UK MPs Vote To Take Control Of Parliamentary Business In Unprecedented Move To Try To Find Majority For Any Brexit Option
MPs have voted to take control of Commons business in an unprecedented move to try to find a majority for any Brexit option.
The government was defeated by 329 votes to 302 on the cross-party amendment, a majority of 27.
Business minister Richard Harrington resigned from the government to vote for the move, which will see votes on a series of alternatives to the PM’s Brexit deal.
MPs are now voting on a call to be given a vote on requesting another Brexit extension if a deal has not been approved by 5 April.
Theresa May had tried to head off a defeat by offering MPs a series of votes on Brexit alternatives, organised by the government.
She said allowing MPs to take over the Commons agenda would have set an “unwelcome precedent”.
The so-called indicative votes are set to take place on Wednesday.
MPs will be able to vote on a series of options – likely to include a “softer Brexit” and another referendum – designed to test the will of Parliament to see what, if anything, commands a majority.
