir Starmer, Labour’s Shadow Brexit Secretary, who led a vote against the bill because he argued it was weak, called it a “deeply disappointing result”.
“This bill is an affront to parliamentary democracy and a naked power grab by government ministers. It leaves rights unprotected, it silences parliament on key decisions and undermines the devolution settlement.”
Starmer argued that Labour would amend and remove the worst aspects of the withdrawal bill but called the flaws “so fundamental” that it was hard to see it ever made “fit for purpose”.
The Liberal Democrat Brexit spokesman Tom Brake called it “a dark day for the mother of parliaments”.
Tory Rebels Unhappy
While the Prime Minister called it a “historic decision to back the will of the British people” and said the vote would give clarity and certainty through the Brexit process, not all in her own party appeared to agree. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve (left) teamed up with his Tory colleague John Penrose, to warn against a power grab by ministers through the so-called Henry VII powers, and former ministers Anna Soubry and Nicky Morgan also called for amendments.
Their calls for change came alongside a series of amendments from MPs from across the House of Commons, including Brexit-supporting Labour MPs and the Opposition frontbenches.
It is not clear whether the vote gives May and her Brexit team the necessary impetus to move forward in its negotiations with the EU, which have so-far made little progress. The next round of talks is set for October.
While Labour described the vote as an “affront to parliamentary democracy” May said the bill offered “certainty and clarity”. “Although there is more to do, this decision means we can move on with negotiations with solid foundations and we continue to encourage MPs from all parts of the UK to work together in support of this vital piece of legislation,” she said.
Having cleared the second reading stage, the bill will now face more attempts to change it with Conservative MPs among those tabling new amendments. Senior Tory backbenchers were among those racing to lay down critical amendments immediately after the vote, as a big queue formed in which MPs jostled to table their suggestions first.
Previously referred to as the Great Repeal Bill, the EU Withdrawal Bill overturns the 1972 European Communities Act which took the UK into the then European Economic Community. It will convert existing EU laws into UK law, to ensure there are no gaps in legislation on Brexit day.
Critics’ concerns centre on ministers giving themselves the power to change laws during this process without consulting MPs. The Government says it needs to be able to make minor technical changes to ensure a smooth transition but fears were raised that ministers were getting sweeping powers to avoid parliamentary scrutiny.
The seven Labour MPs who defied Corbyn by supporting the Tory bill were Ronnie Campbell, Frank Field, Kate Hoey, Kelvin Hopkins, John Mann, Dennis Skinner and Graham Stringer.
by Bob Graham
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