UK lawmakers prepare to vote on alternatives to Brexit deal

[turbinetree]

Source: Associated Press

By DANICA KIRKA and JILL LAWLESS 23 minutes ago

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers were preparing to vote Wednesday on multiple options for leaving the European Union as they sought to bring some clarity to the country’s tortured Brexit process.

In the wake of two overwhelming defeats for Prime Minister Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement with the EU, the House of Commons has taken control of the parliamentary timetable on Wednesday in the hope of finding a way through the impasse.

Lawmakers are holding a five-hour debate on a wide range of Brexit alternatives, after which they will be asked to vote for all of the options they could accept. The plan is for the most popular ideas to move to a second vote on Monday to find one option that can command a majority.

The debate comes two days after lawmakers took control of the parliamentary agenda away from the government amid alarm that Britain was heading toward a chaotic Brexit within weeks with no exit plan in place.

Read more: https://apnews.com/b418f65c491f451ba3c0010a686f51e1

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Theresa May..................

[Recursion]

1. Anybody in a betting mood? I predict no motion commands a majority

My nosecount says there's no option on the table that has enough support to pass.

[comradebillyboy]

2. So hard Brexit it is...

[pampango]

7. It is interesting that everyone but the far right agree that a 'hard' Brexit is the worst option but

if nothing else passes Parliament, hard Brexit it is.

[Javaman]

3. I love all this debating.

it's like trying to figure out the best way to hang oneself.

in the end, regardless of what they decide, the EU will have the final word.

[brooklynite]

4. UPDATE: Theresa May allows a free vote on Brexit options

Link to tweet

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Sure - after she called a vote trying to prevent all of the indicative votes

May loses bid to cancel indicative votes debate

Theresa May has lost again. Her attempt to defeat the business motion failed, and it was passed by 331 votes to 287 - a majority of 44.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/mar/27/brexit-latest-news-live-debate-indicative-votes--to-vote-on-alternative-votes-as-speculation-mounts-may-could-announce-plans-to-quit-live-news?page=with:block-5c9b9489e4b09fe67e82276e#block-5c9b9489e4b09fe67e82276e

She really is doing her best to let the MPs have no say whatsoever.

[brooklynite]

5. UPDATE: Labour MPs will be whipped to back public vote

Jeremy Corbyn will whip Labour MPs to support a Brexit referendum in the indicative votes – but could face a wave of resignations from frontbenchers determined not to back it.

The Guardian understands a delegation of shadow ministers, including known second referendum sceptics Ian Lavery, Jon Trickett and Richard Burgon, held a meeting lasting more than two hours on Tuesday evening with John McDonnell, the shadow chancellor.

One shadow minister warned Labour would face “a very significant rebellion” if it tried to force MPs to back the motion, and another said: “If we whip for it, we won’t have a shadow cabinet by the end of the day.”

The motion, tabled by Dame Margaret Beckett, suggests parliament should not ratify any Brexit deal “unless and until” it has been approved in a “confirmatory public vote”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/27/labour-barry-gardiner-brexit-is-not-remain-party-and-support-for-public-vote-motion-difficult

[brooklynite]

6. UPDATE: Bercow puts prospect of fresh meaningful vote in doubt by firming up his 'no repeat votes'

John Bercow, the Commons Speaker, is now talking about his ruling about “no repeat votes”, that prevented Theresa May from bringing back her meaningful vote before the EU summit.

He says there is talk of the government bringing back the vote on Thursday or Friday next week.

He says that, for this to be allowed, there would have to a substantial change to the motion.

And he says he has instructed the clerks to block any attempt by the government to ge round this ruling by tabling a “notwithstanding” motion - ie, a one-off rule change that would allow the debate to go ahead despite the usual Commons rule.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2019/mar/27/brexit-latest-news-live-debate-indicative-votes--to-vote-on-alternative-votes-as-speculation-mounts-may-could-announce-plans-to-quit-live-news

[Polybius]

9. So any chance for a new referendum?

Or is that off the table?

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. Option M (they can choose more than one) is for a 'confirmatory public vote'

M. Confirmatory public vote

Drawn up by the Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by the 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.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/27/alternative-brexit-options-what-will-john-bercow-select-for-indicative-votes