Cancel Christmas for MPs unless we get Brexit vote first, MP demands

A leading Liberal Democrat has called for Parliament’s Christmas break to be cancelled unless MPs get a vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal before they take time off.

Tom Brake, MP and spokesperson for the Lib Dems, wrote to the leader of the House to issues his demand.

“At a time of so much uncertainty caused by this Brexit mess, it is an insult to the British people that Theresa May is happy for MPs to go on holiday without voting on the biggest issue in generations,” he wrote.

“People deserve better and the Liberal Democrats demand better.”

The majority of Lib Dems have been highly critical of Mrs May’s deal, as the party supports a people’s vote on any plans and also backs remaining in the EU all together.

The letter continued: “Liberal Democrats do not believe Parliament should rise for the Christmas recess until Theresa May does what the people expect and give MPs a vote on her deal. Now more than ever MPs should be working to help their constituents, not least by giving them a final say on Brexit with the option to remain in the EU.”

The MP, for Carshalton and Wallington, shared the letter on Twitter and said: “Lib Dems are demanding that MPs [sic] holidays are cancelled so that we can vote on Brexit.”

However, despite the call, there appears to be no sign of the break being cancelled.

The leader of the House, Conservative MP Andrea Leadsom, previously said the Christmas recess had been decided upon and was set.

It is planned to be from December 20 to January 7.

A Downing Street spokeswoman also confirmed MPs will not be asked to vote on Mrs May's Brexit deal before the end of this year, Downing Street has said.

A Number 10 spokeswoman told reporters: "The 'meaningful vote' will not be brought to Parliament before Christmas."

The spokeswoman said the vote will come "as soon as possible in January" and the Government has committed to holding it before January 21.

MPs were meant to vote for the deal on December 11, but Theresa May postponed this and admitted she knew she would have been defeated.

She has since visited Brussels to try and get “reassurances” on issues surrounding the Irish backstop which have posed problems for some politicians.