Brexit vote: MPs vote for Theresa May to renegotiate Irish backstop with EU

Nicky Morgan this morning:

The Prime Minister has been aware of the discussions. At some point there has to be compromise on all sides in order to get a deal over the line. That is what most of us want to see - a negotiated settlement with the EU

People like me want to avoid a no-deal outcome, a crashing out on March 29. We have to look for ways to do that. We are all prepared to compromise on that."

A new Brexit plan, which is reportedly backed by both the Remain and Leave camps of the Conservative party, has also been put forward. 

The plan - dubbed "the Malthouse Compromise" - would lead to Britain leaving the EU "on time and with a functioning government", former Brexit minster Steve Baker said.

The proposal "provides for exit from the EU on time with a new backstop, which would be acceptable indefinitely, but which incentivises us all to reach a new future relationship".

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox said support for Sir Graham Brady's amendment would enable Theresa May to return to Brussels with a "strong mandate" to seek changes to the Northern Ireland backstop.

He said the Prime Minister was prepared, if necessary, to reopen the Withdrawal Agreement in order to secure a legally-binding text, he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

I think we should send the Prime Minister back to Brussels with a strong mandate to be able to say 'If you compromise with us on this one issue, on the the backstop, we would be able to a get an agreement' - an agreement that is almost there.

We have seen the German economy weakening, we have seen the French economy weakening.

I think this view - 'We can simply weather out any disturbance that would occur from a no-deal' - I think there is much less appetite for that. I think we still have time to reach a compromise on that."

Here's the latest from our Deputy Political Editor Rob Merrick, who brings news of a Brexit "plan C" that has emerged after Jacob Rees-Mogg has joined forces with Tory Remainers:   

​

So what are the key amendments being tabled by MPs?

Brake on the backstop

Theresa May threw Government support on Monday behind an amendment that seeks to replace the controversial backstop with "alternative arrangements" to avoid a hard border in Ireland.

Tabled by Sir Graham Brady, the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee, if it passed the Commons its supporters believe it gives Mrs May more firepower to go back to Brussels and ask for more concessions and get a Withdrawal Agreement through Parliament.

Fellow Tories Andrew Murrison and John Baron scrapped very similar amendments to clear a path, but the hardline ERG is refusing to back it.

Grieve amendment

In a bid to prevent a no-deal Brexit, the cross-party backed proposal from Dominic Grieve would effectively wrest control of Commons business from the Government for six individual days in the run-up to the UK's scheduled withdrawal date of 29 March with the intention of getting MPs to reach a consensus on how to handle it.

Taking control

In a similar vein, a move by Labour former minister Yvette Cooper, supported by Tories such as Nick Boles, calls for a vote on a Bill that would give Parliament control over the Brexit process if Theresa May fails to secure a deal by February 26.

MPs would get a vote on extending Article 50 to the end of the year and preventing a no-deal exit under the terms of the Bill. The Labour frontbench has been publicly flirting with throwing its weight behind the amendment.

No to no deal

A cross-party effort headed by Tory Dame Caroline Spelman has widespread support and rejects the UK quitting the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement. This would probably be more palatable to the Government than either the Grieve or Cooper bids for MPs to take back control.

Labour's twin track approach

This calls for MPs to be able to vote on options to stop a no-deal exit, such as a customs union with the EU, as well as the possibility of a new Brexit referendum. Jeremy Corbyn has been careful not to commit Labour to officially back such a poll, though.

Amendments have been tacked on to the Labour push, with the Liberal Democrats calling for Remain to be on the ballot paper in any referendum, and Labour backbenchers urging Parliament to legislate for a public vote.

Indicative votes

Commons Exiting the European Union Committee chairman Hilary Benn wants a series of votes on various Brexit options to see where the most support lies.