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Wales Online
Wales Online
Politics
Sandra Hembery

Brexit latest: What's happening on Monday as a second round of 'indicative votes' is held

MPs will be taking part in a second round of so-called 'indicative votes' today to try to find a way forward on Brexit that can command a majority in parliament.

Last week it was claimed history was being made as Parliament wrested control of the Brexit process and put forward a set of options for the UK's withdrawal from the EU, with the hope one or two favourites would stand out and break the deadlock.

But the first phase of voting held last Wednesday (March 27) didn't show majority support for any of the eight options put forward.

The votes are non-binding, but are meant to "indicate" a Brexit way forward MPs can agree on.

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Prime Minister Theresa May (PA)

Since the first set of indicative votes, Theresa May's withdrawal agreement has been rejected for a third time - and the date set for leaving the EU has been moved to April 12.

What was the first set of indicative votes, and how did the voting go?

No deal - No: 400, Yes: 160

Common Market 2.0 - No: 283, Yes: 188

EFTA and EEA - No: 377, Yes: 65

Customs Union - No: 272, Yes: 264

Labour's alternative plan - No: 307, Yes: 237

Revocation to avoid No Deal - No: 295, Yes: 268

Second referendum - No: 268, Yes: 295

Contingent preferential arrangements - No: 139, Yes: 422

All the options were rejected, with the proposals for a customs union and a second referendum attracting the most support.

Parliament votes AGAINST May's latest Brexit motion

So what happens now?

There are eight proposals which have been tabled for today's indicative votes.

Britain voted to leave the European Union (PA)

Speaker John Bercow is expected to announce mid-afternoon which ones he has chosen to be voted on.

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What are the options tabled for today's 'indicative votes' process?

Motion A: Unilateral right of exit from backstop - calls for Britain to leave the EU on May 22 with the withdrawal agreement amended to allow Britain to unilaterally exit the Northern Irish backstop. Tabled by John Baron, Conservative.

Motion B: No deal in the absence of a withdrawal agreement  - calls for Britain to leave the EU without a deal on April 12, if parliament cannot approve a withdrawal agreement. Tabled by John Baron, Conservative.

Motion C: Customs Union - calls on any deal negotiated with the EU to include a commitment to negotiate a UK-wide customs union. Tabled by Ken Clarke, Conservative.

Motion D: Common Market 2.0 - this is a Norway-style deal, which would include membership of the EU's single market and a customs arrangement. Tabled by the Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Dame Caroline Spelman, Labour’s Stephen Kinnock and Lucy Powell plus the SNP’s Stewart Hosie.

Motion E: Confirmatory public vote - a referendum to approve a Brexit deal before it is ratified by parliament. Tabled by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson.

Motion F:  Public vote to prevent no deal - Calls for a public vote if needed to avoid Britain leaving the EU without a deal. Tabled by Graham Jones, Labour, and Dominic Grieve, Conservative.

Motion G: Parliamentary Supremacy - seeking an extension of the Article 50 negotiating period if an exit deal is not ratified within two days of the day it is due to leave the EU. Tabled by Joanna Cherry, SNP, along with MPs from other parties.

Motion H: EFTA and EEA - Calls for Britain to remain a member of the European Economic Area (EEA) and to rejoin the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Tabled by George Eustice, Conservative.

How will the voting take place?

The voting is expected to work in a similar way to last week when those options selected by the Speaker are printed on a ballot paper and MPs are asked to vote "aye" or "no" to each of them.

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When are they voting?

The debate is due to end at 7pm, with MPs given half an hour to record their votes. The results could take anything up to two hours to count, so the result might not be in until 9.30pm.

What happens then?

It's reported that Theresa May will look to put her Brexit deal to a House of Commons vote for a fourth time on Tuesday.

In order to get around the Speaker's ruling that the prime minister cannot put the same proposal to the Commons multiple times, the deal could be placed in a run-off vote against the most popular option from Monday's indicative votes

Then, on Wednesday (April 3) there could be another round of so-called "indicative votes".

Speaker, John Bercow (PA)

If Theresa May's withdrawal agreement is approved, the UK is likely to leave the EU after a short extension of the Article 50 process, possibly until May 22, to allow time for parliament to pass necessary legislation.

But if a majority of MPs agree an alternative way forward, Theresa May could return to Brussels to renegotiate, with an extension to Article 50 also likely.

If the withdrawal agreement is rejected and there is no consensus in parliament for an alternative, there is the possibility of a no deal exit or a long extension to Article 50.

More votes in parliament, a General Election or a second referendum are then all possible outcomes.

On April 10 an emergency summit of EU leaders will consider any UK request for a further extension to Brexit day beyond April 12.

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