May enrages tory rebels with 'incomprehensible' brexit amendment

Theresa May’s government is back on rocky ground after abandoning a compromise over parliaments role in Brexit negotiations and enraging pro-EU tory rebels.

Talks fell down two days after the Prime Minister was forced to seek a compromise on the issue as her government faced defeat over a Lords amendment that would have given parliament the final say on Brexit negotiations.

On Thursday evening, discussions appeared to have failed as ministers declined to accept demands from the rebels they sought to placate, publishing an amendment that would give MPs less power over Brexit negotiations in a move that Tory anti-Brexiter Dominic Grieve branded “unacceptable”.

The government-drafted amendment was rejected by the rebels who had earlier believed that an agreement had been reached by the two factions only to be presented with a last-minute redraft.

“It is incomprehensible and unacceptable. We had very sensible negotiations and thought we had reached an agreement and then they phoned and said that they had to make the motion unamendable. For the life of me I can’t understand why they have done it. It is utterly bizarre,” said Grieve.

Pro-brexit MPs have denied demanding the redraft, insisting that Theresa May’s government is entirely responsible for the move.

The amendment said that if May confirms before 21 January that no deal has been agreed with the EU a minister will make a statement in parliament within 14 days and give MPs the opportunity to vote.

This vote, however, would be on “a motion in neutral terms”, stating only that the House has considered the statement.

The amendment will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday before returning to the Commons on Wednesday, where Grieve said will have no option but to oppose the new amendment and it appears he will be joined by a good portion of the Labour Party.

Sir Keir Starmer, Labour’s shadow Brexit secretary, said: “The government’s amendment is simply not good enough. Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of the ‘meaningful vote’. Parliament cannot — and should not — accept it.”

Fresh confrontations regarding trade and customs are also on the horizon, as the Commons are set to debate two bills on the subject before the summer recess period begins in July.