The Prime Minister has finally announced that if MPs do not approve her Brexit Withdrawal Agreement by 12 March, Parliament will be given a vote on whether the UK leaves the EU without a deal and – if that is rejected – to request that Brexit day is delayed. This followed pressure from a cross-party group of MPs that would have forced the Prime Minster to request an extension to Article 50 to prevent no deal via my colleague Yvette Cooper’s Bill, which I co-sponsored.
I’m glad the Prime Minister has recognised that if she can’t get her bad Brexit deal through Parliament we will need to extend Article 50 to avoid a disastrous no deal Brexit. However, delaying Brexit day must be done for a purpose. On 26th February, I called on the Prime Minister to change her course and drop her red lines on the negotiations to break the Brexit deadlock.
I am proud to have supported multiple amendments to the Government’s motion on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, including an amendment from Alberto Costa MP that ensures the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU are protected even in the event of a no deal Brexit. I was pleased the Government responded to our pressure and accepted this amendment.
