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Brexit: Theresa May will ask the EU to reopen Brexit deal Brexit: MPs voting on changes to May's plan
(35 minutes later)
Theresa May has told MPs she will seek to re-open negotiations with the EU over the Northern Ireland backstop. MPs are voting on proposals to change the direction of Brexit.
The PM said she would go back to Brussels to get a "significant and legally binding change" to the controversial proposal, which aims to stop the return of border checks. A number of amendments have been put forward by MPs after Theresa May's original deal was voted down by Parliament earlier in January.
Among them are plans to delay Brexit to prevent a no deal, and a call for the Irish backstop to be replaced by "alternative arrangements".
Mrs May said she wants to re-open negotiations in Brussels with an "emphatic message" of what MPs want.
The first amendment - tabled by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - calling for a "disastrous No Deal" scenario to be ruled out, and the second amendment - tabled by the SNP's Westminster leader Ian Blackford - calling for an extension of Article 50, to rule out a no deal and to emphasise the role of the UK nations in the Brexit process, were both voted down by the House.
The third amendment - tabled by Tory backbencher and Remain supporter Dominic Grieve - is now being voted on.
It would force the government to make time for MPs to discuss a range of alternatives to the PM's Brexit plan on six full days in the Commons before 26 March.
There are four more amendments to be tabled that could be voted on - including one, from Tory MP Sir Graham Brady, calling for an "alternative" to the Irish backstop, which Tory MPs have been ordered to back.
The PM said she would go back to Brussels to get a "significant and legally binding change" to the Irish backstop, which aims to stop the return of border checks.
The EU has said it will not change the legal text agreed with the UK PM.The EU has said it will not change the legal text agreed with the UK PM.
Mrs May said she knew there was a "limited appetite" in the EU, but she believed she could "secure" it. Mrs May said she knew there was a "limited appetite" in the EU for changes to the deal, but she believed she could "secure" it.
She is expected to have phone calls with key EU leaders throughout the day ahead of a series of Commons votes over the future direction of Brexit, and has already spoken to the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar. She had phone calls with key EU leaders throughout the day ahead of the Commons votes and has already spoken to the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and the Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar.
Mrs May said the vote later would be a chance to "send a clear message" to EU on the backstop.
But the EU was "standing tough" on its position of no renegotiation and they were "mesmerised" with what was happening in Parliament, BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said.But the EU was "standing tough" on its position of no renegotiation and they were "mesmerised" with what was happening in Parliament, BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said.
Senior Brexiteer rebels - who voted down the PM's deal last month - have indicated they would be willing to back the rest of the UK-EU Brexit deal if she gets legal changes to the backstop.Senior Brexiteer rebels - who voted down the PM's deal last month - have indicated they would be willing to back the rest of the UK-EU Brexit deal if she gets legal changes to the backstop.
The backstop is the insurance policy in Mrs May's plan to prevent checks on goods and people returning to the Northern Ireland border, which some MPs fear could leave the UK tied to the EU's rules indefinitely.The backstop is the insurance policy in Mrs May's plan to prevent checks on goods and people returning to the Northern Ireland border, which some MPs fear could leave the UK tied to the EU's rules indefinitely.
But some MPs from the PM's own backbenches, who backed Remain in the referendum, will support rival proposals to try and rule out the UK leaving the EU without a deal.But some MPs from the PM's own backbenches, who backed Remain in the referendum, will support rival proposals to try and rule out the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May herself was the "obstacle to a solution" and that, whatever happened in the votes later, it had "now become inevitable" that the government would have to extend Article 50 - the mechanism which means the UK leaves the EU on 29 March.Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said Mrs May herself was the "obstacle to a solution" and that, whatever happened in the votes later, it had "now become inevitable" that the government would have to extend Article 50 - the mechanism which means the UK leaves the EU on 29 March.
'Emphatic message' If MPs back Sir Graham's amendment, it could pave the way for a plan known as the "Malthouse Compromise".
MPs put forward a string of amendments to modify the prime minister's Brexit plan after it was voted down by an historic margin on 15 January.
Speaker of the House, John Bercow, has named seven amendments to be debated and voted on, including one from senior Tory MP Sir Graham Brady calling on "alternative arrangements" to the backstop, and one from Labour MP Yvette Cooper, which could delay the exit date by up to nine months.
