UK’s Brexit Commons vote now unlikely before Christmas
- Vote had been due to take place on Tuesday evening, but was pulled amid near-unanimous expectations the government would lose heavily
- Theresa May is in Brussels for a European Council summit
The crunch vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal appears very unlikely to take place before Christmas after the newly-published schedule for Commons business next week showed no sign of it.
Parliament starts its Christmas recess next Friday, but the business for the week announced by the leader of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, featured no Brexit elements beyond a statement by May on Monday about this week’s EU summit.
Downing Street refused to confirm that the schedule definitely means that the vote – which the government has promised will take place before January 21 – has been put off till the New Year. However, it is understood that a vote before Christmas is seen as very unlikely.
The vote, which had been due to take place on Tuesday evening at the end of five days of debate, was pulled amid near-unanimous expectations the government would lose heavily.
Announcing the decision, May said she was aware of particular worries about the Northern Irish backstop plan, the guarantee to prevent a hard Irish border if no permanent customs solution is found, and would seek clarification from EU leaders.
