May quashes Brexit revolt ahead of crucial EU summit

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Europe

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British Prime Minister Theresa May survived another knife-edge Brexit vote in parliament on Wednesday but came under fresh pressure from the European Union to step up the withdrawal negotiations.

Meanwhile, the British government on Thursday will announce its plans for EU citizens living in the United Kingdom after Brexit and is urging other EU countries to outline their immigration rules for British citizens.

The latest developments come ahead of a crucial EU summit at the end of June, with Brexit talks being one of the top issues, alongside migration and EU reforms.

Pro-EU and anti-Brexit demonstrators wave EU flags outside the Houses of Parliament in London, UK, June 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Tory rebellion defeated

May saw off a rebellion by pro-European MPs on a flagship draft law by offering last-minute reassurances over the role parliament would play if she fails to agree a Brexit deal. In doing so, she concluded months of acrimonious debate over the EU (Withdrawal) Bill, which sets the legal framework for Brexit and can now finally become law.

A defeat would have been humiliating for the prime minister just days before an EU summit in Brussels, where she will seek to make further progress in the withdrawal negotiations.

May is still publicly aiming for a deal by October, to allow time for the British and European parliaments to ratify it before Britain withdraws from the EU in March 2019. But the debate in the House of Commons over the implications of a "no deal" reflects concern on both sides of the Channel at the pace of talks.

British Prime Minister Theresa May climbs out of her car in Downing Street after returning from winning a Brexit vote in parliament in London, UK, June 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

The EU this week raised the alarm over continued lack of agreement on the key issue of the Irish border, and also knocked back London's proposals for the future security partnership. EU leaders meanwhile will be asked at the June 28-29 summit to step up their contingency plans for the possibility of no deal, according to draft conclusions seen by AFP.

May has promised parliament a vote on Britain's exit deal, but has been engaged in months of negotiations with MPs in her Conservative party over what happens if it is rejected.

Pro-Europeans are determined that parliament be given the opportunity to intervene to stop Britain crashing out of the bloc, which they say could have catastrophic consequences. But May warned that any attempt to tie her hands would undermine the negotiations, while eurosceptics accused the rebels of trying to block Britain's exit altogether.

Under threat of a Conservative revolt last week, May agreed that if there is no deal by January 21, ministers must put a statement to a vote in parliament. But May insisted MPs could not amend that statement to force the government into a course of action – a stance that critics said made the exercise meaningless.

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Brexit Minister David Davis speaking during a debate on the European Union Withdrawal Bill in the House of Commons in London, UK, June 20, 2018. /VCG Photo

Just hours before a showdown over the issue on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary David Davis appeared to compromise. He issued a statement acknowledged that under House of Commons rules, "it will be for the Speaker to determine whether a motion... is or not amendable."

Leading rebel Conservative Dominic Grieve said this was an "obvious acknowledgement of the sovereignty of this place (parliament)", and confirmed he would back the government. However, Tom Brake, from the pro-European Liberal Democrat party, condemned Grieve for getting "cold feet."

"Despite the clear calamity that May and Davis are making of Brexit, the so-called Tory rebels have lost their bottle and caved into yet another pathetic government compromise," he said.

MPs voted by 319 to 303 to reject a rebel amendment and backed the government's plan without a vote. Later in the evening, the motion was passed without a vote in the Lords, clearing the way for the bill to become law.

Dec. 1, 2017: Traffic crosses the border into Britain's Northern Ireland from the Irish Republic alongside an anti-Brexit Border poster. /VCG Photo

UK to publish plans for EU citizens post-Brexit

Britain will outline its plans on Thursday for new immigration rules for European Union citizens living in the UK after Brexit as it calls on the bloc to give more details about its own proposals for British nationals.

The Home Office (interior ministry) said it would announce in parliament more details of the UK's settlement scheme, due to be phased in later this year, which will allow EU citizens and their families living in Britain a new UK immigration status.

"Publishing details of how we will administer our settled status scheme shows we are honoring the commitments made towards EU citizens living in the UK," Home Secretary Sajid Javid said in a statement.

"But I am concerned that I have not seen any similar plans on how EU member states are going to support British nationals in their countries. This is not good enough and I hope both the European Parliament and Commission will exert more pressure for them to do this as soon as possible," he added.

EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier attends a press conference during the meeting "Post-Brexit Police and Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters" in Vienna, Austria, June 19, 2018. /VCG Photo

Thursday's publication will provide details on how the new British scheme will operate, who will be eligible, how many people can apply and what it will cost, the Home Office said.

The question of what rules will govern the status of citizens from the other 27 EU states already living in the UK after Britain leaves the bloc in March next year has been one of the most contentious issues in divorce talks between London and Brussels.

As part of a deal struck earlier this year to ensure a 21-month transition period after the UK leaves, Britain said it would offer residence rights to EU citizens who arrived after Brexit but before 2021.

The Home Office said Javid had met the European Parliament's Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt this week and he had acknowledged that the other EU states had not done enough to set out the details for Britons living across the bloc.

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Source(s): AFP ,Reuters