Brexit vote: Parliament passes bill to prevent UK crashing out of EU without deal

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MPs have voted in favour of a new law to extend the Brexit process.

The Commons backed a series of Lords amendments to the European Union (Withdrawal) (No 5) Act after it was rushed through both Houses of Parliament.

MPs accepted the final Lords amendment to the Cooper-Letwin bill by 390 votes to 81, with a majority 309.

Labour MP Yvette Cooper’s backbench bill forces the prime minister to seek an extension to Article 50, therefore preventing the UK from crashing out of the EU without a deal.

The bill was amended by peers to state that nothing in it prevented the prime minister from “seeking or agreeing” an extension, provided it was not earlier than 22 May.

Theresa May is already seeking a further Brexit delay to 30 June and EU leaders will discuss this at an emergency summit this week.

The Commons move came as Brexit talks between the government and Labour resumed on Monday.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the talks were serious, but the government was sticking to its red lines.

He said: “The exchanges with the government have been serious, but our shadow cabinet expressed frustration that the prime minister has not yet moved off her red lines so we can reach a compromise. The key issues that we must see real movement on to secure an agreement are a customs union with the EU, alignment with the single market and full dynamic alignment of workers’ rights, environmental protections and consumer standards.

“We are prepared to talk and put forward our view, but talks have to mean a movement and so far there has been no change in those red lines.”

The Conservatives launched a selection process for candidates to stand in European Parliament elections next month.

The government tabled an order enabling the elections to be held in Britain if the country has not left the EU by the time they are due to take place on 23 May.

However the Cabinet Office said the elections would automatically be cancelled if the UK left before then.