Commons Speaker John Bercow gave a last-minute statement to the Commons today on Mrs May's Brexit deal, and effectively blocked a new vote
Bercow sabotages PM’s Brexit deal: Speaker says May CANNOT ask MPs to vote again on her plan unless it changes ‘substantially’ – leaving her strategy for exiting the EU in tatters
John Bercow was today accused of sabotaging Theresa May’s Brexit after banning her from forcing a new vote on the same deal and told MPs: ‘I have never been pushed around – I’m not going to start now’.
The Commons Speaker cited a Commons precedent from 1604 to inflict an extraordinary blow to Mrs May’s hopes of getting her divorce through Parliament – unless it is ‘substantially’ adapted with just ten days until Britain leaves the EU.
The PM’s Brexit plans have been left in tatters having spent days trying to convince the DUP, Tory Brexiteers and Labour rebels to back her deal at the last minute.
If she fails her deal will be killed off with No Deal or a long-term delay to Brexit the most likely outcomes on March 29.
Mr Bercow told the Commons: ‘If the Government wishes to bring forward a new proposition that is neither the same or substantially the same as that disposed of by the House on March 12, that would be entirely in order.
‘What the Government cannot legitimately do is resubmit to the House the same proposition or substantially the same proposition that was rejected by 149 votes’.
Asked if he was worried about the ramifications of his decision he added: ‘I’ve never lost a wink of sleep over anything work related’.
His 11th hour decision will infuriate No 10 who admitted that he had not warned them he was giving a statement – let alone what it was about – before dropping his Brexit bombshell this afternoon.
The PM learned the news at just after 3.30pm today and minutes later her spokesman said: ‘The Speaker did not forewarn us of the content of his statement or the fact that he was making one. We were not given any advance warning he was going to say that.’
Getting around Mr Bercow’s intervention could force the Government to end the current session early and hold a quick-fire State Opening of Parliament.
While technically possible it would kill off a raft of laws and proposals in progress in Parliament – many of which are Brexit related – but is a certain way to also kill off the Speaker’s bar on a new vote.