Brexit: MPs set out plan to consider alternatives to PM's deal

International Desk: MPs have set out details of their plan to consider other Brexit options, as Theresa May was warned more ministers could quit unless she changes course.

The Commons will begin voting on alternatives on Wednesday, in a process likely to continue into next week.

MPs will fill out a series of ballots testing support for different ideas.

Ex-minister Alistair Burt said the PM must recognise a "different answer" was now needed but ex-Brexit secretary David Davis warned of impending chaos.

As MPs seek to take the initiative from the government, there are signs that some Tory opponents of Mrs May's deal could be steeling themselves to back it if it returns to the Commons for a third time later this week.

Prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg indicated that he could be persuaded, given it now appeared to be a choice between her deal and no Brexit at all.

Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the BBC there was "no point" supporting Mrs May's deal "without any sign the UK is going to change its approach in phase two" of the negotiations - otherwise he feared the country would be indefinitely tied to the EU's rules.

But BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said the not very subtle subtext of Mr Johnson's remarks was "if the PM promises to go soon, then she might get my vote."

MPs took the unprecedented step of voting to seize control of the parliamentary timetable on Monday, in an attempt to end the deadlock over the terms of the UK's exit.
Groups are now putting forward a variety of different options for the UK's future relationship with the EU.

Several of these are based on the assumption that the existing withdrawal agreement with the EU will be approved, albeit with changes to the controversial Northern Ireland backstop.

Others call for a basic free trade agreement with the EU and another referendum on whether Brexit goes ahead. It will be up to Commons Speaker John Bercow to decide what is voted on.

Source: BBC

risingbd/March 27, 2019/Mukul