British MPs have rebelled against the UK Prime Minister in a key Brexit vote in the House of Commons this evening.
Politicians voted against a Government amendment noting that the House “reiterates its support” for the Brexit strategy MPs backed in a vote at the end of last month.
The amendment had caused controversy as the House actually backed two separate motions on the strategy on January 29th.
One of the amendments asked Mrs May to return to Brussels and seek “alternative arrangements” to the Irish backstop – while the other aimed to take a ‘no deal’ scenario off the table.
Ahead of the vote, Tory Brexiteers warned that backing the Government’s amendment could see them unintentionally ruling out no deal.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it marks another embarrassing defeat for Theresa May.
“The Government cannot keep on ignoring Parliament or ploughing on towards the 29th of March without a coherent plan,” he said.
“She cannot keep on just running down the clock.”
"Incredible"
The EU has consistently warned that the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement - including the Irish backstop - is not open for re-negotiation; however, officials have said the political declaration, which complements the agreement, could be amended.
This afternoon, the Tánaiste Simon Coveney said it is "incredible" that the UK Government has allowed the Brexit process to come to this - with just 44 days left until the UK leaves the EU.
He told an Oireachtas committee that it is up to London to come forward with a solution that can break the deadlock.
“Britain is a great country,” he said. “But we’ve got to call it as it is and it is incredible, in my view, that the British Parliament has allowed it come to this.”
“But that being said I still believe that there is a way to get through this process and to have a managed, controlled and predictable Brexit.”
"Kindergarten"
He said the impasse would already be over if people stopped trying to compromise with hardliners on both sides.
Labelling some of the arguments that have been put forward in London, "kindergarten stuff," he said a compromise deal can be found with a change of approach.
“It is there, if people would just take it rather than trying to look for more all the time,” he said.
“If people – instead of trying to compromise with hardliners on both sides – if middle-ground sensible thinking took control of this process, I think we would find a solution a lot quicker.”
This afternoon, the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee noted that the backstop was born out of proposals made by the UK during the negotiations and must be "based on legal certainty, not just wishful thinking."
