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New EU referendum would break faith with Britons, May to warn MPs Theresa May sets January date for MPs' Brexit vote
(35 minutes later)
Holding another referendum on the EU would "break faith with the British people", Theresa May will warn MPs. MPs will vote on the UK's Brexit deal in the week beginning 14 January, Theresa May has told Parliament.
Former PMs John Major and Tony Blair are among those urging a new referendum if MPs cannot agree on a way forward. The vote was due to be held last week but was put on hold after Theresa May admitted she was set to lose.
But Mrs May will argue that it would do "irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics" and not settle the issue. Announcing a new date, Mrs May said the EU had made it clear the Irish backstop was "not a plot to trap the UK" and urged MPs to see Brexit through.
No 10 said it had "no plans" for votes on other Brexit outcomes if the PM's deal is rejected after it emerged David Cameron was advising his successor. Labour had threatened to force a confidence vote in the PM if she did not set a date for the vote.
The BBC understands Mr Cameron has been in touch with Mrs May about how a series of "indicative votes" on various different Brexit outcomes could be handled if there is deadlock over the terms of the UK's exit. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May had "led the country into a national crisis" and she no longer had cabinet backing.
He said a month would have been wasted since the original 11 December vote was postponed, with "not a single word renegotiated and not a single reassurance given".
"The deal is unchanged and is not going to change," he said. "The House must get on with the vote and move to consider the realistic alternatives."
In a Commons statement, Mrs May said MPs would resume the debate on her Brexit deal - which was halted last week - in the week of 7 January with "meaningful" vote taking place in the following week.
She said she had won fresh guarantees at last week's EU summit over measures to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland and hoped to secure additional "political and legal assurance" in the coming weeks.
She ruled out the case for another referendum, saying a fresh vote would do "irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics" and not settle the issue.
'Laughing stock'
But the SNP's Ian Blackford said the government was a "laughing stock" and Parliament needed to "take control of the situation and find a solution", insisting "let us have this meaningful vote this week".
Earlier, No 10 said it had "no plans" for votes on other Brexit outcomes if the PM's deal is rejected after it emerged David Cameron had given advice to his successor.
The BBC understands Mr Cameron has been in touch with Mrs May about how a series of "indicative votes" on various different Brexit outcomes could be handled if there was deadlock over the terms of the UK's exit.
Downing Street said Mrs May, who called off a Commons vote on her Brexit deal last week, was focused on getting the extra assurances MPs needed to finally back it next month.Downing Street said Mrs May, who called off a Commons vote on her Brexit deal last week, was focused on getting the extra assurances MPs needed to finally back it next month.
Meanwhile she faces the threat from Labour of a no-confidence motion in her as prime minister, if she fails to set a date for the delayed MPs' vote on her proposed Brexit deal.Meanwhile she faces the threat from Labour of a no-confidence motion in her as prime minister, if she fails to set a date for the delayed MPs' vote on her proposed Brexit deal.
But an EU spokesman said it had provided the "clarifications" requested on the contentious issue of the Northern Irish backstop and "no further meetings were foreseen".But an EU spokesman said it had provided the "clarifications" requested on the contentious issue of the Northern Irish backstop and "no further meetings were foreseen".
The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 - the deal sets out the terms of exit and includes a declaration on the outline of the future relations between the UK and the EU. But it only comes into force if the UK and European Parliaments approve it.The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 - the deal sets out the terms of exit and includes a declaration on the outline of the future relations between the UK and the EU. But it only comes into force if the UK and European Parliaments approve it.
The prime minister has signalled MPs will now vote on this early next year, and no later than 21 January.The prime minister has signalled MPs will now vote on this early next year, and no later than 21 January.
But Labour and other opposition parties, as well as some Tory Brexiteers say a decision is needed now, so alternative options can be considered if Mrs May's deal is rejected.But Labour and other opposition parties, as well as some Tory Brexiteers say a decision is needed now, so alternative options can be considered if Mrs May's deal is rejected.
They are seeking to force a vote before the Christmas recess begins on Thursday, although the BBC's Norman Smith said it was not clear how they could do this.They are seeking to force a vote before the Christmas recess begins on Thursday, although the BBC's Norman Smith said it was not clear how they could do this.
Potential "Plan B" options include:Potential "Plan B" options include:
Calls for another referendum have grown in recent weeks amid signs a majority of MPs are opposed both to the deal on the table but also leaving the EU without any kind of agreement.Calls for another referendum have grown in recent weeks amid signs a majority of MPs are opposed both to the deal on the table but also leaving the EU without any kind of agreement.
Mr Blair said last week that after 30 months of negotiation, giving the final say to the people would become the "logical" outcome if there was a deadlock and every other option had been exhausted.Mr Blair said last week that after 30 months of negotiation, giving the final say to the people would become the "logical" outcome if there was a deadlock and every other option had been exhausted.
