The British
parliament was set to back Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit timetable on
Wednesday after she headed off a rebellion in her Conservative Party over a
lack of
insight into the government's strategy to leave the European Union.
May has come under
pressure from lawmakers, businesses and investors to set out at least a broad
picture of how she sees Britain's future relationship with the EU. She says
giving too much away could weaken Britain's hand in the country's most
important negotiations since World War Two.
In a sometimes rowdy
session in parliament, the opposition Labour Party pressed its motion for a
detailed plan setting out the government's negotiating stance in its talks with
the bloc before triggering the formal divorce procedure.
But by agreeing to
the government's demand for parliament to endorse May's timetable to trigger
Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty by the end of March, Labour lawmakers were
accused of falling into a trap -- allowing ministers to invoke the divorce
without consultation.
Labour Brexit
spokesman Keir Starmer denied it was a vote on Article 50 but rather one on
forcing the government to offer a plan with "enough detail and clarity to
end the circus of uncertainty" over Britain's future ties to the EU's
single market of 500 million consumers.
"Asking for a
plan setting out the objectives is not to seek to undermine the UK's
negotiating hand nor is it to seek a running commentary, but it is in fact to
have clarity, scrutiny and accountability," he said.
He said that if the
government failed to a sufficiently detailed plan, Labour would challenge it
again, he said, adding that the party aimed to head off a "hard
Brexit".
The answer from
government was clear -- it was offering information when it could and it would
produce a plan. What was not clear was what would be included in that plan.
"I will make as
much information as possible available without prejudicing our negotiating
position," said David Davis, May's Brexit minister.
"UNDEMOCRATIC"
Some lawmakers have
said they will oppose the motion, but with Labour on board, May should get
parliamentary backing for her plan to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
May hopes to stick
to her timetable but faces obstacles after a court ruled that the government
needs parliament's assent to invoke Article 50. The government is challenging
that ruling in the Supreme Court.
Earlier, government
minister David Lidington said lawmakers who planned to vote against the
government would "thwart the outcome of the referendum in the most
profoundly undemocratic manner".
Also on Wednesday, a
lawyer said that even if parliament did vote in favor of the March deadline,
that would make no difference to his case that parliament, not ministers, had
the power to authorize triggering Brexit talks. [nL5N1E237L]
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