Opening the debate, Mrs May said: "This House has left no-one in any doubt about what it does not want. Today we need to send an emphatic message about what we do want."
A series of votes on the amendments is expected from 19:00 GMT.
Conservative MPs have been instructed by the government to vote for Sir Graham's amendment, which could pave the way for a plan known as the "Malthouse Compromise".
Engineered by both Leavers and Remainers, the proposal includes extending the transition period for a year and protecting EU citizens' rights, instead of using the backstop.Engineered by both Leavers and Remainers, the proposal includes extending the transition period for a year and protecting EU citizens' rights, instead of using the backstop.
The prime minister's spokesman said Mrs May would "engage" with her colleagues to discuss the plan, but she would also be looking at a possible time limit or a unilateral exit clause to the backstop as other "alternatives".
But he said the first step was the votes on the amendments in the Commons.
Mrs May appealed for the backing of the "Brady" amendment, saying it would "give the mandate I need to negotiate with Brussels an arrangement that commands a majority in this House - not a further exchange of letters, but a significant and legally binding change to the withdrawal agreement".Mrs May appealed for the backing of the "Brady" amendment, saying it would "give the mandate I need to negotiate with Brussels an arrangement that commands a majority in this House - not a further exchange of letters, but a significant and legally binding change to the withdrawal agreement".
She added: "The time has come for words to be matched by deeds. If you want to tell Brussels what this House will accept, you have to vote for it. If you want to leave with a deal, you have to vote for it. If you want Brexit, you have to vote for Brexit."
Nigel Dodds, the Westminster leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - whose MPs Mrs May's government relies on to win key votes - welcomed the announcement, saying: "From day one... we rejected the backstop and argued for legally binding change within the withdrawal agreement. The decision to seek the reopening of the text is a sensible step forward by the prime minister."Nigel Dodds, the Westminster leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) - whose MPs Mrs May's government relies on to win key votes - welcomed the announcement, saying: "From day one... we rejected the backstop and argued for legally binding change within the withdrawal agreement. The decision to seek the reopening of the text is a sensible step forward by the prime minister."
And the pro-Leave European Research Group, led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, has said it will vote in favour of Sir Graham's amendment.
Its deputy chairman, Steve Baker, said the decision had been based on the PM's "promises", especially re-opening negotiations with the EU, but warned: "A vote for the Brady amendment is a vote to see if the PM can land a deal that will work. If not then we are not committed."
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Mrs May's decision to vote against her own deal by backing the Brady amendment was pointless because the EU has not agreed to legally binding changes to the Irish backstop.Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Mrs May's decision to vote against her own deal by backing the Brady amendment was pointless because the EU has not agreed to legally binding changes to the Irish backstop.
He said told MPs she was trying to "create a temporary sense of unity on her own benches but in reality she is raising expectations that she can never fulfil".He said told MPs she was trying to "create a temporary sense of unity on her own benches but in reality she is raising expectations that she can never fulfil".
But Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay said the amendment from Sir Graham would "help us unlock the conversation with the European Union and get us even closer to delivering the result of the referendum."
The Labour Party and a number of Remain-backing MPs are supporting Ms Cooper's amendment that would create a bill enabling Article 50 to be delayed by up to nine months if the government does not have a plan agreed in Parliament by the end of February.The Labour Party and a number of Remain-backing MPs are supporting Ms Cooper's amendment that would create a bill enabling Article 50 to be delayed by up to nine months if the government does not have a plan agreed in Parliament by the end of February.
Labour said it was supporting the amendment because the bill it would create could "give MPs a temporary window to agree a deal that can bring the country together".Labour said it was supporting the amendment because the bill it would create could "give MPs a temporary window to agree a deal that can bring the country together".
However, Mr Corbyn, told the Commons they wanted a shorter window of three months to allow time for a deal to be finalised.However, Mr Corbyn, told the Commons they wanted a shorter window of three months to allow time for a deal to be finalised.
"The Labour Party will back the amendment tonight because to crash out without a deal would be deeply damaging for industry and economy," he said.
He added: "It's quite clear to me that the first duty [MPs] have is to block a disastrous no deal and I hope amendments to that effect will indeed be carried by the House later."
