MEPs back May proposal to change Brexit agreement



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MEPs backed the search for "alternative arrangements" to replace Irish support in Theresa May's plan on Brexit.

The proposal – tabled by Conservative MP Sir Graham Brady – had the support of the government and was won by 16 votes.

Theresa May urged MEPs to vote in her favor, to give her the mandate to return to Brussels and reopen negotiations to ensure a "legally binding change".

But the EU said it would not change the legal text agreed with the British prime minister.

MPs voted on a series of amendments to May 's plan to change Brexit' s direction.

Ms. May said that after taking into account the votes and discussing with the EU, her revised agreement would be presented to the House of Commons "as soon as possible" for a second "meaningful vote".

Another amendment, rejecting a Brexit without agreement, also received support from Parliament on Tuesday, but the vote was not binding, which means that the release date remains March 29.

Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said that following the message from MPs who refused any agreement, he would now meet with the Prime Minister to discuss next steps.

Previously, he had refused to meet her unless she herself excluded a Brexit without issue.

Mr Corbyn said: "After months of refusing to remove chaos from the absence of agreement, the prime minister must now face the reality: no agreement is an option."

Five other amendments, including the offer of Labor MP Yvette Cooper to delay the Brexit if Ms. May does not pbad her bargain before Parliament, were rejected.

Conservative MP Nick Boles, who was working with her on the amendment, tweeted a joint statement, saying that they "remain deeply concerned about the lack of protection" to put an end to "non-compliance". agree "and stated that Ms. May's revised plan should" reflect the Commons opposition to disagree ".

Ms. May hopes that the support for the amendment proposed by Sir Graham, which received 301 votes against 311, was seen as an alternative to technical support, allowing it to strengthen its negotiating position with l & # 39; EU.

The controversial element of Ms May's initial plan is the insurance policy aimed at preventing checks on goods and people returning to the northern border of Ireland.

This would effectively keep the UK in the EU customs union, but Northern Ireland would also comply with certain rules of the single market.

This is one of the main reasons why its agreement on Brexit was rejected in Parliament by a historic margin earlier in January, when critics said a different status for Northern Ireland could threaten existence of the United Kingdom and feared that the reinforcement would become permanent.

She told the Commons that there was now a "substantial and lasting" majority of pro-EU backbenchers with an agreement, but renegotiation admitted "will not be easy".

The leader of the Westminster Unionist Democratic Party, Nigel Dodds, said it was "a big night" and his MPs would work with the prime minister "in order to reach the right agreement for the United Kingdom".

Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in Westminster, said the adoption of the amendment had led the government to "tear up the agreement on Good Friday," which is an integral part of the peace process in Ireland. North.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the Commons had given the prime minister "conflicting instructions not to negotiate, but to follow a course of action that would lead to a non-market".

After the result, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said the withdrawal agreement was "not open to renegotiation" and "remains the best and only way to ensure a Orderly withdrawal from the United Kingdom of the European Union ".

But he added that the EU would be ready to review the political declaration – the part of the agreement that constitutes a commitment on future relations between the UK and the EU – and that the 39: EU "would be ready" to consider any "reasoned decision". asks "to extend the date of the March 29 holiday.

The Brexit coordinator for the European Parliament, Guy Verhofstadt, hailed the rejection by the Parliament of a non-agreement, but also said that there was no majority in the country. EU to reopen or dilute the withdrawal agreement.

A statement by the Irish government said the withdrawal agreement was "a carefully negotiated compromise".

And Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz also ruled out further negotiations on the withdrawal agreement.

What happens next?

The premier has invited Conservative MP Caroline Spelman, Labor MP Jack Dromey and others who have tabled amendments to prevent a "no deal" from discussing how to reach an agreement on Brexit .

She also invited Mr. Corbyn to talks and promised the government to "redouble efforts to reach an agreement that could be supported by this House".

The so-called Brady amendment could pave the way for a plan known as the "Malthouse compromise" as an alternative to the backstop.

Designed by both the leavers and the remnants – and led by Conservative Minister Kit Malthouse – the proposal plans to extend the one-year transition period and protect the rights of EU citizens instead to use the security system.

Conservative MP Steve Baker, vice president of the European research group pro-Leave, said he hoped that, by supporting the amendment, MEPs could "progress quickly towards the Malthouse compromise. ".

But Mark François, ERG member, warned that there was no guarantee that the group would support the prime minister, and said he would wait to see what was going on. She would come back from Brussels.

Ms. May's spokesperson said she would "commit" with colleagues proposing the compromise, but that she would also consider other options, including setting a time limit for base station and look for a way out of it.

The revised Prime Minister's agreement will be sent back to the Commons to be voted on.

But if it is rejected again, the government will table an amendable motion – which means that members can move more amendments as they did earlier – to debate the next day.

And if no new agreement is approved by Parliament before February 13, she will make a statement and again will table an editable motion for debate the next day.

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