The Brexit deadlock has caused the longest parliamentary session in nearly 400 years and ground day-to-day government business to a halt, it has emerged.
MPs have not voted on anything for a month, as the UK’s delayed withdrawal from the EU disrupts the normal political work of Westminster.
Parliamentary sessions usually run for 12 months, but the term was extended to allow Brexit laws to pass.
Analysis by the House of Commons Library revealed: “On May 7, 2019, the current parliamentary session reached a striking landmark.
“It became the longest session by sitting days since the English Civil War (1642-51). As of Friday (May 10), it has run for 298 sitting days, 2,657 hours and 56 minutes.”
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Theresa May ’s spokesman said yesterday: “The PM and the Government decided upon an extended session in order to pass the legislation to deliver Brexit. That work remains vital and is obviously ongoing.”
The Cabinet will meet today to discuss the deadlock. It could back a series of indicative votes to find out what the Commons can agree on.
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As Labour – led by Jeremy Corbyn – continued talks with the Government yesterday to try to break the impasse, the party hinted that it may demand a second referendum.
Deputy Leader Tom Watson said: “If a deal could be found that inspires enough votes in Westminster, then fine, but it seemed to me that that’s very, very difficult. So my idea of a confirmatory ballot is not a religious point or a point of ideology, it’s just – how do you get an outcome?”
But Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said a public vote would be “taking us in a different direction”.
