Defeat in the Commons for Theresa May ‘s Finance Bill

Another humiliation for the UK Government as MP’s back amendment tabled by Labour MP Yvette Cooper,  to the finance bill to curb government powers in the event of a No Deal Brexit scenario. MP’s voted by 303 to 296 in favour of this amendment, with 20 Conservatives rebelling against their government, as some said much against their own will.

This amendment will “derail a no deal Brexit by starving the government of cash and creating a Donald Trump style shutdown” and it will “stop the government from doing things to make the tax system work”. It says certain no deal related powers in clause 89 of the Finance Bill could only be exercised if there is either (a) deal or (b) an extension of Art.50 or (c) a Commons vote authorising a no deal Brexit.

The House of Commons is scheduled to spend 5 days debating the EU Withdrawal Agreement ending with a “meaningful vote” on 15 January 2019.

As it stands at the moment the Government appears likely to lose any vote on the current deal even with the concessions and clarifications Theresa May has obtained from Brussels.

The issue: EU is unwilling to reopen the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement already negotiated.

What will happen next is still unknown.

Courtesy : Srilanka Guardian