Rebel MPs targeted with Westminster's 'dark arts' ahead of crunch Brexit vote

Rebel MPs were targeted with the “dark arts of Westminster” ahead of a crunch vote on whether Parliament gets a “meaningful” say on Brexit, a former minister claimed today.

Just hours before the vote, ex-justice minister Dr Phillip Lee said there were “potentially” enough Tory MPs willing to defy Theresa May to inflict a Commons defeat.

But talks were expected to go to the wire as the Government sought to avoid a blow that threatened to further undermine the Prime Minister’s authority.

MPs were voting on a Lords amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, tabled by Tory peer Viscount Hailsham, that would require the Government to allow MPs to vote on how it would proceed in the absence of a Brexit deal by January 21 next year.

The amendment was passed in the Upper House by a majority of 119 after Tory backbenchers, led by former Attorney General Dominic Grieve accused the Government of reneging on measures they believed had been agreed to see off a rebellion last week.

The Prime Minister has warned against moves to “tie her hands” during negotiations with Brussels, saying Parliament must not be able to “overturn the will of the British people”.

Under Government plans, if MPs reject the agreement reached by Mrs May with Brussels, or if no deal has been obtained by January 21, Parliament will be offered the opportunity to vote on a “neutral motion” which it could not amend. This means MPs could not insert a requirement for Mrs May to go back to the negotiating table, extend the Brexit transition or revoke the UK’s withdrawal under Article 50.

The row has laid bare divisions in both the Conservative and Labour parties, with ministers privately appealing to Labour Brexiteers in a bid to cobble together enough backing to reject the Lords amendment.

With Tory backbenchers coming under pressure not to revolt, Dr Lee told BBC radio early this morning: “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.”

As a doctor, he believes the UK should give its “informed consent” for Brexit, knowing the facts of the deal on offer, so the people may need to be given another say. He denied that voting to ensure Parliament gets a “meaningful vote” would undermine Mrs May’s negotiating position.

Former business minister Anna Soubry defended her stance against a hard Brexit and denied being a “traitor”.