All 37 Labour/Co-op MPs joined to vote against Theresa May’s Brexit deal in the House of Commons last night, which saw the government suffer a historic defeat.
The result leaves the Brexit process in continued deadlock and the prime minister facing a vote of no confidence from opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, which will be brought tonight – although she is not expected to lose this.
Ahead of last night’s vote, MPs from the Party took to social media to explain their decision. Party chair Gareth Thomas (Harrow West) tweeted: “The deal placed before Parliament is a bad deal for Britain, and the Prime Minister knows that. Tonight, in good conscience I can not vote for a deal that will make my constituents worse off.”
The deal placed before Parliament is a bad deal for Britain, and the Prime Minister knows that. Tonight, in good conscience I can not vote for a deal that will make my constituents worse off. pic.twitter.com/WlrWq8IIzA
— Gareth Thomas (@GarethThomasMP) January 15, 2019
And Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton Kemptown) – who made headlines by grabbing the ceremonial mace when the initial vote on the deal was postponed in December – tweeted a photo of MPs entering the No lobby to vote, adding: “In the no voting lobby to vote against this deal. I’ve rarely seen it this full. May has united the Commons against her and her deal. Next step #NoConfidenceNow”
In the no voting lobby to vote against this deal. I’ve rarely seen it this full. May has united the Commons against her and her deal. Next step #NoConfidenceNow pic.twitter.com/uFPp9Vx2gu
— Lloyd Russell-Moyle (@lloyd_rm) January 15, 2019
Mr Russell-Moyle subsequently put his name to the motion of no confidence in Theresa May, alongside Labour, Lib Dem and SNP MPs.
MPs are now discussing what to do next. Mr Thomas has long been a supporter of a People’s Vote, tabling a ten-minute rule bill on the issue last May, and the Party backed the policy at its annual conference in October.
But other Party MPs warn that another referendum might not be such a straightforward solution. Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) tweeted: “I fully understand (& feel) why people want to remain in the EU (not least with all this mess). But simply demanding another referendum does not get you there. In another ref now, what would be the version of leave on the ballot? The PM’s deal? Would be farcical. It doesn’t get you away from the need for Parliament to face some difficult realities and at least reach a view about what leave and remain looks like.”
I fully understand (& feel) why people want to remain in EU (not least with all this mess). But simply demanding another referendum does not get you there. In another ref now, what would be the version of leave on the ballot? The PM’s deal? Would be farcical. 1/2
— Lucy Powell MP (@LucyMPowell) January 16, 2019
In a blog post last week, Ms Powell suggested a Plan B, and put forward a Norway-plus compromise solution developed with Conservative MP Robert Halfon, “setting out our Common Market 2.0 proposals, with the backing of the cross-party Norway Plus group of MPs”.
She wrote: “I believe that we are better off, economically and politically, in the EU … but I understand the sentiment that led to the Brexit vote in the first place and I respect it. The result was partly down to a deep scepticism about politics and politicians, so we can’t ignore or seek to overturn it. What’s more, I am unconvinced that referendums allow for rational, complex decisions, but instead give rise to emotional, over-simplified outcomes.
“The report we are publishing together makes the case for a Brexit that delivers on the result of the 2016 referendum while protecting the economic interests of working people, as the UK would become part of a new common market with the EU that already exists.”
Meanwhile, Adrian Bailey (West Bromwich West) called for “a cross party consensus for a Brexit that can both protect jobs and deliver on the referendum result”.
Following last night’s resounding defeat in the Commons, the PM needs to build a cross party consensus for a Brexit that can both protect jobs and deliver on the referendum result. My speech on the Withdrawal Agreement yesterday:
https://t.co/pSkbB779RJ— Adrian Bailey MP (@AdrianBaileyMP) January 16, 2019
Others disagree. Mike Gapes (Ilford South) has taken a critical line with Jeremy Corbyn’s stance on Brexit.
What is the point of a General Election to resolve the European issue if Labour’s Policy is to support Brexit ?
— Mike Gapes (@MikeGapes) January 15, 2019
He wants Labour to commit to a People’s Vote if the no confidence motion fails, with Article 50 revoked until a second referendum was taken.
If No Confidence motion today is unsuccessful Labour leadership should immediately commit to a People’s Vote. There is no time to waste to table a motion as there are only 37 sitting days until a no deal. We must extend or suspend Article 50 to allow time for the People’s Vote
— Mike Gapes (@MikeGapes) January 16, 2019
Other Party MPs calling for a People’s Vote include Luciana Berger (Liverpool Wavertree), Geraint Davies (Swansea East), Steve Reed (Croydon North) and Louise Ellman (Liverpool Riverside).
Tracy Brabin (Batley and Spen) said there were wider issues than Brexit to consider, highlighting shadow chancellor John McDonnell’s call in the Commons Brexit debate for more regional autonomy within the UK to help deal with the country’s political crisis.
Excellent winding up of #Brexit debate by @johnmcdonnellMP highlighting how communities like #batleyandspen have been badly hit by austerity and how they need a new deal with power and resources shared more fairly to unify the country.
— Tracy Brabin MP (@TracyBrabin) January 15, 2019
And Stella Creasy (Walthamstow) has spoken up in support of a “citizen’s assembly” where members of the public are brought together to explore ways forward.
Well if it worked for Ireland, Australia, Canada, Iceland, France, Gdańsk….Britain is paying price for thinking we are the mother of democracy and so refusing to change way we do decision making @EvanHD …agree its time to let the people into it .. https://t.co/1zfAT97MZX
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) January 16, 2019
From the Party, MPs Luciana Berger, Geraint Davies, Stephen Doughty, Louise Ellman, Mike Gapes, Ged Killen, Chris Leslie, Seema Malhotra, Barry Sheerman, Gavin Shuker, Gareth Thomas, Anna Turley are among 71 Labour MPs to today sign a public statement calling for a second referendum. They argue that a Brexit renegotiation, as proposed by Jeremy Corbyn, is “not a realistic prospect”.
The statement said: “we now face a moment of national crisis, where the facts and the views of many people have changed – and are continuing to change.
It is now clear renegotiation is not a realistic prospect. No deal would be a catastrophe which we must resolutely oppose. The Government should seek an extension to Article 50 to provide time for Parliament to find a way forward. Theresa May has failed to bring this country back together.”
