Theresa May Wants EU To Reopen Brexit Deal, Parliament To Debate Amendments

British Prime Minister Theresa May will ask the European Union to take a relook at the Brexit deal. She has directed her party’s lawmakers to debate various amendments to finalize the agenda for her future renegotiations with the EU.

Conservative MPs have been advised to come up with a plan that will serve as an alternative to the ticklish Irish backstop plan suggested by the European Union. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox noted that such a debate would give a “strong mandate” to the PM for talking to Brussels.

The EU envisages the Irish backstop plan as a buffer in case of a no-deal Brexit. That is about creating a soft border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But it is a negation of the Brexit spirit as it will ensure Britain’s continued adherence to the EU customs union.

The backstop would also ensure that no “tariffs, quotas, rules of origin or customs processes” will apply to UK-EU trade. It offers no clarity on how the UK could strike free trade agreements with other countries while keeping the backstop intact.

Labour Wants Parliament To Decide Brexit

Meanwhile, the opposition Labour Party has directed its lawmakers to vote for a plan that empowers parliament to delay Brexit, reports Reuters.

The move will eventually strip Prime Minister Theresa May of control of the Brexit process if she fails to get a good deal from the EU that the parliament can ratify.

The Labour move comes in the aftermath of the proposal by party lawmaker Yvette Cooper seeking a mandate to Prime Minister Theresa May until Feb. 26 for agreeing to a Brexit deal.

The plan says if May fails to get a deal, parliament would decide on the matter and seek a delay to Britain’s March 29 exit from the European Union. That plan would be put to vote after 1900 GMT, if Speaker John Bercow allows debate on Cooper’s proposal.

Tory Brexiteers To Cooperate

Theresa May has received support from both pro- and anti-Brexiteers among Conservative MPs who were pitching for a no-deal scenario.

They are pinning their hopes on the Malthouse proposals, being worked out by pro-EU advocates such as former education secretary Nicky Morgan, Stephen Hammond, Rob Buckland along with Brexiteers Jacob Rees-Mogg and Steve Baker. It is being coordinated by Conservative lawmaker Kit Malthouse.

The BBC, quoting a leaked document said the proposal accepted by rival factions is seeking an extension of the transition period. During that period, EU rules can prevail and contribution will be made to the EU budget also from late 2020 to Dec. 2021. This will ensure more time for reaching a free trade deal.

That period will also support EU citizens' rights and no customs checks on the Irish border will be allowed. In the end, the UK will pay 39 billion pounds for the divorce deal.

The Democratic Unionist Party, which is the main backer of May's government, has hailed the Malthouse proposals. Party leader Arlene Foster said the plan combines “many strands in the Brexit debate” as a "feasible alternative to the backstop mooted by the European Union.”

But the EU’s tough stand that no renegotiation is possible is a cause of worry for the UK politicians.