MPs will vote today on whether to give the public a fresh referendum on Brexit after John Bercow selected an amendment that could lead to a Final Say vote.
It will be the first time the Commons has held a formal vote on the issue of another referendum and will take place during another day of high drama in Westminster.
The motion, tabled by The Independent Group's Sarah Wollaston, will be voted on tonight during a debate on whether to seek a delay to Brexit.
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It orders Theresa May to seek to delay Brexit “for the purposes of legislating for and conducting a public vote in which the people of the United Kingdom may give their consent" for either leaving the EU on the terms of a deal agreed by Parliament or remaining in the bloc.
The amendment is backed by MPs from Labour, the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Liberal Democrats and The Independent Group.
However, it is unlikely to pass unless it is supported by the Labour leadership and around 25 Conservative rebels. Labour's position on another referendum has been unclear in recent days, with shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer saying he was "proud" to support one while shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said it would be "disastrous".
Other pro-referendum MPs had wanted to hold off on tabling a motion calling for a fresh public vote until it was more likely to be approved by MPs.
A spokesperson for the People's Vote campaign said: "We do not think today is the right time to test the will of the House on the case for a new public vote. Instead, this is the time for parliament to declare it wants an extension of Article 50 so that, after two and a half years of vexed negotiations, our political leaders ca finally decide on what Brexit means."
Mr Bercow, the Commons speaker, did not select a rival amendment that suggested another referendum "would be divisive and expensive, and therefore should not take place".
That prompted anger from Tory Brexiteers, with senior Eurosceptic Sir Bernard Jenkin suggesting it was a sign of the speaker's pro-EU bias. "What are we to conclude on your own views on these matters?", he asked Mr Bercow.
The vote on the proposal for another public vote will take place shortly before MPs vote on a government motion proposing a short delay to Brexit until June if MPs pass a withdrawal agreement by 20 March, or a much longer extension if they do not.
A number of amendments have been put forward suggesting different courses of action.
One, tabled by a group of senior cross-party backbenchers, calls for Brexit to be delayed "to enable the House of Commons to find a way forward that can command majority support".
It proposes holding a series of "indicative votes" to determine what kind of Brexit MPs might support.
Another motion, put forward by Labour's Chris Bryant, seeks to stop Ms May holding another vote on her Brexit deal next week. It says that parliamentary rules prevent a vote being held on a motion or amendment that is the same as one that has already been voted on in the current session. As such, the motion "orders the government not to move a further motion" asking MPs to approve the exit plan that has already been twice rejected by the Commons.
Shape Created with Sketch. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit Show all 65 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. A historic moment: thousands march to demand Final Say on Brexit 1/65 An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent 2/65 Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex 3/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 4/65 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 5/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou 6/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 7/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 8/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 9/65 MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 10/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 11/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 12/65 A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou 13/65 Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA 14/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 15/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 16/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 17/65 Protesters at London’s march for the future in October The Independent 18/65 Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 19/65 A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent 20/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 21/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 22/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou 23/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 24/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 25/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 26/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 27/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 28/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 29/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 30/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 31/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 32/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 33/65 Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 34/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 35/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 36/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 37/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 38/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 39/65 Angela Christofilou 40/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 41/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 42/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 43/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 44/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 45/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 46/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 47/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 48/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 49/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 50/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 51/65 Angela Christofilou 52/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou 53/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 54/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 55/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou 56/65 Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 57/65 Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 58/65 Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 59/65 A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 60/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 61/65 Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA 62/65 A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou 63/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA 64/65 Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex 65/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA 1/65 An estimated 700,000 people