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BREXIT SHOWDOWN

What EU Withdrawal Bill amendments are MPs voting on today and which ones are likely to become law?

UK Parliament

TODAY MPs will start voting on a series of key amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill - with Theresa May keen to undo the damage done by the House of Lords.

Many of the amendments are likely to be thrown out by the Commons immediately.

 Parliament is voting on the EU Withdrawal Bill today
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Parliament is voting on the EU Withdrawal Bill todayCredit: Getty - Contributor

But others are seriously worrying ministers - because rebel Tories are set to team up with opposition parties to force them into law.

There will be three sets of votes over the next two days: one this afternoon, another this evening and a third taking place tomorrow night.

Giving MPs the power to stop the UK from leaving the EU without a deal

This amendment, to be voted on this afternoon, is proving the most dangerous to the Government, because a number of pro-EU Tory MPs support it.

This morning Phillip Lee resigned as a minister to enable him to back the amendment, which would give Parliament the right to send Theresa May back to the negotiating table if MPs reject her Brexit deal.

Ministers have offered a compromise but so far it hasn’t worked.

 Theresa May is hoping to overturn the 15 amendments to the EU withdrawal bill passed by the House of Lords
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Theresa May is hoping to overturn the 15 amendments to the EU withdrawal bill passed by the House of LordsCredit: PRU

Legal challenges to our law should be allowed if they don't abide by EU laws too

Another amendment set to feature in the first block of votes would let people take the Government to court if it breaches the principles of European law.

The Government is strongly opposed to this suggestion and it is very unlikely to pass.

Limiting the power of ministers to slash red tape without the approval of Parliament

Ministers want to use so-called Henry VIII powers to change regulations which have been transported from EU law into British law.

The Lords amendment limiting their ability to do so will be voted on this afternoon.

 The House of Lords has repeatedly voted to amend the EU Withdrawal Bill
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The House of Lords has repeatedly voted to amend the EU Withdrawal Bill

Giving MPs power over trade talks with the EU

In a massive power grab, this amendment would give Parliament the right to determine what ministers’ negotiating position would be when they hammer out a trade deal with Europe.

This would be a complete departure from the principle that the Government, not MPs, is in charge of negotiating with other countries.

It is set to be defeated when it comes up for a vote today.

Scrapping the Brexit date of March 29, 2019 from the bill

The Lords voted to remove the clause in the EU Withdrawal Bill which states that we will leave the EU on March 29 next year.

But the Commons - which will vote on the amendment tonight - has already debated the issue last year, with Tory rebels backing down after a compromise from ministers.

Use of regulations to amend retained EU law to be scrutinised by Parliament

One of the more technical amendments, set to be debated by the Commons tonight, would force the Government to consult a “sifting committee” of MPs before changing laws inherited from the EU.

 Dr Phillip Lee has resigned as Justice minister over the Government's Brexit policy
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Dr Phillip Lee has resigned as Justice minister over the Government's Brexit policyCredit: UK Parliament

Ministers must explain their efforts to stay in EU customs union

This amendment seeks to make it more likely that Britain will stay in the European customs union.

It would force ministers to make a statement explaining what measures they’ve taken to make that happen.

The amendment, which will come up tomorrow, was expected to be one of the major flashpoints, but leading Tory rebels have now agreed to climb down.

Staying in the European Economic Area after leaving the EU

Perhaps the most damaging amendment of all, this would keep Britain in the EEA - forcing us to hold on to single market rules including freedom of movement.

But the Labour leadership has ruled out supporting it and proposed its own alternative amendment - meaning that neither of them will pass into law.

But when the vote comes tomorrow observers will be keen to see how many pro-EU rebels from both the Tories and Labour end up supporting the EEA option.

Transferring the Charter of Fundamental Rights into domestic law

The Lords voted to enshrine the EU’s Charter of Fundamental Rights in British law, meaning our human rights laws would be partly defined by European principles.

Ministers insist this is unnecessary because of the UK’s own rights laws, and will oppose it when it’s voted on tomorrow.

 Britain is still in the process of withdrawing from the EU
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Britain is still in the process of withdrawing from the EUCredit: Alamy

Enabling the UK to stay in some European agencies after Brexit

This is the one Lords amendment which the Government has agreed to accept.

It will pass into law tomorrow because Tory MPs have been told they must support it in the Commons.

Support for the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland and no border unless agreed by UK and Ireland

This amendment is opposed by ministers, but they’ve proposed an alternative which would enshrine the protection of the Northern Irish border into law.

The Government insists their amendment protects the border without handing too much power to Brussels.

 Jeremy Corbyn is backing several of the Lords amendments
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Jeremy Corbyn is backing several of the Lords amendmentsCredit: PA

Holding on to European employment laws

Another amendment coming up tomorrow which the Government is fiercely opposed to.

Ensuring family reunification for asylum seekers after Brexit

The Government has rejected the exact text of this amendment, proposed by former refugee Lord Dubs, but has proposed an alternative version.

The watered-down amendment is set to pass through the Commons easily tomorrow.

Ministers prevented from restricting when people can challenge EU law after Brexit

This amendment, being voted on tomorrow night, would give Brits the right to challenge the Government on EU laws which are transferred to the UK statute book.

Ministers have offered another compromise, which would restrict this right to three years after Brexit.

Keep the EU's environmental protections and back them with a watchdog

The final amendment, also included in tomorrow’s votes, would transfer European environment rules directly into British law.

Ministers are proposing an amendment instead which would keep the same principles but use a separate bill to turn them into law.


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