ADVERTISEMENT

How Parliament Can Seize Control of Brexit: A Step-by-Step Guide

There are also going to be attempts to allow multiple amendments, so that Parliament can vote on different Brexit options.

How Parliament Can Seize Control of Brexit: A Step-by-Step Guide
An anti-Brexit demonstrator waves a Union flag, also known as a Union Jack, with a European Union (EU) flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London, U.K. (Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- As Theresa May tries to find a Brexit compromise that can get through the British Parliament, lawmakers are plotting to take control of the process away from her.

Here’s what happens next.

How Parliament Can Seize Control of Brexit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Monday Jan. 21

May is due to give a statement to Parliament setting out her next steps. This is likely to be a document, accompanied by an oral statement in which she takes questions, starting around 3:30 p.m. London time.

The same day, the government will publish a formal motion saying that Parliament has considered the statement. Then the fun begins. Expect a week of rival amendments being proposed and withdrawn, as May continues to seek a consensus.

Tuesday Jan. 29

Parliament debates the Jan. 21 motion. Usually, this debate would last 90 minutes, and a single amendment would be allowed. But the government is allowing a full day’s debate. There are also going to be attempts to allow multiple amendments, so that Parliament can vote on different Brexit options.

One possibility that’s gained traction all the way up into the ranks of the Cabinet is to hold a series of non-binding or “indicative” votes in Parliament to test out support for different models of Brexit -- ranging from no-deal to a second referendum or Norway- and Canada-style deals. The idea is every MP could vote for as many options as they could support, and that would find the outcome with the most support.

How Parliament Can Seize Control of Brexit: A Step-by-Step Guide

But that’s just the start. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve is working on a plan to use an amendment in this debate to change the rules of the House of Commons so that control of the agenda is no longer in the government’s hands.

This would allow a further, even more unprecedented move. A bill drafted by Tory former minister Nick Boles would take control of Brexit away from the government altogether. He and his co-sponsors are revising it -- and Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper will present a new version on Monday. If Parliament can seize control of its own agenda, it can give itself time to debate and pass the Cooper/Boles bill.

That would give May until Feb. 11 to get an alternative Brexit plan past Parliament. If she failed she would lose control of the process and senior legislators from all parties would be given until March 5 to try to find a deal that Parliament can pass. If they couldn’t manage that, then the government would be instructed to seek a delay to Brexit.

How Parliament Can Seize Control of Brexit: A Step-by-Step Guide

To contact the reporters on this story: Robert Hutton in London at rhutton1@bloomberg.net;Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Tim Ross at tross54@bloomberg.net, Emma Ross-Thomas

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.