marched through London to demand a final say on the withdrawal agreement Angela Christofilou/The Independent 2/65 Red smoke from a canister hangs in the air as around 100,000 demonstrators march through London during a People's Vote anti-brexit demonstration savings banners and placards Anti-Brexit People's Vote March for the Future in London Rex 3/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 4/65 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan takes part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 5/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Protesters wearing final Say shirts and holding placards Angela Christofilou 6/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 7/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 8/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 9/65 MP Chuka Umunna (left) and MP Vince Cable (right) as MP Anna Soubry (centre) addresses Anti-Brexit campaigners at a rally after the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 10/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 11/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 12/65 A People’s Vote march attendee calls for a Final Say Angela Christofilou 13/65 Demonstrators with banners 'We're with EU' during the People's Vote March for the Future in London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan. EPA 14/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 15/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 16/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 17/65 Protesters at London’s march for the future in October The Independent 18/65 Editor of The Independent Christian Broughton speaks to demonstrators in Parliament Sqaure after they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 19/65 A poster at the March for the Future in October The Independent 20/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 21/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 22/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou 23/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 24/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 25/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 26/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 27/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 28/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 29/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 30/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 31/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 32/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 33/65 Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 34/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 35/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 36/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 37/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 38/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 39/65 Angela Christofilou 40/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 41/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 42/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 43/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 44/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 45/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 46/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 47/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 48/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 49/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 50/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 51/65 Angela Christofilou 52/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 campaigner wrapped in EU flag Angela Christofilou 53/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 54/65 Angela Christofilou/The Independent 55/65 Final Say campaigners take part in the peoples vote march for the future in London 20/10/2018 Angela Christofilou 56/65 Demonstrators pass Trafalgar Square as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 57/65 Demonstrators wave Union and European flags and hold up placards as they pass Trafalgar Square, taking part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 58/65 Demonstrators hold placards as they take part in a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 59/65 A demonstrator holds a message during a march calling for a People's Vote on the final Brexit deal, in central London on October 20, 2018. - Britons dreading life outside Europe gathered from all corners of the UK to London on Saturday to try to stop their country's looming breakup with the EU. AFP/Getty 60/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum. PA 61/65 Demonstrators take part in the 'People's Vote March for the Future,' in central London, Britain, 20 October 2018. Reports state that the 'March for the Future' is to be led by a column of young people and call for a People’s Vote on the Brexit deal. After marching through central London, there will be a rally on stage in Parliament Square, including speeches from Mayor of London Sadiq Khan EPA 62/65 A protester brandishes an Independent t-shirt during the Brexit March Angela Christofilou 63/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA 64/65 Tens of thousands of people take part in People's Vote March for the Future in central London. The march organised by the People's Vote campaign is led by young people calling for a People's Vote on the Brexit deal Rex 65/65 Anti-Brexit campaigners take part in the People's Vote March for the Future in London, a march and rally in support of a second EU referendum PA
Reports suggest the government is planning to hold a third "meaningful vote" on the plan on Monday or Tuesday next week in the hope of winning over Eurosceptics by presenting them with the threat of Brexit being delayed.
Speaking after MPs voted last night to rule out a no-deal Brexit, Ms May told the Commons: "If the House finds a way in the coming days to support a deal, it would allow the government to seek a short limited technical extension to Article 50 to provide time to pass the necessary legislation and ratify the agreement we have reached with the EU.
"But let me be clear: such a short technical extension is only likely to be on offer if we have a deal in place.
"Therefore, the House has to understand and accept that, if it is not willing to support a deal in the coming days, and as it is not willing to support leaving without a deal on 29 March, then it is suggesting that there will need to be a much longer extension to Article 50. Such an extension would undoubtedly require the United Kingdom to hold European Parliament elections in May 2019.
"I do not think that would be the right outcome, but the House needs to face up to the consequences of the decisions it has taken."
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Skane1982 on March 14th, 2019 at 14:47 UTC »
The deadline is 29th March right? If they really go careening off the cliffs, Theresa May will be making a Bad Friday Agreement.
SimplyFed on March 14th, 2019 at 14:37 UTC »
Scotland: "Oh now you think second referendums are a thing?"
JellyBean_Brownies on March 14th, 2019 at 13:17 UTC »
What happens if the result is the same as last time?