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Brexit: David Cameron 'advising Theresa May on options' if deal rejected Brexit: Theresa May says David Cameron 'not advising her'
(about 7 hours later)
David Cameron has been advising Theresa May on how to give MPs a "greater role" in resolving any future Brexit deadlock, sources have told the BBC. Theresa May has rejected reports she is taking advice from her predecessor David Cameron on what to do in event of a Brexit deadlock in Parliament.
The ex-prime minister has been speaking to his successor about what may happen if her proposed deal is vetoed by MPs. Sources have told the BBC the former PM has been in touch with Mrs May about giving the Commons a "greater role" if her proposed deal is vetoed by MPs.
Several ministers want MPs to be allowed to express their views on "Plan B" options to try to find a consensus. Some ministers want alternatives to her deal to be considered and voted upon.
Downing Street said there were "no plans" for this and Mrs May was focused on getting MPs' support for her deal. But Mrs May told MPs that the last time she had spoken to her predecessor was in the middle of November.
But the BBC understands Mr Cameron has been speaking to the prime minister about how a series of "indicative votes" on various different Brexit outcomes may be handled if her deal is rejected. Asked about it in the Commons, the prime minister said she had spoken to Mr Cameron and another former prime minister "as a matter of courtesy" when the UK's Brexit agreement with the EU was finalised on 14 November.
Mr Cameron was "not advising" her, she told MPs.
However, the BBC understands the two exchanged a brief text message on Wednesday, when Mrs May survived a confidence vote of Conservative MPs.
Mrs May has announced that MPs' vote on the terms of the UK's exit from the EU, which was postponed last week, will now take place in the week of 14 January.
She said she was focused on getting MPs' support for her agreement and there were "no plans" for MPs to be given the opportunity to express their views on possible alternatives.
But the BBC understands Mr Cameron has spoken to the prime minister about the matter, and how a series of "indicative votes" on various different Brexit outcomes may be handled if her deal is rejected.
In a rare public comment on the Brexit process last week, Mr Cameron, who campaigned to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum and quit after the public voted to leave, said he supported the prime minister but was "worried" by signs that Parliament was not willing to approve her deal.In a rare public comment on the Brexit process last week, Mr Cameron, who campaigned to remain in the EU in the 2016 referendum and quit after the public voted to leave, said he supported the prime minister but was "worried" by signs that Parliament was not willing to approve her deal.
Last week Mrs May called off a Commons vote on her Brexit deal, admitting it was likely to be heavily rejected.
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.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.But it only comes into force if the UK and European Parliaments approve it.
In a statement later to MPs updating them on Thursday's talks with European leaders, Mrs May will say holding another referendum on Europe, as some have suggested, would "break faith with the British people". In a statement to MPs updating them on Thursday's talks with European leaders, Mrs May said holding another referendum on Europe, as some have suggested, would "break faith with the British people".
When and what will MPs vote on?When and what will MPs vote on?
The prime minister has signalled MPs will now vote on the deal on the table early next year, and no later than 21 January. The prime minister has signalled MPs will vote on the deal during the week of 14 January, after resuming debate the previous week.
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. 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. But the BBC's Norman Smith said it was not clear how they could force a vote any earlier.
Potential "Plan B" options include:Potential "Plan B" options include:
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 and shaping the way forward.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 and shaping the way forward.
The most recent examples of this happening were a series of votes on proposed reforms to the House of Lords in 2003 and 2007 - when all the propositions were rejected.The most recent examples of this happening were a series of votes on proposed reforms to the House of Lords in 2003 and 2007 - when all the propositions were rejected.
What are ministers saying?What are ministers saying?
Business Secretary Greg Clark told the BBC that he backed Mrs May's deal but if Parliament was implacably opposed, it should then be "invited to say what it would agree with".Business Secretary Greg Clark told the BBC that he backed Mrs May's deal but if Parliament was implacably opposed, it should then be "invited to say what it would agree with".
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.
As the referendum debate hots upAs the referendum debate hots up
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.
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," she said."A new public vote would be different from the referendum in 2016 because we now know more about what Brexit means," she said.
"Any effort to force Brexit over the line without checking that it has the continued consent of the British people will only reinforce divisions.""Any effort to force Brexit over the line without checking that it has the continued consent of the British people will only reinforce divisions."
But Mrs May will tell MPs later that another vote "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". But Mrs May told MPs that another vote "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".
She will say: "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." She added: "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."
Where are we with Mrs May's deal?Where are we with Mrs May's deal?
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 PM, who survived a vote of no confidence in her leadership by Conservative MPs last week, told MPs that she had made progress in allaying the concerns of MPs about the controversial "backstop" plan to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, if no trade deal is reached.
The PM, who survived a vote of no confidence in her leadership by Conservative MPs last week, is 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. At last week's summit, she said the EU had been clear that there was "no plot" to trap the UK indefinitely in the backstop.
EU leaders told her the negotiated withdrawal agreement was "not open for renegotiation", although some clarification was possible. The other 27 EU members, she added, were committed to using their best endeavours to begin talks on their future relationship with the UK immediately after the UK's exit and to try to conclude them by the end of 2020.
Mrs May has insisted "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". Talks over obtaining further "political and legal assurances" were continuing, she said, although the EU has suggested that it had provided the necessary clarification and no further meetings were on the agenda.
But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said her deal was now "dead in the water" and the prime minister had "utterly failed in her attempts to deliver any meaningful changes". Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said her deal was now "dead in the water" and the prime minister had "utterly failed in her attempts to deliver any meaningful changes".