By Ben Kerrigan-
Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox officially opened the last debate leading to the vote deciding whether Theresa May’s Brexit deal will be accepted or voted down, as Jon Bercow accepted a few amendments to the terms of the vote.
John Bercow-The House Of Commons Speaker- selected which amendments to Mrs May’s Brexit deal to put to MPs to vote on this evening. Four other amendments thrown into the hat for voting includes: One by Jeremy Corbyn, calling for a permanent EU-UK customs union and a “strong single market deal”.One by the Scottish National party’s Ian Blackford, calling for an extension to Article 50 in order to organise a second referendum and/or negotiate membership of the single market and customs union.
Another by Edward Leigh, a Conservative Brexiter, calling for the UK to leave the Irish backstop on January 1 2022. Finally, one by John Baron, a Conservative Brexiter, which calls for the UK to have the unilateral right to terminate the Irish backstop.
Among the amendments includes one from a Labour frontbench, rejecting leaving the EU without a deal . Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable that calls for a public vote as one of the ways to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Conservative MP Andrew Murrison has separately called for a time limit on the Northern Irish backstop, while a group led by the Scottish National party’s Ian Blackford is calling for the UK’s departure from the EU to be delayed until an alternative withdrawal is agreed.
Cox pledged support to Ms May’s withdrawal agreement, stating he had listened “to the House’s views” and would be accommodating to the “very strong views” in parliament.
Cox said he was viewing the withdrawal agreement as a “necessary means to secure orderly departure and unlock our future outside the European Union”. He called for MPs to fall behind the deal, or risk chaos. Cox said the compromise Brexit deal was “the best way to deliver the will of the British people”Speaking on behalf of the prime minister about the anticipated defeat today, he made it clear the prime minister would not quit, even in the event of rejection of the government’s flagship policy by Mps.
Cox presented the passing of this deal as the first step towards leaving the EU. If the Commons did not take this step, it would plunge the country into uncertainty, he said. He said the deal was the only path to Brexit, insisting that voting the deal down coukld be tantamount to stopping Brexit
”And people who want to stop Brexit want MPs to vote down this deal, because they know this deal is the only path to Brexit. Vote it down, and Brexit could be stopped, he said.
DETERMINED
Cox earlier said that the prime minister is determined that she is going to deliver on the will of the British people by taking the country out of the EU.” The prime minister alsp told cabinet members that she would “respond quickly to the result” and make a statement on her next steps following the outcome of the vote on the deal. The voting is expected to take place around 7pm, with the main vote expected around 8.15pm.