Ms Cooper told MPs she did want to "mandate nine months" and the length of any extension would be debated during the passage of the bill that would follow if MPs voted for her amendment.
Former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab described the Cooper amendment as a "ruse reverse or frustrate Brexit".
Some members of Mrs May's cabinet, including Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, had called for a free vote on Tuesday's amendments to allow them to back Ms Cooper's proposal, but the government is whipping against it.
Mrs May is said to have tried to reassure her cabinet this will not be their last chance to vote on the next steps of Brexit, promising to return to the Commons "as soon as possible" with a revised deal and offering a second "meaningful vote" on her proposals.
If no new deal is reached by 13 February, the PM will make a statement to Parliament that day and table an amendable motion for debate the following day, re-opening discussions on how to move forward with Brexit.If no new deal is reached by 13 February, the PM will make a statement to Parliament that day and table an amendable motion for debate the following day, re-opening discussions on how to move forward with Brexit.
But this has not reassured all of her party, with senior Tories including Ken Clarke and Oliver Letwin pledging to support the Cooper amendment in the vote later.But this has not reassured all of her party, with senior Tories including Ken Clarke and Oliver Letwin pledging to support the Cooper amendment in the vote later.
EU 'unlikely to entertain changes'EU 'unlikely to entertain changes'
By Katya Adler, Europe editorBy Katya Adler, Europe editor
The excitable interventions we're witnessing in Parliament will convince EU leaders even more deeply that MPs are still very divided over Brexit and that now is not the decisive moment for Brussels to budge.The excitable interventions we're witnessing in Parliament will convince EU leaders even more deeply that MPs are still very divided over Brexit and that now is not the decisive moment for Brussels to budge.
The EU wants to avoid an endless process of Theresa May shuttling to and from Brussels, getting a tweak or two, returning to Parliament, having the deal still rejected, coming back to Brussels and so on.The EU wants to avoid an endless process of Theresa May shuttling to and from Brussels, getting a tweak or two, returning to Parliament, having the deal still rejected, coming back to Brussels and so on.
It's right to think the EU sometimes insists one thing, then does something rather different.It's right to think the EU sometimes insists one thing, then does something rather different.
But the Irish backstop is a hugely sensitive issue, painfully co-negotiated over months with UK negotiators and almost impossible to fudge (as the EU prefers to do in difficult situations).But the Irish backstop is a hugely sensitive issue, painfully co-negotiated over months with UK negotiators and almost impossible to fudge (as the EU prefers to do in difficult situations).
EU leaders are unlikely to touch the conditions of the backstop until a no-deal Brexit is well and truly staring them in the face. And even then they are unlikely to entertain changes unless Dublin is on board.EU leaders are unlikely to touch the conditions of the backstop until a no-deal Brexit is well and truly staring them in the face. And even then they are unlikely to entertain changes unless Dublin is on board.
We're nowhere near there yet, if we ever get there.We're nowhere near there yet, if we ever get there.
The Malthouse Compromise - named after Kit Malthouse, the Tory MP who co-ordinated talks - was drawn up by former Remainers, including ex-Education Secretary Nicky Morgan and government ministers Stephen Hammond and Rob Buckland, and Brexiteers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker.
According to a leaked document, the proposal drawn up by the rival factions would extend the transition period - during which the UK would continue to follow EU rules and pay into its budget - from the end of 2020 to December 2021, to allow more time to reach a free trade deal.
EU citizens rights would be guaranteed during this time, there would be no customs checks on the Irish border and the UK would pay the £39bn so-called "divorce deal".
The DUP also endorsed the "Malthouse" proposals, with its leader Arlene Foster saying it could "unify a number of strands in the Brexit debate" and was a "feasible alternative to the backstop proposed by the European Union".
Senior EU representatives have repeatedly ruled out reopening negotiations with the UK over Brexit, and have insisted the backstop must be included in any deal.
The deputy prime minister of Ireland, Simon Coveney, has said the backstop must remain part of any Brexit deal.
After Mrs May's announcement, he told the Irish Parliament, the EU was "fully behind Ireland," adding: "The backstop was designed around British red lines, it was designed with Britain, not an offer given to Britain."