..and vote of no Confidence in the Government
Theresa May has urged MPs to take a “second look” at her agreement, despite admitting it was not perfect.
Theresa May is heading for a crushing defeat on Brexit vote D-day in the Commons, despite a series of last-minute appeals to rebel Tory MPs to back her EU withdrawal agreement.
The latest Sky News analysis suggests the prime minister is facing a loss by a majority of 226 votes – that is based on MPs stating their intentions publicly or to our team.
That figure comes with caveats – there could well be some abstentions and MPs can change their minds without making it public
A defeat is likely to be followed by Jeremy Corbyn calling a vote of no confidence in the government.
Mrs May’s allies insist that whatever the scale of the defeat she has no intention of quitting or calling a general election, but she will come under enormous pressure to unveil a Brexit Plan B.
On the eve of the historic vote, the prime minister appealed to MPs during a Commons statement to take a “second look” at her agreement, despite admitting it was not perfect and was a compromise.
Then, in an emotional speech to Conservative MPs that was described by her supporters as a “bravura performance”, she urged them to “keep Jeremy Corbyn as far away from No. 10 as possible”.
Winding up day four of the five-day Commons debate on the withdrawal agreement in the early hours of the morning, the chancellor Philip Hammond told MPs: “We as a House now need to move swiftly and decisively to get behind the deal.
“To make the tough choices that are needed to simultaneously deliver the Brexit people voted for, to protect our
economy and our national security and to give them the brighter future they were promised.”
The PM’s final appeal to MPs to back her deal will come amid what is certain to be an atmosphere of tension and high drama, as she winds up the final day of the debate before voting begins at 7pm.
There is likely to be a series of votes on amendments, including demands to time-limit the Irish backstop, which could mean Mrs May loses by a much smaller margin.
However Labour MP Hilary Benn confirmed on Tuesday morning he had withdrawn his amendment which was thought to have been favoured by government whips.
If successful, it would have blocked the vote on Mrs May’s deal and stopped a no-deal scenario, potentially saving the PM from an embarrassing defeat.
Skynews
