Highland MPs scathing after Prime Minister vows to reopen Brexit backstop negotiations
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The 317-301 vote victory came after Speaker John Bercow selected seven amendments that variously sought to extend the date of departure, make a ‘no-deal’ impossible, place the Brexit process in the hands of parliament, and find an alternative to the Northern Ireland back-stop.
All were defeated except the Brady Amendment – seeking a renegotiated backstop - and a non-binding motion calling for an economically damaging ‘no-deal’ to be ruled out.
But Theresa May looks set to face a struggle reopening the Withdrawl Agreement negotiated with the EU after European Council president, Donald Tusk, immediately shot down the proposals, stating: "The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and the Withdrawal Agreement is not open for re-negotiation."
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford, who is also MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, had earlier submitted an amendment noting how the Scottish and Welsh assemblies voted against the Prime Minister’s deal, calling for an extension of article 50 – which would delay the UK’s EU departure - and for no deal to be removed as an option. It was defeated by 327 votes to 39.
He warned that the development means Number 10 has brought the country closer to a no-deal Brexit and undermined the Good Friday Agreement that brought peace to Northern Ireland.
“By throwing her weight behind an impossible demand from the hard Brexit wing of the Conservative Party the Prime Minister today demonstrated beyond doubt she is now prepared to take Scotland and the UK over the Brexit cliff-edge.
“Theresa May could have worked across parties to protect jobs and living standards but she chose to side with the Brexit extremists in her own party.
“Once again Scotland has been silenced, sidelined and shafted by Westminster, and we are paying a heavy price for a chaotic Tory government that Scotland did not vote for. And today the Tories ripped apart the Good Friday agreement, an international treaty the UK had signed up to."
His SNP colleague Drew Hendry, who represents Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, added: “With her Brexit deal in tatters after its record-breaking defeat in the House of Commons, Theresa May's focus remains on appeasing her Tory colleagues, rather than on delivering a plan to protect jobs and the economy.
“She knows this fudge on the Irish backstop cannot be delivered in any meaningful way, yet she continues to waste what valuable time is left. It is little wonder the EU 27 are so bemused by her behaviour.
“As ever, it is the public who will pay the price for this shambles. The Prime Minister has made no attempt to recognise the views of the Scottish electorate, and the damage Brexit will cause to the Scottish economy.
“Labour has shown they are also not to be trusted, leaving us facing the prospect of being hauled out of the EU and made to endure all the damage that brings. It is clear Westminster is not working for Scotland and it's time to take ownership of our own future.”
The Liberal Democrats voted in favour of the Labour MP Yvette Cooper’s amendment which was defeated by 321 votes to 298. It sought more to allow parliament more time to figure out how to break the deadlock.
When this failed Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, argued for a People’s Vote because crashing out with no-deal would, he said, be a disaster for those in the far north.
“Jobs, infrastructure, health care in my constituency all rely on EU citizens to fill vital roles and on EU funding," he explained.
“MPs who voted in favour of Brady’s amendment were knowingly voting for a no deal Brexit. The EU had made it very clear to all involved that they would not reopen negotiations. These MPs are running after a fantasy and it’s British people who will pay the price.
“All Theresa May has done is kick the can down the road and run the clock down even further. She is gambling with time we just don’t have.”
Mr Stone also sought to underline the importance of the non-binding Spelman amendment which stated the UK will not leave the EU without a deal.
“Labour MPs who sat on their hands have once again facilitated Theresa May and the European Research Group (Eurosceptic Conservative) in their pursuit of a no deal Brexit.
“A win for amendment “I” means the government has once again been told that there is no majority in the house for a no deal Brexit. The PM needs to take no deal off the table - as she should have done months ago - and recognise that people are not in favour of a hard Brexit which will damage our country.