But Mrs May will tell MPs on Monday: "Let us not break faith with the British people by trying to stage another referendum. But Mrs May told MPs on Monday: "Let us not break faith with the British people by trying to stage another referendum.
"Another vote which would do irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics, because it would say to millions who trusted in democracy, that our democracy does not deliver."Another vote which would do irreparable damage to the integrity of our politics, because it would say to millions who trusted in democracy, that our democracy does not deliver.
"Another vote which would likely leave us no further forward than the last. And another vote which would further divide our country at the very moment we should be working to unite it.""Another vote which would likely leave us no further forward than the last. And another vote which would further divide our country at the very moment we should be working to unite it."
The PM is coming under pressure from cabinet ministers to "test the will of Parliament" through a series of "indicative" non-binding votes - which would see MPs pass judgement on the options available in the hope of identifying the most popular.The PM is coming under pressure from cabinet ministers to "test the will of Parliament" through a series of "indicative" non-binding votes - which would see MPs pass judgement on the options available in the hope of identifying the most popular.
Business Secretary Greg Clark said he backed Mrs May's deal but if Parliament was implacably opposed, it should be "invited to say what it would agree with".Business Secretary Greg Clark said he backed Mrs May's deal but if Parliament was implacably opposed, it should be "invited to say what it would agree with".
"Businesses expect MPs to take responsibility rather than just be critics," he told Radio 4's Today."Businesses expect MPs to take responsibility rather than just be critics," he told Radio 4's Today.
'All options''All options'
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd made the same point, saying "all options" should remain on the table and if the deal was rejected "let's think about how we test the will of Parliament to find out where the majority is".Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd made the same point, saying "all options" should remain on the table and if the deal was rejected "let's think about how we test the will of Parliament to find out where the majority is".
But International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has previously backed the idea of MPs having a free vote (ie not being told how to vote by their party leaders) on the EU agreement, said the referendum showed people had decided they wanted to leave.But International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has previously backed the idea of MPs having a free vote (ie not being told how to vote by their party leaders) on the EU agreement, said the referendum showed people had decided they wanted to leave.
"We asked the people to decide, they decided... that means we can't come up with something else in Parliament," she said."We asked the people to decide, they decided... that means we can't come up with something else in Parliament," she said.
Dame Margaret Beckett, a former foreign secretary who is a supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a fresh referendum, said the case was becoming "overwhelming" and was "the best way forward for our country".Dame Margaret Beckett, a former foreign secretary who is a supporter of the People's Vote campaign for a fresh referendum, said the case was becoming "overwhelming" and was "the best way forward for our country".
"A new public vote would be different from the referendum in 2016 because we now know more about what Brexit means. "A new public vote would be different from the referendum in 2016 because we now know more about what Brexit means."
"Any effort to force Brexit over the line without checking that it has the continued consent of the British people will only reinforce divisions."
There were reports in the Sunday newspapers that two of Mrs May's key allies were planning for another referendum, in the event that her deal cannot get MPs' backing.There were reports in the Sunday newspapers that two of Mrs May's key allies were planning for another referendum, in the event that her deal cannot get MPs' backing.
Both men - Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and Mrs May's de facto deputy David Lidington - distanced themselves from the reports.Both men - Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell and Mrs May's de facto deputy David Lidington - distanced themselves from the reports.
The prime minister is due to update MPs at 15:30 GMT on last week's European Council summit, where she made an appeal to EU leaders to help get the deal "over the line".The prime minister is due to update MPs at 15:30 GMT on last week's European Council summit, where she made an appeal to EU leaders to help get the deal "over the line".
Mrs May, who last week survived a vote of no confidence in her leadership by Conservative MPs, has been seeking legal assurances over the controversial "backstop" plan to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, if no trade deal is reached.Mrs May, who last week survived a vote of no confidence in her leadership by Conservative MPs, has been seeking legal assurances over the controversial "backstop" plan to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, if no trade deal is reached.
She said on Friday that her talks with EU leaders had shown that "further clarification and discussion" was possible and that the UK would be "working expeditiously over the coming days to seek those further assurances I believe MPs will need".She said on Friday that her talks with EU leaders had shown that "further clarification and discussion" was possible and that the UK would be "working expeditiously over the coming days to seek those further assurances I believe MPs will need".
But Conservative MP Sam Gyimah said Parliament was "stuck" until it could vote on the PM's plan and he accused Downing Street of trying to "run down the clock".But Conservative MP Sam Gyimah said Parliament was "stuck" until it could vote on the PM's plan and he accused Downing Street of trying to "run down the clock".
Separately, more than 60 MPs from various parties have written to the PM urging her to rule out a no-deal Brexit, saying it would do "unnecessary economic damage" to manufacturers in their constituencies.Separately, more than 60 MPs from various parties have written to the PM urging her to rule out a no-deal Brexit, saying it would do "unnecessary economic damage" to manufacturers in their constituencies.