Brexit: Theresa May could be facing defeat over withdrawal bill

The British government is facing a rebellion in parliament after MPs requested an amendment calling for a “meaningful vote" on the Brexit deal before it is made final.

The rebels, led by conservative MP Dominic Grieve want a legal guarantee that parliament will get to decide on the Brexit withdraw bill. As many as 20 Tory MPs and the Labour party could be backing up Grieve on Wednesday afternoon.

What sparked these revolts was Theresa May’s plan of writing the exit date into the withdraw bill which is set for March 29 2019. Ex-attorney general Grieve said that how the bill is worded allows ministers to pass it without consulting parliament.

A final parliamentary vote could prevent May from going for a harder Brexit than most MPs would be able to accept.

Grieve is not planning on backing down and told BBC radio that he has to stand up for his principles, “I think there are quite a few who may support me - I think enough, if this comes to a vote, to defeat the government”, he said.

The amendment is likely to be voted on Wednesday afternoon and the government currently does not have a majority in the house of Commons so it could face defeat.

Ahead of the vote, Brexit Ssecretary David Davis promised parliament a meaningful vote on Brexit once an agreement is reached with the EU; he added: “Our entire approach to the bill has been to listen to MPs”.

Theresa May, who was in Paris for the One Planet environmental summit, that the members of parliament were “looking for reassurance” about the bill and she has said that by all means the government “has been listening and talking to those colleagues".