MPs carve up Brexit alternatives to derail Theresa May’s deal at tonight’s Commons showdown as 30 ministers threaten to resign

SQUABBLING MPs rushed to carve up Brexit as 16 alternatives to Theresa May’s deal were tabled for a historic Commons showdown on our EU divorce.

Politicians rushed to derail No.10’s plans after rebel leaders Sir Oliver Letwin and Hilary Benn took control of Westminster and paved the way for a crunch debate.

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MPs will be given the chance to use ‘pink slips’ to cast a vote on their preferred Brexit options in the biggest Westminster power shift since the 1880s.

Sir Oliver Letwin published his motion for the debate - and it sparked a rush of amendments from MPs desperate to soften Brexit or stop it altogether.

One cross-party amendment backed by Europhile Tories, Labour and SNP MPs called for Article 50 to be revoked to stop a No Deal.

Another demanded a “confirmatory” referendum on any agreement struck with Brussels.

Tory Eurosceptic John Baron pushed for a No Deal but Labour’s Gareth Snell called for Britain to sign up to the EU customs union.

At least two competing amendments pushed for Britain to pursue a Norway-style Brexit – and join the European Economic Area.

One senior insider said: “It’s mayhem.”

Separately up to 30 ‘Remain’ ministers warned they could resign en masse if No.10 doesn’t give them the freedom to back whichever ‘soft’ Brexit option they prefer today.

Sources claimed Ann Milton and Victoria Atkins were among a delegation that urged the PM to her face to give them a so-called ‘free vote’.

Their call was taken up by Justice Secretary David Gauke in Cabinet.

One source said: “We have been very clear in conversations with the PM and whips. I expect at least half a dozen junior ministers could go if we’re told how to vote on this one.”

'IT'S MAYHEM'

The chaotic scenes followed the Government’s crushing defeat on Monday night when the PM lost control of the Brexit process to ‘Remainer MPs’.

Three Tory ministers quit so they could join the rebellion backing an unprecedented amendment to take control of Commons business – drawn up by Tories Sir Oliver Letwin and Nick Boles and Labour’s Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper.

One who resigned to back the coup – Steve Brine – warned feuding Brexiteers to back the PM’s deal instead if they get another chance this week – predicting that “Brexit from now on will only get softer”.

Ultimate power on which alternative Brexit options will actually be voted on today rests with Speaker John Bercow – accused by Brexiteers of being ‘biased’ towards Remain.

He will pick those making it on the ballot paper at the start of today’s debate at 3pm.

Sir Oliver will then make history by becoming the first politician not representing the Government when he introduces the Business of the House.

MPs will then talk them through the Brexit options for four before they vote on each one in a series of so-called ‘Indicative Votes’ at 7pm.

And in a break with tradition, MPs will not walk through the ‘Aye’ or ‘No’ division lobbies for each vote.

Instead they will be given a ‘pink slip’ listing each option – and be asked to put a ‘Yes or No’ by them. The votes will be counted up and then announced at around 8.30pm.

Sources claimed the plan is then for the three or four with the best “score” to go through to a ‘play-off’ on Monday.

The votes already risk a constitutional stand-off as No.10 has indicated Theresa May would not recognise any Commons result that contradicts the Tories’ 2017 Election manifesto.

The PM is also expected to ask the Commons a THIRD time to back her own Brexit deal when she regains control of Parliamentary business on Thursday.

Mr Boles insisted their move was not a “coup” but a determined attempt to find a way through the Brexit deadlock.

Britain had been due to leave the EU on Friday, March 29th.

Mr Boles told The Sun: “It’s a great feeling to be finally off to the races and see whether this horse will run.

“The Government has comprehensively failed to do the job of Government – which is to solve these difficult issues.

“Parliament is very very late in the day try to see if we can come up with something that has support.”

Richard Harrington, who resigned as Business Minister on Monday night, yesterday tore into the PM for the Brexit paralysis.

MPS CARVE UP BREXIT

He claimed Mrs May left it far “too late” to reach out to other parties to try and find a solution.

“I think Theresa May viewed there being a Conservative Party-only solution for this problem and her number one objective has been to keep the Conservative Party together.”

The EU parliament’s Brexit boss guy Verhofstadt said he was “very pleased” that MPs backed the Letwin amendment as it paves the way for a soft Brexit. He said: “It’s possible now to work in Britain towards a cross-party alliance that could fundamentally upgrade the Political Declaration.

“We hope in the coming days the approval of the Letwin amendment will lead to a proposal with a majority vote in the House of Commons.”

Constitutional expert Nikka da Costa warned it would now be incredibly hard for Downing Street to now “restore control”.

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She pointed out that Sir Oliver Letwin and Hilary Benn could in theory take over as many days of ‘Government business’ as they want if MPs back them.
She said: “In theory we are now in a twin track process.
“But it’s clear – there is now an increasing lack of control for the Government.”

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Seven voting options

HAVING seized control of the Brexit process, MPs will today hold a series of indicative votes on the kind of deal they want.

Speaker John Bercow will select which options will be voted on, with results expected around 8.30pm.

Below are some of the likely options.

1. No Deal Brexit: Tory John Baron’s motion calls for the UK to leave the EU on April 12 with No Deal.
   Many Conservative Brexiteers want Britain to sever ties and trade on World Trade Organisation terms rather than have the PM’s deal with the Irish backstop.
2. Norway Plus: This would keep the UK in the single market and a customs union with the EU until a way to ensure no hard Irish border is found. It would mean Britain sticking to many of the EU rules and, crucially, continuing to accept free movement.
3. Revoke Article 50: In this plan, if a Withdrawal Agreement is not passed by the day before Brexit, MPs vote on approving No Deal. If they do not explicitly back it then the Government must tell the EU it wants to revoke Article 50 — effectively putting a stop to Brexit.
4. Second Referendum: Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson have tabled a joint motion calling for a second referendum. It states that whatever deal the House of Commons agrees on, it must be put to the electorate for a “confirmatory public ballot”.
5. Right to quit backstop: The backstop has implications for the Irish border and for free trade deals.
   This amendment would approve the Withdrawal Agreement as long as Britain has a unilateral right to exit the backstop without the EU’s permission.
6. Labour plan: Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has swooped on the votes to try to force through his own Brexit plan.
   It would keep the UK in a customs union with the EU and make the country stick to many of the single market rules drawn up in Brussels.
7. Malthouse Compromise: Calls to approve much of the Withdrawal Agreement, including enshrining the rights of EU nationals living in the UK and the divorce bill. But it also wants the backstop to be torn up and for technology to be used to keep the Irish border soft.

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