Brexit white paper out tomorrow as Brussels divorce finally begins

THE Government's promised white paper setting out its strategy for withdrawal from the European Union will be published tomorrow, Theresa May has announced.
A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.
A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.

As MPs prepared to vote for the first time on the Bill allowing her to trigger Article 50 marking the start of the formal divorce from Brussels. the Prime Minister told MPs: “That white paper will be published tomorrow”.

Mrs May’s announcement, at Prime Minister’s Questions, came as the European Union (Notification Of Withdrawal) Bill was expected to pass its first test, with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn ordering his MPs to back the Government’s Bill.

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But a revolt from pro-Remain MPs on the Labour benches could give him a headache and he may be forced to sack frontbenchers who fail to follow his orders.

A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.
A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.

The Prime Minister told MPs it was her “intention and expectation” the Government would be able to offer assurances about the position of EU nationals resident in the UK although she wanted see similar assurances for British nationals in the EU.

“We will be working to try to ensure that this is an issue we can deal with at the very early stage in the negotiations.

“It was one of the objectives I set out in the plan. It will be referenced in the white paper,” she said.

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On Tuesday, MPs spoke until midnight after Brexit Secretary David Davis introduced the legislation by stressing the Government’s determination to trigger Article 50 by the end of March, starting the formal two-year countdown to leaving the EU.

A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.
A full House of Commons, London during the second reading debate on the EU Bill.

The Government was forced to seek Parliament’s approval for its plans by a Supreme Court ruling last week.

But Mr Davis warned MPs they would not be able to vote to block Brexit, telling them the “point of no return” had already passed.

Following the vote for Brexit in last June’s referendum, Mr Davis said the only question now before Parliament was: “Do we trust the people or not?”

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The Government faces an additional hurdle after Commons Speaker John Bercow selected a Scottish National Party amendment which would delay Article 50 on grounds including that the Government has failed to provide for consultation with devolved administrations or published a white paper on its negotiating strategy.

But ministers remain confident the legislation will be fast-tracked through Parliament in order to meet Mrs May’s deadline for triggering Article 50.

Mr Corbyn has been struggling to contain a revolt against his decision to impose a three-line whip ordering Labour MPs to vote for the Bill, with shadow ministers Jo Stevens and Tulip Siddiq quitting in protest and other frontbenchers threatening to oppose it even if it costs them their jobs.

During the debate on Tuesday, Catherine West said she would join the Labour rebels, putting her shadow Foreign Office role on the line.

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The Hornsey and Wood Green MP said her concerns were “not just about jobs and the economy” but the issue was also about “our children, our grandchildren and about peace and prosperity”.

Jeff Smith and Thangam Debbonaire, who as whips are meant to enforce party discipline, have indicated they would rebel in the vote as has shadow transport minister Daniel Zeichner.

Urging MPs to back the Article 50 bill in Wednesday evening’ s vote, Mrs May told the Commons: “This House has a very simple decision to take.

“We gave the right of judgment on this issue to the British people. They made their choice. They want to leave the EU.

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“The question every member must ask themselves as they go through the lobbies tonight is: ‘Do they trust the people?’”

Downing Street said the White Paper would “reflect the Government’s plan for Brexit as the PM set out in her speech on our negotiating objectives”.

Labour leader Mr Corbyn will decide later on how to respond to any rebellion among junior frontbenchers over Article 50, but has already said that shadow cabinet members who vote against the whip cannot remain in his top team.

A source said: “Any discipline issues relating to debates and the whipping will be dealt with later.”

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Labour has not yet decided whether there will be a three-line whip on the third reading of the Bill, with the Opposition waiting to see what amendments are made to the legislation.

But the source insisted that Labour would not “block or frustrate” the triggering of Article 50.