Tory rebels inflict Commons Brexit defeat on May
MPs have fired a warning shot across the Government's bows as they backed an amendment intended to limit ministers' tax raising powers in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
The Commons voted by 303 to 296 – a majority of seven – in favour of the cross-party amendment to the Finance Bill tabled by senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper and Conservative former Cabinet minister Nicky Morgan.
Very glad that the Commons has voted to support #Amendment7 Shows the determination in Parliament to come together to prevent a chaotic & damaging #NoDeal that would hit manufacturing, policing & security
— Yvette Cooper (@YvetteCooperMP) January 8, 2019
Twenty Tory rebels MPs defied the whips to back the change – including former ministers Kenneth Clarke, Sir Michael Fallon, Justine Greening, Dominic Grieve and Sam Gyimah.
Ahead of the division, ministers sought to play down the significance of the amendment, insisting it made only the "most minor and technical changes" to the legislation.
Jeremy Corbyn turns round and applauds Yvette Cooper in the chamber, and gives her a big thumbs up after her amendment on stopping a no deal Brexit is passed on the Government's Finance Bill by 303 votes to 297
— Alain Tolhurst (@Alain_Tolhurst) January 8, 2019
Downing Street described it as an "inconvenience" which would not prevent the Government collecting taxes.
.@jeremycorbyn responding to the successful vote on Amendment 7 to the Finance Bill, said: "This vote is an important step to prevent a no deal Brexit."https://t.co/Vgojw80BAe
— Labour Press Team (@labourpress) January 8, 2019
But as the Commons prepared to resume the debate on Theresa May's Brexit deal, leading to a crunch vote next week, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was an "important step" towards preventing a no-deal break with Brussels.
"It shows that there is no majority in Parliament, the Cabinet or the country for crashing out of the EU without an agreement," he said.
"That is why we are taking every opportunity possible in Parliament to prevent no deal. Theresa May must now rule out no deal once and for all."
