Another Commons battle looms as Labour vows to fight government on early recess motion and Brexit trade bill amendment
Theresa May is facing rebellions on not one but two different votes today – including one about bringing the start of recess forward.
Fresh from her pyrrhic victory yesterday, the Prime Minister is to go head-to-head with Remainers over another Brexit bill – this time on trade – and her decision to start MPs' summer holiday on Thursday this week, instead of Tuesday next week.
A Labour whips source confirmed that the party would be opposing the early recess motion, telling Morning Wire: "There are important issues facing this country and the general public won't understand if MPs break up early for their holidays."
An earlier break will buy May some much-needed breathing space, as would-be plotters will be sent away from Westminster. But the suggestion that MPs take extra time off during one of the most critical – and busiest – periods in recent parliamentary history has gone down badly even among members of her own party.
Tories including Nick Boles and Sir Nicholas Soames have already indicated they will vote against the government over the recess motion.
There could hardly be a worse time for Parliament to vote to start recess early. The government is wrong to propose it and I urge MPs of all parties and convictions to oppose the motion later today.
— Nick Boles MP (@NickBoles) July 17, 2018
An appalling decision to adjourn House on thurs which I will not support We have much work to do outside the Brexit SNAFU.#whoisinchargeoftheclatteringtrain
— Nicholas Soames (@NSoames) July 17, 2018
If business overruns the vote could – ironically – be delayed until tomorrow. However there is some suggestion the motion may be pulled outright over fears that May would lose face with another potential defeat.
Ahead of that vote, the Prime Minister faces a stand-off with pro-EU backbenchers over a key piece of Brexit legislation.
Remainers led by Stephen Hammond and Nicky Morgan will be pushing a new amendment to the government's trade bill, which will make it a negotiating objective to "participate after exit day in a customs union with the EU", in the event that a deal on frictionless trade cannot be secured by January.
Morgan has already trailed the amendment with a letter written to fellow MPs arguing that the benefits of post-Brexit free trade deals would be outweighed by the impact of leaving the Single Market and customs union.
Labour is backing the rebel Tories' amendment, which has also been signed by Jonathan Djanogly, Dominic Grieve, Heidi Allen and Antoinette Sandbach as well as a number of opposition MPs including Chuka Umunna and Chris Leslie, with a source saying they expected "significant numbers" to support it.
That means the government could face another close run after two amendments to the customs bill passed yesterday with just three votes.