Boris Johnson is heading for a compromise with Tory rebels over the controversial plans to break international law by overriding the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
After hearing outrage from backbenchers and party grandees, including former Prime Ministers, the government has signalled it will consider an amendment by senior Tory MP Sir Bob Neill.
The veteran Tory proposed a change to the Internal Market bill that would give MPs in the Commons, not ministers, a final vote on whether the government should defy the EU Withdrawal Agreement on deciding which goods would flow to Northern Ireland without customs checks or tariffs.
Government insiders admitted there could yet be changes to the Internal Markets Bill, with one saying there was already “engagement” with MPs across the Commons.
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland is said to have been asked to find a way to give Parliament a “lock” on the plans without it looking like another u-turn.
The controversial law cleared its first Commons hurdle on Monday night with a majority of 77, although two Tory MPs voted against and 30 abstained including former ministers and law chiefs.
On Wednesday morning Buckland refused to deny he had held talks with the Prime Minister and Sir Bob Neill over his amendment.
He told Sky News: “I don’t think it would be right of me to start talking about private conversations.
“But what I can say is that there are lots of discussions going on with MPs from all parts of the debate, not just Bob Neill but MPs in all parts of the Conservative Party.”
“We want to get on with this job, we want to get this Bill through, we want to make sure we are ready for any disagreements or disputes that might arise if we don’t get agreement at the Joint Committee, and that’s what we’re planning on.”
The move comes ahead of the Prime Minister’s appearance on Wednesday in front of the Commons liaison committee, made up of the chairs of all parliament committees, where he will be questioned on Brexit and the lack of coronavirus testing across the UK.
He will also feel the heat at Prime Minister’s Questions where Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner is standing in for Keir Starmer who is self-isolating while awaiting the results of coronavirus test for a family member.
