Brexit amendments: What are the key motions to be debated by MPs?

MPs will have the chance to choose between a range Brexit plans next week when Theresa May holds a Commons vote on her proposed strategy.

The prime minister is hoping to win support for her plan, which is expected to focus on a bid to negotiate changes to the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.

MPs from across the Commons have tabled motions proposing a series of alternatives, including a softer Brexit and an extension to Article 50. Others are planning how to pave the way for a fresh referendum.

Here are the main amendments that are likely to be put to a vote and could determine the course of Brexit.

Amendment A - Jeremy Corbyn

The Labour leadership's amendment is significant because it marks a clear, albeit small, step towards the party backing a fresh referendum.

Its motion says the government must allow the Commons to vote on different options to avoid leaving the EU without a deal.

These options should, it says, include a softer Brexit, in line with Labour's policy of seeking a customs union with the EU and a close relationship with the single market, and a fresh referendum.

It means that, for the first time, Labour is calling for MPs to hold a vote on whether to give the public the final say on Brexit.

However, the mon says that any such referendum should be on "a deal or a proposition that has commanded the support of the majority of the House of Commons" - in other words, a public vote should only be held once MPs have reached a consensus, and voters should not be asked to break the deadlock in parliament.

The amendment appears unlikely to pass. Tory supporters of a Final Say vote are not expected to support it because they believe the Labour motion would complicate matters. They will instead throw their weight behind amendments explicitly designed to lead to another referendum.

Even if Labour's motion passes, it would merely lead to a Commons vote on whether or not to hold another public vote. Labour says it would not necessarily order its MPs to back another referendum in such a vote.

Amendment C - Hilary Benn

The chair of the Commons Brexit committee has tabled a motion asking the government to give MPs a series of "indicative votes" on the various options for leaving the EU. These are designed to show which plan would be most likely to command a Commons majority.

The outcomes to be voted on would be those laid out by Mr Benn's committee in a recent report. They are: another vote on Ms May's deal; leaving the EU without an agreement on 29 March; renegotiating the Brexit deal to either make changes to the backstop arrangements, pivot to a Canada-style free trade deal or pursue a softer Brexit via a Norway-style agreement; or calling another referendum.

The idea of holding indicative votes has been backed by several cabinet ministers, including Damian Hinds, the education secretary, Greg Clark, the business secretary and Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary.

Amendment E - Yvette Cooper

The aim of Ms Cooper's amendment is very clear: it is designed to stop the UK leaving the EU in March without a deal. The motion tabled by the Commons home affairs committee chair would take away the government's power to determine the Commons agenda and would instead prioritise a debate on her European Withdrawal No. 3 Bill.

This bill says that, if no Brexit deal has been agreed by parliament by 26 February, Ms May must hold a Commons vote on a motion instructing her to delay Brexit until the end of the year. If the vote is passed, she would have to ask the EU to extend Article 50 until 31 December 2019.

The plan is the latest version of a proposal devised by a cross-party group of MPs. An earlier version would have handed control of Brexit to the powerful Commons Liasion Committee if the government was unable to secure support for its deal. That was dropped after members of the committee, which is made up of the chairs of all the other Commons committees, voiced concerns.

The latest amendment is backed by senior parliamentarians from across the Commons and is expected to secure Labour's support, meaning it is likely to pass.

Amendment F - Dominic Grieve

The main motion being backed by supporters of another Brexit referendum, this amendment tabled by former attorney general Dominic Grieve would freeze the centuries-old rule that says the government has the power to decide what MPs debate.

Instead, it would allow time for six debates on Brexit, to take place on 12 February, 26 February, 5 March, 12 March, 19 March and 26 March. These would be on a motion simply saying that the Commons "has considered the United Kingdom’s departure from, and future relationship with, the European Union”.

Crucially, these motions would be amendable, giving MPs the chance to table amendments proposing a range of outcomes. Mr Grieve is likely to use the opportunity to pursue a fresh referendum, and has already tabled parliamentary bills that would trigger another public vote.

Other MPs are likely to table amendments calling for a range of outcomes, ranging from a softer Brexit to a no-deal withdrawal. These would then be voted on by the Commons. In this sense, the amendment would trigger indicative votes similar to the motion tabled by Mr Benn.

Unlike Mr Benn's plan, however, Mr Grieve's would ensure that the series of votes takes place, rather than simply asking the government to hold them. It also leaves open the number of different outcomes that could be voted on, whereas Mr Benn wants only four to be considered.

Mr Grieve's motion has been backed by other supporters of a fresh referendum from the Conservatives, Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party.