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Brexit: MPs face new vote on withdrawal deal Brexit: MPs face new vote on withdrawal deal
(32 minutes later)
Theresa May will attempt to get MPs to back part of her Brexit deal later, on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.Theresa May will attempt to get MPs to back part of her Brexit deal later, on the day the UK was due to leave the EU.
MPs will vote on the withdrawal agreement, setting out the terms of the UK's exit from the EU, at 14.30 GMT. MPs will vote on the withdrawal agreement, covering the terms of the UK's exit from the EU, at 14.30 GMT.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom urged her colleagues to vote for it, saying: "This really is the last chance." Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told MPs the deal must be approved by 2300 GMT if the UK wants to "secure our legal right" to an extension to Brexit.
If it does not, any further delay past 12 April would be "subject to the veto of 27 [EU] leaders", he said.
But Labour will vote against it, saying without the political declaration part of the deal, outlining future UK-EU relations, it is a "blindfold Brexit".But Labour will vote against it, saying without the political declaration part of the deal, outlining future UK-EU relations, it is a "blindfold Brexit".
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it was a "desperate act" by the prime minister.Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said it was a "desperate act" by the prime minister.
"Take the political declaration off and it is completely blind - you have no idea what you are really voting for," he told BBC Radio 4's Today."Take the political declaration off and it is completely blind - you have no idea what you are really voting for," he told BBC Radio 4's Today.
The withdrawal agreement to be voted on by MPs, in a session starting at 09.30 GMT, is a legally-binding document setting out the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. It includes: The withdrawal agreement to be voted on by MPs is a legally-binding document setting out the terms of the UK's departure from the EU. It includes:
What happens if MPs back or reject it?What happens if MPs back or reject it?
With the DUP also planning to vote against it, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said it looked like the PM was heading for another defeat although the result was likely to be far closer this time around.With the DUP also planning to vote against it, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg said it looked like the PM was heading for another defeat although the result was likely to be far closer this time around.
The prime minister has already lost two such votes on the full deal by large margins, and Commons Speaker John Bercow had ruled out bringing the same motion back a third time without "substantial" changes.The prime minister has already lost two such votes on the full deal by large margins, and Commons Speaker John Bercow had ruled out bringing the same motion back a third time without "substantial" changes.
However, the government says a vote on the withdrawal deal alone - the "divorce deal" - will be enough to meet the criteria laid down by EU leaders for the postponement of Brexit from 29 March to 22 May.However, the government says a vote on the withdrawal deal alone - the "divorce deal" - will be enough to meet the criteria laid down by EU leaders for the postponement of Brexit from 29 March to 22 May.
If it passes, Friday's vote will not allow Parliament to ratify the entire withdrawal package, because the law allows this only after the passage of a "meaningful vote" on both parts of the deal.If it passes, Friday's vote will not allow Parliament to ratify the entire withdrawal package, because the law allows this only after the passage of a "meaningful vote" on both parts of the deal.
If it does not pass, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has warned the UK will face leaving the EU without a deal or a longer extension - involving taking part in European Parliament elections.If it does not pass, the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, has warned the UK will face leaving the EU without a deal or a longer extension - involving taking part in European Parliament elections.
In this scenario, ministers will have until 12 April - the date by which the UK would have to indicate whether it would stand candidates in the elections - to "indicate a way forward", with the EU expected to hold an emergency summit to decide if the conditions for a longer delay are met.In this scenario, ministers will have until 12 April - the date by which the UK would have to indicate whether it would stand candidates in the elections - to "indicate a way forward", with the EU expected to hold an emergency summit to decide if the conditions for a longer delay are met.
BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said an extension of about a year was being touted at an EU meeting on Thursday, but only if the UK had a "clear plan" and if it took part in the European elections.BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said an extension of about a year was being touted at an EU meeting on Thursday, but only if the UK had a "clear plan" and if it took part in the European elections.
There are signs now that many Eurosceptic MPs are ready to say "yes" - not because they suddenly have realised Theresa May's deal is perfect, but because more of them officially realise that it is the clearest break from the EU they can realistically hope for.There are signs now that many Eurosceptic MPs are ready to say "yes" - not because they suddenly have realised Theresa May's deal is perfect, but because more of them officially realise that it is the clearest break from the EU they can realistically hope for.
