Prime Minister sets out dates for Brexit votes
26 February 2019 (updated on 26 February 2019)
Addressing the Commons with 30 days until Article 50 expires, Theresa May said "good progress" was being made towards securing a deal that would work for both the EU and UK.
She said that following the EU Summit in Egypt, she had met with the leaders of every EU state to explain the UK's position.
"...as part of these discussions, the UK and EU have agreed to consider a joint workstream to develop alternative arrangements to ensure the absence of a hard border in Northern Ireland."
The Prime Minister also announced the publication of a Government paper on the readiness for no-deal.
- Watch Parliament TV: Prime Minister's statement - Brexit next steps
- Read Commons Hansard: Prime Minister's Statement: Leaving the EU
- Read Parliament News: Brexit next steps, what's happened so far?
Prime Minister, Theresa May made three further commitments to the House:
"First, we will hold a second meaningful vote by Tuesday the 12th March at the latest.
Second, if the Government has not won a meaningful vote by Tuesday the 12th of March, then it will in addition to its obligations, to table a neutral amendable motion under section 13 of the EU Withdrawal Act, table a motion to be voted on by Wednesday the 13th of March at the latest, asking this House if it supports leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement and a framework for a future relationship on the 29th of March. So the United Kingdom will only leave without a deal on the 29th of March if there is explicit consent in the House for that outcome.
Third, if the House having rejected leaving with the deal negotiated with the EU, then rejects leaving on the 29th of March without a withdrawal agreement and future framework, the Government will on the 14th of March bring forward a motion on whether Parliament wants to seek a short, limited extension to Article 50. And if the House votes for an extension, seek to agree that extension approved by the House with the EU and bring forward the necessary legislation to change the exit date commensurate with that extension."
In response to her statement, the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn said,
"We believe in getting the terms of our exit right - that's why we believe in our alternative plan. The Prime Minister's botched deal provides no certainty or guarantees for the future and was comprehensively rejected by this House.
We cannot risk our country's industry and people's livelihoods and so if it somehow does pass in some form at a later stage, we believe there must be a confirmatory public vote to see if people feel that's what they voted for.
A no-deal outcome would be disastrous and that's why we're committed to backing the amendment in the names of my Right Honourable friend the Member for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford and the Right Honourable Member for West Dorset."
- Read Government paper: Implications for business and trade of a no deal exit on 29 March 2019 [External]
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