I don’t think CarnalK means you personally. If you take that view, then the ace must be up your sleeve and you must be doing the negotiating.
As for crippling the UK’s negotiating position - we had a gun to our head and we were prepared to pull the trigger - that was our position of strength?
j
(sigh) - ninja’d.
j
The Guardian are reporting that Cooper’s bill has just been rejected at the Committee stage by 304 votes to 313
It’s just an amendment that’s been rejected, not the whole bill. “Amendment 21” would have removed the PM’s obligation to put the EU’s proposed exit date back to parliament (in the event that the PM was forced to ask for an extension via Coopers bill).
Link to explanation of amendment - see 22:06
a) your link doesn’t work, b) they are currently voting on amendments. One of the Government amendments (21, I think) was just defeated 304 - 313. The Cooper-Letwin Bill won’t be voted on in-toto until the amendments have been sorted out.
Here’s the list of amendments being voted on
[ul]
[li]13 & 14 - tabled by Labour’s Yvette Cooper: This is a simple re-drafting of parts of the bill[/li][li] 20 - tabled by Tory MP George Eustice: Limits the extension to 30 June[/li][li] 21 - tabled by Tory MP George Eustice: Takes out the requirement for the prime minister to put the EU’s chosen extension date to MPs - Voted AGAINST 313:304[/li][li] 22 - tabled by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay: Ensures that nothing in this bill rules out the government extending Article 50 in a different way[/li][li] 1 - tabled by Tory MP Anne Main: Limits the government to a 22 May extension[/li][li] 6 - tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash: Ensures the extension is subject to approval by the devolved bodies[/li][li] New Clause 4 - tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash: Prevents amendments to standing orders during these extension motions - standing orders are the rules that govern the proceedings of Parliament[/li][li] New Clause 5 - tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash: Limits an extension to 22 May[/li][li] New Clause 7 - tabled by Tory MP Sir Bill Cash: Ensures that an extension would not result in the UK taking part in elections to the European Parliament[/li][li] New Clause 13 - tabled by Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay: Amends the EU Withdrawal Act to make it easier to change the exit date in UK law[/li][/ul]
Yup. The Guardian got it wrong.
The link didn’t work because the post had been deleted. Poor form, Guardian.
Possibly worth re-iterating that in UK English “tabled” pretty much means the opposite to what it does in US English.
Failed, 400 votes to 220. Another big loss for the government.
Yeah just saw that (I was following on the BBC), I think he got confused between the debate on the bill itself, and the subsequent vote on the amendment.
It’s such a cluster-fuck that I think we can forgive them.
Thanks. Considerate of you to keep the Americans in this thread in mind.
Ah, I see; It’s been sanctioned.
Another amendment defeated by a huge majority. This must be humiliating for May, she surely can’t last long?
She said she would go back to the EU and ask for an extension. Instead of taking her at her word, parliament are voting on a bill to force her to do just that. And all wiggle room amendments have been defeated. She’s lost any trust she might have once had.
Cooper-Letwin passes. By one vote 313- 312.
Edit: it’s got to get through the Lords too before Assent
Any idea how the Lords are split brexit-wise?
Fairly strong remain. They can be sticklers for amending imperfectly-drafted legislation though, so prepare for Cooper-Letwin to make at least one return to the Commons.
Would the Lords really block something that passed through Commons on this issue?
They can’t block, but they can propose amendments that need to go back to the Commons. As to what they’ll do with this Bill, I suspect there’ll be some tightening of legal language to cope with unconsidered scenarios, but that’ll be all.
If push comes to shove the Commons can override the Lords by invoking the Parliament Act.