Yahoo News The eight alternative Brexit options MPs will be voting on in full
MPs will be asked to consider a range of eight alternative Brexit options after Parliament seized control of the Commons agenda to force a series of “indicative votes”.
The votes are set to take place on Wednesday evening after speaker John Bercow selected eight of 16 proposals set forward.
MPs have been told they can vote “Yes” or “No” – or abstain – to each of the options put before them on a paper ballot, rather than the traditional Commons voting system.
But Mr Bercow threw a hand grenade into the Brexit process earlier this month by telling the prime minister he would not allow a third meaningful vote on her deal because MPs should not be asked the same question twice.
And after Downing Street suggested the prime minister could bring the deal back for a third meaningful vote on Thursday or Friday, Bercow reiterated his “test” in the Commons.
He also warned May that she could not get around his ruling by trying to pass a paving motion to ask MPs if they want ‘MV3’, or using any other parliamentary tactics.
The Speaker said: “I do expect the government to meet the test of change.
“They should not seek to circumvent my ruling by means of tabling either a notwithstanding motion or a paving motion.
“The table office has been instructed that no such motions will be accepted.”
Here are the eight proposals in full.
– No deal
Backed by Conservative MPs John Baron, David Amess, Martin Vickers and Stephen Metcalfe, the motion proposes leaving the European Union without a deal on April 12.
-Common market 2.0
Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy and Labour’s Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell and Diana Johnson.
The motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area. It allows continued participation in the single market and a “comprehensive customs arrangement” with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.
-EEA/EFTA without customs union
A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice – who quit as agriculture minister this month to fight for Brexit – proposes remaining within the EEA and rejoining EFTA, but remaining outside a customs union with the EU.
The motion was also signed by Conservative MPs including former minister Nicky Morgan and head of the Brexit Delivery Group Simon Hart.
-Customs union
Requires a commitment to negotiate a “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU” in any Brexit deal.
Tabled by veteran Conservative Europhile Ken Clarke, backed by Labour’s Yvette Cooper, Helen Goodman and chair of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn and Tory former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Sarah Newton.
-Labour’s plan
Labour has tabled a motion again proposing its plan for a close economic relationship with the EU.
The plan includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant.
-Revoke Article 50
Under this plan, if the Government has not passed its Withdrawal Agreement, it would have to stage a vote on a no-deal Brexit two sitting days before the scheduled date of departure.
If MPs refuse to authorise no-deal, the Prime Minister would be required to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50.
The motion, tabled by the SNP’s Joanna Cherry, has been signed by 38 MPs including Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Labour’s Ben Bradshaw and all 11 members of The Independent Group.
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-Confirmatory public vote
Drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett with the backing of scores of MPs across the House, this motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.
-Contingent preferential arrangements
A group of Conservative MPs, including Marcus Fysh, Steve Baker and Priti Patel, have signed a motion that calls for the Government to seek to agree preferential trade arrangements with the EU, in case the UK is unable to implement a Withdrawal Agreement with the bloc.
