PM heads to summit with authority diminished after Commons Brexit vote defeat
Theresa May will travel to a critical European Union summit with her authority diminished after Tory rebels inflicted a humiliating House of Commons defeat on the Government in a major Brexit vote.
MPs proclaimed Parliament had "taken back control" of the Brexit process after they defeated the Government to ensure a "meaningful vote" on the withdrawal deal.
The Prime Minister will hope it does not damage the confidence of EU leaders in her authority to conduct Brexit negotiations as they prepare to rubber-stamp a move forward to trade talks.
In a night of high drama, rebel ringleader Dominic Grieve told the Government it was "too late" as ministers made last-minute concessions in an attempt to head off the revolt.
He saw his amendment to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill squeezed through the Commons on a majority of four amid tense scenes.
A full breakdown of the #Amendment7 vote. 12 Tory MPs voted against the government; two Labour MPs voted with the government. pic.twitter.com/H8mLtlzIq9
-- Ian Jones (@ian_a_jones) December 13, 2017
It means MPs and peers will be given more control over the Government's implementation of the withdrawal agreement, as ministers will have to pass a statute, which can be amended, before it takes effect.
Mrs May who attempted to reassert authority by sacking Tory vice chair and Brexit rebel Stephen Hammond, could face questions about the vote's implications at a dinner with the other 27 EU leaders on Thursday, who she will urge to begin trade talks as quickly as possible.
The European Commission's assessment that "sufficient progress" has been made on divorce issues to move Brexit negotiations on to their second phase gave the PM a huge boost just last week.
And the EU27 are expected to green-light phase two when they meet in Mrs May's absence on the second day of their two-day summit in Brussels on Friday.
Parliament tonight taking back control, the defeat for the government on #Amendment7 was the fault of the PM who just wouldn't listen and her dismissive, arrogant attitude backfired in dramatic style.Hats off to the Tory MPs who stuck with their principles despite severe pressure
-- Angela Rayner (@AngelaRayner) December 13, 2017
But the political capital she has built up was dealt a damaging blow by Thursday's vote, which led to bitter recriminations in the Conservative Party, with 11 MPs joining opposition parties in backing the amendment, and a handful of others abstaining.
The European Parliament's chief Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt tweeted: "British Parliament takes back control. European and British Parliament together will decide on the final agreement. Interests of the citizens will prevail over narrow party politics. A good day for democracy."
Backers of a "soft" Brexit, including Tory rebels Nicky Morgan and Anna Soubry, also hailed the result.
Ms Morgan tweeted: "Tonight Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process".
Tonight Parliament took control of the EU Withdrawal process #Article7
-- Nicky Morgan MP (@NickyMorgan01) December 13, 2017
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who will be cheered by the fact that only two of his own Brexiteer MPs rebelled to back the Government, said: "This defeat is a humiliating loss of authority for the Government on the eve of the European Council meeting.
"Theresa May has resisted democratic accountability. Her refusal to listen means she will now have to accept Parliament taking back control."
This defeat is a humiliating loss of authority for the Government on the eve of the European Council meeting. https://t.co/QWqAAvVtRk
-- Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) December 13, 2017
Mr Grieve said he had no option but to push his amendment to a vote because the Bill gave "intransigent" ministers "the biggest Henry VIII power ever conferred on Government" with no justification.
The former attorney general evoked Winston Churchill during the debate, telling the Commons: "There's a time for everybody to stand up and be counted" and stressing he put "the country before the party".
He said his amendment would not stop Brexit but the vote provoked a furious backlash from Leavers.
Tory Nadine Dorries called for the deselection of rebel Tories for "undermining the PM", while accusing Mr Grieve of "treachery".
Tonight, the Tory rebels have put a spring in Labours step, given them a taste of winning, guaranteed the party a weekend of bad press, undermined the PM and devalued her impact in Brussels. They should be deselected and never allowed to stand as a Tory MP, ever again.
-- Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) December 13, 2017
But rebel Tory Sarah Wollaston hit back on Twitter, saying: "Get over yourself Nadine."
Downing Street said it would "respect the will of MPs" but a Government spokeswoman suggested it may seek to amend the Bill during later stages of its passage through Parliament.