British MPs voted 315 to 274, a 41 vote majority, on Thursday to back a measure preventing future Prime Ministers from prorouging Parliament to push a no-deal Brexit, following legislation passed by the House of Lords on Wednesday.
The Benn Amendment, named after Labour MP Hilary Benn, received cross-party backing and was added to bills on the Northern Ireland Executive would require Parliament to meet on specific days, even if prorogued (suspended), putting pressure on the UK's likely next PM Boris Johnson by buying time to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
The key amendment will be know, apparently, as the Benn - Burt amendment
— Sam Coates Sky (@SamCoatesSky) July 18, 2019
Two widely liked MPs - Alistair Burt and Hilary Benn - hoping to convince as many colleagues as possible https://t.co/dhY1KEKUvp
The latest developments come after outgoing prime minister Theresa May was forced to adopt legislation obliging her to seek an extension on European Union membership, despite no guarantees that Parliament would be able to block a hard Brexit.
UK Tory leadership hopeful Jeremy Hunt tweeted on Thursday that he had missed the voting session due to a misunderstanding, adding that he maintained that Parliament should not restrict incoming governments and that he was opposed to the vote in Commons.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) July 18, 2019
But one government minister had planned to rebel against the Cabinet by abstaining on Thursday afternoon's vote after it was found that Mrs May's government had ordered all ministers to vote against the measure, with expectations that rebel ministers would be disciplined, according to Bloomberg.
The IMF’s relatively benign ‘no deal Brexit’ scenario could increase borrowing by £30 billion a year #OBRfiscalrisks pic.twitter.com/Er8buyl3Fm
— Office for Budget Responsibility (@OBR_UK) July 18, 2019
PM spokesman James Slack told reporters: “We have been very clear that the purpose of the bill is to ensure the continuation of vital public services, adding that that amendment "risks being counterproductive to the overarching aim".
UK justice secretary David Gauke said he did not know how he would vote, stating that he would need to "see what the precise amendments are" and as whipping began, he was "not in position to necessarily say”.
“At a crucial point in this country’s history that Parliament should not be able to sit, should not be able to express its opinion and its will, would be outrageous,” he told BBC Radio 4. He added that he would resign if the next PM pushed a no-deal Brexit.
Fears over Britain's post-Brexit economy were drafted using International Monetary Fund models involving a four percent increase in tariffs based on World Trade Organisation rules. Tory candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt have backed a hard Brexit, stating they would leave the EU without a deal if Mrs May could not secure a new deal with Brussels.
