Government whips engaging 'dark arts' to force through Brexit Bill, claims former minister Phillip Lee

Government whips have engaged in "dark arts" to try to push controversial Brexit legislation through Parliament, a Tory minister who quit over Britain leaving the European Union has said.

Phillip Lee, who resigned as a Justice minister  week ago to vote against the Government, said talks were still ongoing to find a compromise ahead of the Commons showdown on the so-called "meaningful vote" amendment.

Asked how united the rebels were, he told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We were always going to get the normal dark arts of Westminster taking place, fully expected, but my understanding is that the position taken by a number of colleagues is solid, which is why the Government is still in negotiations."

Government ministers reportedly have appealed to Labour anti-EU MPs in a bid to see off the rebellion among their own MPs at today’s crunch House of Commons vote.

Dominic Grieve MP, a former Attorney General who has been dubbed by his critics as the “Remainer in Chief”, today tabled another amendment to stop the Government forcing MPs to vote just one on several Lords amendments - including the meaningful vote.

Government whips had attempted to group a series of amendments covering the environment with the key Meaningful Vote decision to make it harder for Tory MPs to rebel.

The Prime Minister has said she “cannot accept” a Lords amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill that would enable MPs to direct negotiations with the European Union if they do not accept the final Brexit deal.

But, in a 470 word letter emailed to over 300 Tory MPs hours before today's vote, Mr Grieve said EU rebels had been promised “an amendable motion” on a meaningful vote in meetings last week with the Prime Minister

He said that “one of the motions could lead to a resolution dictating to the Government what to do.

“Before tabling however, the draft was changed by the Government to make the motion non-amendable and therefore of much less value.”

He added: “To date we have received no cogent explanation as to why the Government has changed its mind on this and why it is trying to alter what the Lords have sent us.

“It has been suggested that it is necessary to do this to avoid the wording of any motion being capable of being challenged in court, but I have seen no lawyer suggesting that this is a significant risk.  The Government’s amendment carries the same risk as well.”

Talks on agreeing a compromise with Government will continue this morning ahead of a key vote by MPs on the House of Lords meaningful vote amendment this afternoon.

Last week the Government defeated a similar Lords amendment by just 26 votes, meaning that if just 14 MPs switch sides Mrs May will suffer her most damaging defeat to date on Brexit.

There is speculation that the Government will have to rely on votes from Eurosceptic Labour MPs to win the day.

Mr Grieve continued: “Over the last week I have discussed with the Government several possible alternatives to try to ensure that the matter can be resolved to the satisfaction of all Conservative colleagues.

“That discussion will continue this morning and I hope will be successful. In the absence of any satisfactory alternative, some of us will support the retention of the Lords amendment in its current form.

“It is important, as Brexit takes place, that we should recognise the legitimate concerns of many people that there should be a mechanism in place by which Parliament can exercise its right to influence decisions in the event of No Deal.” The Lords amendment does this much better than the alternative.”

The news camer as Tory MP Phillip Lee said Brexit rebels could still potentially help defeat the Government despite the "dark arts" of the whips to avert a revolt.

Dr Lee, who resigned as a minister in order to be able to vote against the Government, said talks were still ongoing to find a compromise ahead of the Commons showdown on the so-called "meaningful vote" amendment.

Asked how united the rebels were, he told BBC Radio 4's Today: "We were always going to get the normal dark arts of Westminster taking place, fully expected, but my understanding is that the position taken by a number of colleagues is solid, which is why the Government is still in negotiations."