According to a pro-EU Tory MP Philip Hammond, the government is said to have “hijacked” Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit Bill amendment over a meaningful vote by attempting to influence the entire process.
Theresa May faces a crisis and a possible rebellion within parliament. Stephen Hammond made the above remarks following the government’s Brexit legislation and her failed attempt at compromising with backbenchers who were in favour of a soft Brexit.
Hammond deemed the government’s interference in the latest amendment of the Brexit Bill to be “unbelievably inconsistent”. Despite this, he still stated:
“I’m sure and I’m convinced the prime minister intends to honour her word” on Mr Hammond on BBC’s Radio 4 Today.
He continued:
”What I think has happened is some people in the Government may have got involved in the process late in the day, people who weren’t at that meeting, people who hadn’t been involved earlier in the negotiations and who may unfortunately have hijacked the process.”
Tory MP Dominic Grieve had said that he tabled the meeting on Thursday morning where he, along with the ministers, had negotiated and agreed to a new amendment which had been changed later on that day.
“At the very last minute the government suddenly altered the words of the final part, which I thought had been agreed before lunch when I left.” said Mr Grieve.
Labour Shadow secretary Sir Keir Starmer said:
“Theresa May has gone back on her word and offered an amendment that takes the meaning out of meaningful vote. Parliament cannot – and should not – accept it.”
