Commons rejects all four Brexit amendments
- MPs to vote on four Brexit options in indicative vote process
- Voting is expected to begin at 8pm
- Motion C: Customs union was defeated 276-273
- Motion D: Common market 2.0 was defeated 282-261
- Motion E: Confirmatory public vote was defeated 292-280
- Motion E: Confirmatory public vote 2was defeated 292-191
The British Parliament rejected all four Brexit amendments.
Motion C, which would have kept the UK in the customs union, giving them a similar relationship with the EU than Turkey, was only beaten by three votes, 276-273
However, the confirmatory public vote, which would mean any decisoin from Parliament would have to be ratified by the public, got the most votes, 280 but lost by 12.
The votes went as follows:
Yes 273
No 276
Yes 261
No 282
Yes 280
No 292
Yes 191
No 292
Nick Boles, a former minister, was applauded by some MPs after he quit the Conservative Party after his Brexit alternative plan was defeated for a second time.
Raising a point of order, he told the Commons: “I have given everything to an attempt to find a compromise that can take this country out of the European Union while maintaining our economic strength and our political cohesion.
“I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party refuses to compromise.
“I regret therefore to announce I can no longer sit for this party.”
Earlier: Labour MP says party must try to break deadlock; DUP won't back any amendment
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer advised MPs, particularly Labour colleagues, to consider “supporting options other than their own preferred option in order to break the deadlock”.
He added of Labour’s position: “We will whip support for: amendment C, which is the customs union as a minimum in the name of (Mr Clarke); amendment D, Common Market 2.0 in the name of (Mr Boles); and amendment E on the confirmation public vote in the name of (Mr Kyle).”
Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay was earlier asked if he was among the 170 Tory MPs who signed a letter to Theresa May which seeks to retain no-deal as an option.
He replied: “I have not signed any letter of the sort to which he refers. I have the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister most days and if I have a point to raise with her obviously I would do so.”
Mr Barclay noted a Withdrawal Agreement is required as part of the plans outlined in the customs union, common market and second referendum motions.
During the debate Sammy Wilson, DUP Brexit spokesman, said the DUP will not be voting for any of the amendments tonight.
He said they did not safeguard the union and would not deliver Brexit, as the public's approval of how the British government is handling the negotiations fell to an all-time low
Earlier: Climate change activists strip in Commons as MPs debate Brexit votes
Police have arrested 12 people on suspicion of outraging public decency after climate change activists stripped off to stage a protest in the House of Commons while MPs debated Brexit.
Some of the activists dressed only in underwear used superglue in an attempt to stick themselves to the glass which separates the gallery from the chamber.
MPs were seen taking a glance up at the protest and Speaker John Bercow maintained that the debate on the second stage of the Brexit alternatives would proceed despite the protest.
Scotland Yard said officers were sent in an attempt to “negotiate” with the activists, before adding: “12 arrests have been made for outraging public decency.”
Some of us did try to warn that no good would come of the Speaker allowing people into the House of Commons chamber without a neck tie ...
— Lord Walney (@LordWalney) April 1, 2019
Extinction Rebellion, which describes itself as a non-violent direct action and civil disobedience group, said the protest was an attempt to draw politicians’ attentions to the “climate and ecological crisis”.
British MPS to vote on four alternative Brexit options
British MPs will this evening vote on four Brexit options in the second round of the indicative vote process.
None of the eight alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan considered last week won a majority.
But four of the ideas considered then will be considered again by MPs after Speaker John Bercow made his selection of motions to be put to the vote.
The Speaker has selected the following #Brexit options for #IndicativeVotes this evening:
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) April 1, 2019
(C) Kenneth Clarke - Customs Union
(D) @NickBoles - Common Market 2.0
(E) @peterkyle - Confirmatory public vote
(G) @joannaccherry - Parliamentary Supremacy pic.twitter.com/qMAMF0DRLt
