Brexit: Commons vote must be "unequivocal", says Raab

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British Parliament / Mark Duffy

The decision on the approval or rejection by the deputies of any agreement on Brexit must be "unequivocal", said the ministers.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said the result of the "meaningful vote" to be held in Parliament must be "clear to the British public".

In a letter to MPs, he suggests that they will have to choose between any agreement on the table and no agreement – and no other options will be proposed.

Chancellor John McDonnell said that it was an attempt to "fix the vote".

And pro-European Conservative MPs have also reacted with dismay, former Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, saying that this "seems like an attempt by the executive to frustrate our sovereign Parliament", while Anna Soury urged the deputies "to resist this outrage".

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Former Chancellor Kenneth Clarke told the BBC Newsnight that it was a "silly tactic" and that Parliament "would insist that he use his authority" in order to maintain various options open.

The political editor of the BBC, Laura Kuenssberg, said that it was "a big queue waiting to come".

No source no. 10, she said, insisted that the House of Commons motion on any final agreement on Brexit be amendable, but "what is not clear, it is if the amendments will be put to the vote before the vote on the agreement ".

Brexit opponents have long warned against a "take it or leave it" situation, in which they must either accept the agreement on the table, or risk leaving the UK to leave without an agreement.

They say that MPs should have other options if they feel there is not enough agreement, such as sending the ministers back to the bargaining table or leaving the people with the last word when they are not there. another referendum.

The Parliament is committed to voting on the outcome of the ongoing Brexit negotiations before the planned departure of the UK on 29 March 2019.

It is increasingly difficult to know when the vote will take place, as, due to the current stalemate on Northern Ireland, no agreement could be reached before mid-December.

EU leaders are currently meeting in Brussels to assess progress.

& # 39; Huge uncertainty & # 39;

In response to a letter from Conservative MP Charles Walker, who chairs the Municipal Procedures Committee, Raab said the vote should be a simple yes or no verdict on any deal reported by Theresa May.

"Once the agreement is presented to Parliament, the procedure by which it must be voted must allow an unequivocal decision that is clear to the British public," he wrote.

"Anything that is not a mere approval of the agreement would cause great uncertainty for businesses, consumers and citizens."

Mr Walker asked for clarification on what would happen if MEPs adopted a resolution containing different amendments.

Shadow Brexit Secretary Keir Starmer said MPs should be able to monitor and, if necessary, amend the text of any vote submitted to Parliament.

"This is not a meaningful vote, ministers can not silence Parliament."

The government has stated that any agreement with the EU on the modalities of withdrawal from the UK will have to be included in new legislation.

Sky News reported Wednesday that the traditional House of Commons vacation in February could be canceled to allow MPs to sit longer and ensure the law is passed before Brexit.