Brexit news: MPs reject every single indicative vote option as Theresa May vows to quit to get her deal passed
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Your support makes all the difference.MPs have failed to unite around any Brexit strategy after a series of indicative votes revealed no majority in the Commons for any plan.
Attempts to break the Brexit impasse floundered when MPs rejected eight different options, including a fresh referendum, a customs union and a no-deal exit.
In a dramatic day in Westminster, Theresa May told Tory MPs she will resign before the next phase of Brexit talks, in an attempt to secure support for her deal.
Addressing the 1922 committee of backbench Conservatives, the prime minister said she “would not remain in post for the next phase of the negotiations”, making way for a successor once her Brexit deal has passed.
Senior Brexiteers including Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith signalled they would pivot to back the prime minister’s deal – but the DUP dealt Ms May a fresh blow by refusing to support her.
But it seems her offered sacrifice may have been in vain, as the Democratic Unionist Party announced it would not back a deal which “poses an unacceptable threat to the integrity of the United Kingdom”.
In a potentially fatal blow to Ms May’s chances, DUP leader Arlene Foster said the Northern Irish party “cannot sign up” to the deal because of its controversial “backstop” provisions.
Westminster leader Nigel Dodds made clear the party’s 10 MPs will vote against the deal if it is brought back for a third “meaningful vote”, declaring: “The DUP do not abstain on the Union.”
The decision leaves Ms May in need of the votes of large numbers of Labour MPs or rebel Tory Brexiteers, many of whom are expected to be strongly influenced by the DUP’s stance.
She has indicated she will only make a third attempt to pass the deal, following its overwhelming defeat by 230 votes in January and 149 in March, if she has a credible chance of success.
Follow along with our coverage of how the day unfolded
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Here is the moment John Bercow chose the options:
The amendments are:
- No deal
Backed by Conservative MPs John Baron, David Amess, Martin Vickers and Stephen Metcalfe, the motion proposes leaving the European Union without a deal on April 12.
-Common market 2.0
Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy and Labour's Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell and Diana Johnson.
The motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
-EEA/EFTA without customs union
A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice - who quit as agriculture minister this month to fight for Brexit - proposes remaining within the EEA and rejoining EFTA, but remaining outside a customs union with the EU.
The motion was also signed by Conservative MPs including former minister Nicky Morgan and head of the Brexit Delivery Group Simon Hart.
-Customs union
Requires a commitment to negotiate a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU" in any Brexit deal.
Tabled by veteran Conservative Europhile Ken Clarke, backed by Labour's Yvette Cooper, Helen Goodman and chair of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn and Tory former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Sarah Newton.
-Labour's plan
Labour has tabled a motion again proposing its plan for a close economic relationship with the EU.
The plan includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant.
-Revoke Article 50
Under this plan, if the Government has not passed its Withdrawal Agreement, it would have to stage a vote on a no-deal Brexit two sitting days before the scheduled date of departure.
If MPs refuse to authorise no-deal, the Prime Minister would be required to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50.
The motion, tabled by the SNP's Joanna Cherry, has been signed by 38 MPs including Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Labour's Ben Bradshaw and all 11 members of The Independent Group.
-Confirmatory public vote
Drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett with the backing of scores of MPs across the House, this motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.
-Contingent preferential arrangements
A group of Conservative MPs, including Marcus Fysh, Steve Baker and Priti Patel, have signed a motion that calls for the Government to seek to agree preferential trade arrangements with the EU, in case the UK is unable to implement a Withdrawal Agreement with the bloc.
Important - John Bercow also says the government should not contemplate bringing forward a third meaningful vote unless it can demonstrate "change" to the Brexit deal.
He said: "I understand that the government may be thinking of bringing MV3 either before the House either tomorrow or on Friday if it opts to sit that day.
"I wish to make clear that I do expect the government to meet the test of change.
"They should not seek to circumvent my ruling."
He says the Table Office has been told not to accept motions that could overturn his ruling last week.
Mark it - this is a clear warning shot to Theresa May.
MPs are now moving the motions that the Speaker selected.
First up is motion B (No deal) - moved by Tory MP John Baron.
He says that while many MPs want to leave with a deal, but many have taken the view that the deal on offer is not a good deal and therefore a no-deal exit is better.
No deal is better than a bad deal, he adds, repeating May's old attitude.
Next up is motion D (Common market 2.0) - moved by Labour MP Stephen Kinnock and Tory MP Nick Boles.
Kinnock says countries like Norway and Switzerland are happy and prosperous, and dismisses Eurosceptic outrage at single market membership.
His plan would keep membership of the single market. He says a customs union alone will not deliver on workers rights. Trade unions have been making this point he said.
Boles makes a plea for compromise - saying there is strength in seeking to unite the divided country around a plan like this.
Sir Keir Starmer moves amendment K (Labour's alternative plan), for a close economic relationship with the EU.
It includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements.
He confirms Labour will whip to support its own plan, Ken Clarke's customs union and Margaret Beckett's confirmatory votes plan (a second referendum).
Labour front bench is "recommending" that its MPs vote for amendment D (the Common Market 2.0).
Away from the debate for a second, an important story from Labour.
Labour activist Jackie Walker has been expelled from the party after its National Constitutional Committee found that charges against her were proven.
Ms Walker had been suspended for three years over allegedly antisemitic remarks.
We've written about this in the past here.
A Labour spokesman said: "The National Constitutional Committee has found that the charges of breaches of party rules by Jackie Walker have been proven.
"The National Constitutional Committee consequently determined that the sanction for this breach of the rules is expulsion from Labour Party membership."
Back in the Commons, Tory grandee Ken Clarke is moving motion J (customs union).
He mocks the Brexit hardliners on the European Research Group for making "piffling" arguments about whether the government or parliament moves business - and calls on MPs to put the public interest first.
Clarke says he would prefer to revoke article 50 and cancel Brexit completely, but his customs union plan is to maximise support.
Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay confirms the government will table a motion for the House to sit on Friday in case it wants to bring the meaningful vote back for a third time.
"It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it," he says.
He dismisses all the other options - saying the PM's deal is the best way forward.
Labour's Dame Margaret Beckett is moving motion M (confirmatory public vote).
This is one to watch, as it would deliver a second referendum. The amendment was formerly known as Kyle Wilson (after MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson). For anyone who is confused, it is effectively the same plan but the wording has been tweaked slightly.
She urges MPs to put aside their opposition to another referendum for the greater good.
If MPs pursue a result that the public no longer desires, that would be the biggest "undemocratic elite stitch up", she says.
The EU needs reform but we can either help or walk away and live with the consequences, she says.
Brexiteer Tory George Eustice is moving amendment H (EEA/EFTA). He quit the government to oppose Theresa May's Brexit deal.
He says it is similar to Common Market 2.0 but does not involve single market membership, so takes UK out of the EU properly.
Lots of people are pointing out that the standard of debate has been much higher this afternoon, as MPs put aside party allegiances to put their cases.
Labour's Hilary Benn says this is "confirmation of the wisdom of the House taking back control".
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