UK PM May faces parliamentary rebellion over refusal to publish Brexit plans

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS | Tue Dec 6, 2016 | 6:49am EST

UK PM May faces parliamentary rebellion over refusal to publish Brexit plans

By Kylie MacLellan | LONDON

British Prime Minister Theresa May faces a rebellion among her own lawmakers when parliament debates whether the government should set out its Brexit plan before triggering formal divorce talks with the European Union.

May, who plans to kick off the exit process by the end of March next year, has said the government will not give a running commentary on its preparations for Brexit as this would damage its negotiating position.

The opposition Labour Party has put forward a motion, to be debated on Wednesday, calling on the government to publish its plan for leaving the bloc before it invokes Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty to begin the formal Brexit process.

The BBC reported that one former minister had predicted between 20 and 40 lawmakers from May's ruling Conservatives could support the motion, which is not binding on the government but would increase pressure on it to be more open.

"These things are incredibly important. This actually transcends party politics and tribalism. There is nothing in it which I don't agree with," remain-backing Conservative lawmaker Anna Soubry told BBC Radio, referring to the motion.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-labour-idUSKBN13V13H?il=0

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1. Updates: govt agreed to publish plans, Commons votes to agree to govt's Brexit timetable

PM 'will publish plan for Brexit before Article 50'

Number 10 has accepted Labour's attempt to force the prime minister to publish a plan for Brexit before Article 50 is triggered, the BBC has learned.

Shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer put forward a motion for debate on Wednesday calling for details of the strategy, with support from some on the Conservative back benches.

Now the government has tabled an amendment to win them back.

But sources are not committing Theresa May to publish any specific plans.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38224169

MPs back government's Brexit timetable

MPs backed Labour's motion, saying it was "Parliament's responsibility to properly scrutinise the government" over Brexit, by 448 votes to 75 - a margin of 373.

This followed another vote over the government's amendment to the motion, which added the proviso that its timetable for triggering Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, getting formal talks with the EU under way should be respected. MPs backed this by 461 votes to 89 - a margin of 372.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38243500