MPs put forward rival plans to May’s Brexit deal

MPs are putting forward plans to change the outcome of Brexit ahead of a vote next week on the PM's amended deal. Theresa May said on Monday she was focused on altering the backstop - the "insurance policy" designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the prime minister was in denial about the level of opposition to her deal. Among the MPs' six amendments are plans to prevent a no-deal Brexit and to extend the deadline for leaving the EU. But more amendments to change her next steps could be added in the coming days.

MPs are due to vote on Mrs May's proposals for Brexit on 29 January. On Monday, the PM vowed to seek changes from the EU to the Irish "backstop" - the measures intended to ensure that whatever else happens, there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU.

Both the UK and the EU believe that bringing back border checks could put the peace process at risk. Mrs May also scrapped the £65 fee EU citizens were due to pay to secure the right to continue living in the UK after Brexit.

However, she gave few details about how her deal would be changed before next Tuesday's vote. The European Commission's chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, welcomed the dropping of the fee for EU citizens, but said it "does not provide the sort of clarification of intention that we are expecting as soon as possible on the broader picture".

 

 

MPs put forward rival plans to Mays Brexit deal

MPs are putting forward plans to change the outcome of Brexit ahead of a vote next week on the PMs amended deal. Theresa May said on Monday she was focused on altering the backstop - the insurance policy designed to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland. But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the prime minister was in denial about the level of opposition to her deal. Among the MPs six amendments are plans to prevent a no-deal Brexit and to extend the deadline for leaving the EU. But more amendments to change her next steps could be added in the coming days. MPs are due to vote on Mrs Mays proposals for Brexit on 29 January. On Monday, the PM vowed to seek changes from the EU to the Irish backstop - the measures intended to ensure that whatever else happens, there will be no return to a visible border between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic after the UK leaves the EU. Both the UK and the EU believe that bringing back border checks could put the peace process at risk. Mrs May also scrapped the 65 fee EU citizens were due to pay to secure the right to continue living in the UK after Brexit. However, she gave few details about how her deal would be changed before next Tuesdays vote. The European Commissions chief spokesman, Margaritis Schinas, welcomed the dropping of the fee for EU citizens, but said it does not provide the sort of clarification of intention that we are expecting as soon as possible on the broader picture.