'Detailed' Brexit plan demanded by Labour ahead of vote

[DFighter]

 

Labour will demand the government publishes a "pretty detailed" negotiating plan when MPs debate the UK's Brexit strategy later.

MPs are expected to vote in favour of the government's timetable, of starting formal talks by the end of March, while also calling on the PM publish a "plan" beforehand.

The government has so far refused a "running commentary" on its strategy.

Labour, which has been demanding more information, has called the debate.

The party's Brexit spokesman Sir Keir Starmer said his party would continue to challenge the government if its plan was "not detailed enough".

He said: "I think it's got to be pretty detailed, they've got to set out what those objectives are. I don't think it needs to be in a particular form, but if it's not detailed enough they can expect further challenge."

The debate comes after a procedural battle between the parties over the wording of the motion to be put to MPs.

The outcome was that Downing Street put forward an amendment agreeing to publish a "plan" before triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty - although it has not said how detailed this will be - while in return Labour is backing government's timetable.

Has the PM backed down over Brexit? By Laura Kuenssberg, political editor

The government has announced that it will accept Labour's idea to publish a plan, of sorts, for Brexit, before Article 50 begins the legal process of the UK disentangling itself from the EU.

Some Tory MPs were set to gang up with Labour in a vote to force ministers to publish something, anything, about their plans for Brexit, against Theresa May's wishes.

Remember, one of the few things that we know for sure about the prime minister's plans for leaving the EU is that she does not want MPs to be able to tinker with them, scrutinise them in a meaningful way, before she actually gets to the negotiating table.

So has she just backed down? In pure terms, yes. Labour's Keir Starmer, the party's Brexit spokesman, will claim victory. And by accepting Labour's idea, ministers have been pushed to do something they had been intent on avoiding - promising to publish their intentions before the technical legal process begins.

But what will that actually look like? So far, so vague. Accepting the amendment does not mean they have promised to do anything in particular.

 

Both Labour and the government claimed victory when it emerged the final amendment would receive widespread backing in the House of Commons.

Mr Starmer said it was a "a welcome and hugely significant climbdown", while government sources said by backing the government's timetable MPs would commit to not delaying the Brexit process.

Former Conservative minister Sir Oliver Letwin, who chaired the Government's Brexit unit immediately after the referendum, said he did not expect Mrs May to set out any more detail than what is already known.

The debate is expected to begin at about 12:45 GMT, and the vote will not be binding on the government.

Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-38232780

[Flible]

What, no backsies? Rumours have it that the Brexit will not happen hehe

[Krusnik87]

Well of course, none wanna rush things in the end. 'cause there're so many laws,contracts, an do on ... between EU and UK, it gonna be a f*cking mess just to seperate all this stuff.

Even extreme pro brexit politics know that well, and aren't into undoing all things right now (yes you can call them chicken/coward, 'cause in the end they did shout lot's of crap for not really acting ).

[Raskin]

It's like our our American plan..everything is going to be the best...only the best people...just tremendous..with so much winning..you will be sick of winning...what!?! you want details..trust me..

[KonradvonMarburg00]

Smartest thing the UK ever did was to vote to separate from the EU. They have their sovereignty back, and are no longer dictated to by bureaucrats in Brussels.