In a thumping defeat for the government, Theresa May's ministers will have to publish the Brexit legal advice.
Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom announced the Government will publish the "final and full" legal advice provided by Attorney General Geoffrey Cox on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal tomorrow.
Following hours of debate on Tuesday, the parliamentarians decided the government was guilty of contempt or in other words "any act, or failure to act, that may prevent or hinder the work of either House of Parliament."
House of Commons votes 311 to 293 to approve the privilege motion, finding Ministers in contempt and ordering the immediate publication of the full legal advice on the #Brexit deal. pic.twitter.com/haXVmbH36s
— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) December 4, 2018
Sir Keir Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary and one of the signatories to the motion said:
"Today's finding of contempt is a badge of shame for this Government. By treating Parliament with contempt, the Government has proved it has lost its majority and the respect of the House."
Today’s finding of contempt is a real low point for this Government. By treating Parliament with contempt, the Government has lost the respect of the House. #ContemptOfParliament pic.twitter.com/VNq5xLczUy
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) December 4, 2018
The passed motion marked the first time in modern history that government ministers were found guilty of contempt.
A cross-party motion was filed by a group of MPs, including Labour, DUP, Lib Dems, SNP. Green Party and Plaid Cymru.
READ MORE: 'Gov't Stuck 2 Fingers to Parliament': Contempt Case Overshadows Brexit Debate
The motion launched the legal proceedings of contempt over ministers providing only an outline of the legal basis for the government's Brexit deal after parliament voted last month to force it to make public the full advice.