In Parliament a glimmer of hope has emerged ahead of the vote on Theresa May’s seemingly doomed Brexit deal. It’s not that it suddenly has a hope of passing as it is – instead it’s that a backbencher amendment could carve a way out of the Brexit deadlock.
Usually loyal backbencher Andrew Murrison has tabled an amendment for the withdrawal agreement which sets an expiry date for the backstop for December 31 2021. A time limited backstop is something the EU has rejected but Tory Brexiteers (and the DUP) demand one if they are to support May’s deal. Such a change would most likely require the reopening of the withdrawal agreement – something both May and the EU have said they are reluctant to do.
This amendment is not backed by the government – and the whips are not telling MPs to vote for it.
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