MPs have begun to vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal for leaving the European Union. Only one amendment is being voted on before the so-called “meaningful vote” takes place. Mrs May called for politicians to back her deal or risk “letting the British people down”.
But with many of her own MPs expected to join opposition parties to vote against the deal, it is widely expected to be defeated.
Labour, the SNP and Conservative MP Sir Edward Leigh all pulled their amendments but Tory MP John Baron insisted MPs vote on his amendment, which would give the UK the right to terminate the Northern Ireland backstop without the agreement of the EU if passed.
Closing five days of debate on her deal, Mrs May said the responsibility of MPs was “profound” and that her deal “delivers on the core tenants of Brexit, in a way that protects jobs, ensures our security and honours the integrity of our United Kingdom”.
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But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said backing the “botched and damaging” deal would be a “reckless leap in the dark” for the UK.
The prime minister addressed her cabinet on Tuesday morning before heading to the Commons for the start of the debate on her deal – which includes both the withdrawal agreement on the terms on which the UK leaves the EU and a political declaration for the future relationship.
She had spent the lead up to the vote trying to reassure MPs from all sides of the House over the controversial Northern Irish “backstop” the fallback plan to avoid any return to physical border checks between the country and Ireland having received new written assurances from the EU that it would be temporary and, if triggered, would last for “the shortest possible period”.
Speaking at the close of the debate, Mrs May added: “If we leave with the deal I am proposing, I believe we can lay the foundations for which to build a better Britain.
“And as prime minister, I would not stand at this dispatch box and recommended a course of action that I do not believe is in the best interests of our country and our future.”
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