Yet her Northern Irish allies are not persuaded. Labour, even though they have sometimes accepted that what's on the table - the divorce deal - will never be unpicked by the EU, will still, in the main, resist.Yet her Northern Irish allies are not persuaded. Labour, even though they have sometimes accepted that what's on the table - the divorce deal - will never be unpicked by the EU, will still, in the main, resist.
As things stand, even though some influential Brexiteers believe there is a chance it will get through, it looks like the prime minister is heading for another loss.As things stand, even though some influential Brexiteers believe there is a chance it will get through, it looks like the prime minister is heading for another loss.
But for Number 10, it is another way of extending the road before it finally runs out.But for Number 10, it is another way of extending the road before it finally runs out.
Mrs Leadsom said approving it would ensure the UK leaves the EU "in an orderly way that gives businesses and people the certainty that they need". What do voters make of Brexit now?
"We don't want to be in the situation of asking for another extension and facing the potential requirement of participating in European Parliament elections," she said.
If the government wins the vote, it will either have to pass the political declaration on the future relationship at a later date, or change the law so that it is not needed to ratify the treaty.If the government wins the vote, it will either have to pass the political declaration on the future relationship at a later date, or change the law so that it is not needed to ratify the treaty.
The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said she expected ministers to bring forward the Withdrawal and Implementation Bill as early as next week to begin this process.The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said she expected ministers to bring forward the Withdrawal and Implementation Bill as early as next week to begin this process.
Will Tory MPs back the PM?Will Tory MPs back the PM?
Earlier this week, Mrs May told Conservative MPs this week that she would not lead the talks with Brussels over the future relationship between the UK and EU and would resign as party leader after 22 May if her deal was passed, but stay on as PM until a new leader is elected.Earlier this week, Mrs May told Conservative MPs this week that she would not lead the talks with Brussels over the future relationship between the UK and EU and would resign as party leader after 22 May if her deal was passed, but stay on as PM until a new leader is elected.
While she has persuaded some Brexiteers to back her deal, she would need to win over 75 rebels to overturn the 149-vote rejection of her deal when it was last voted on, on 13 March.While she has persuaded some Brexiteers to back her deal, she would need to win over 75 rebels to overturn the 149-vote rejection of her deal when it was last voted on, on 13 March.
Former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith said he would reluctantly back the deal although he recognised there were "some fundamental flaws with this process".Former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith said he would reluctantly back the deal although he recognised there were "some fundamental flaws with this process".
He added: "I think it's time for us to take a decision, which is we want to leave, we want to be able to say to our constituents 'we have left, there is more that has to be done'."He added: "I think it's time for us to take a decision, which is we want to leave, we want to be able to say to our constituents 'we have left, there is more that has to be done'."
But former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said he would not vote for Mrs May's withdrawal agreement.But former Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said he would not vote for Mrs May's withdrawal agreement.
When asked by reporters if he felt guilty the UK is not leaving the EU on the original date, he said: "I don't feel guilty at all. I think I've voted quite correctly throughout."When asked by reporters if he felt guilty the UK is not leaving the EU on the original date, he said: "I don't feel guilty at all. I think I've voted quite correctly throughout."
Labour said the prime minister's promise to resign meant the UK's future relations would be dictated by the outcome of a Conservative leadership contest.Labour said the prime minister's promise to resign meant the UK's future relations would be dictated by the outcome of a Conservative leadership contest.
"Even if the prime minister gave assurances about what she is going to do in the future, they don't mean anything anymore," Sir Keir Starmer told Today."Even if the prime minister gave assurances about what she is going to do in the future, they don't mean anything anymore," Sir Keir Starmer told Today.
"We have accepted there is a need for a withdrawal agreement, but we never accepted we could ever vote for an exit document without knowing where we are headed.""We have accepted there is a need for a withdrawal agreement, but we never accepted we could ever vote for an exit document without knowing where we are headed."