MPs have again rejected all alternative Brexit proposals on offer in a series of votes this evening. While the votes have no legislative force, they would have expressed the political will of the Commons. And yet again – with Tory MP Oliver Letwin taking control of the timetable and bossing things like a Prime Minister – the will of the House is, simply put, “no to everything.”
Ken Clarke MP’s customs union-style Brexit came very close to a majority however, ultimately being defeated by just 3 votes (273-276). Conservative MP Nick Boles’ proposal for Common Market 2.0 (Norway+) was defeated 261-282; the proposal for a confirmatory referendum on May’s deal was defeated 280-292; and a proposal to revoke Article 50 in the absence of any other deal suffered the biggest defeat of 191-292 votes. None of the options received more votes than May’s third attempt at getting her Withdrawal Agreement through last Friday – but it is worth noting that in this round of indicative votes the cabinet abstained on all options.
Brexit secretary Steve Barclay, in a point of order immediately after the results were announced, reminded MPs that the default position is leaving the EU on 12th April.
After the statements from Barclay and then Corbyn, Nick Boles (proponent of Common Market 2.0) resigned from the Tory party.
“I accept I have failed. I have failed chiefly because my party has failed to compromise… I regret that I can no longer sit for this party,” he told the chamber before walking out. It was a dramatic moment – and one that displayed more decisiveness than the House has throughout the entire Brexit process as of late.
Remarkably, or not, the four proposals selected by Speaker John Bercow were all put forward by remain-leaning MPs, and all would entail free movement. This move by Bercow won’t have done anything to assuage the criticisms of Remain-bias leveraged at him.
The choices put to MPs tonight, then, amounted to asking them whether they back a soft Brexit, a lengthy extension which will more than likely lead to a soft Brexit, or no Brexit at all.
Last week in the indicative votes MPs failed to express a majority for any of the alternative proposals too. At the same time they also said no to revoking Article 50. So, it appeared the Commons didn’t want any kind of Brexit, while also ruling out the prospect of having no Brexit. These results were a fitting tableau for the generalised mayhem and opacity of the entire charade.
And after today, things are hardly any clearer.
The lay of the land is something like this: MPs are faced with a decision between May’s Brexit or a long extension. No deal, while not an impossibility, is becoming increasingly less likely if – if – the EU doesn’t force the UK to leave without a deal. The Commons has expressed its aversion to a no deal Brexit more than once now. May could bring her Withdrawal Agreement back again – but the parliamentary arithmetic appears to be even less in her favour than it was when her deal failed on Friday.
While Barclay was keen to remind the chamber that the UK’s legal default is leaving the EU on 12th April, a lengthy extension and a resignation from Theresa May looks the most likely. If the EU agrees.
