Parliament to get vote on final Brexit deal
Parliament will be given a vote on the final Brexit deal before the country leaves EU, David Davis has told MPs.
The Brexit Secretary said the terms of the UK's exit – including any transition deal and agreement on citizen rights – would have to become law via new legislation.
And he said MPs would have the opportunity to reject or amend such legislation, saying 'the agreement will only hold if Parliament approves it'.
Opposition MPs and Tory rebels have been demanding such a concession. They include Dominic Grieve, the Conservative former Attorney General, who previously tabled an amendment to the EU withdrawal bill demanding a vote.
In response, Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden, who sits on the cross-party Brexit Select Committee, said the decision had been made ‘in the face of impending parliamentary defeat’ over the bill.
Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer also accused Mr Davis of only making the announcement because the Government was facing defeat on the bill.
He said: "This is a significant climbdown from a weak Government on the verge of defeat.
"For months, Labour has been calling on ministers to guarantee Parliament a final say on the withdrawal agreement.
"With less than 24 hours before they had to defend their flawed bill to Parliament they have finally backed down.
"However, like everything with this Government the devil will be in the detail.
"Ministers must now go further. They need to accept Labour’s amendments that would ensure transitional arrangements, and protect jobs and the economy from a cliff edge."
