Brexit crisis: MPs to vote again to find a way out of parliamentary deadlock
Theresa May is under increasing pressure to find a consensus in parliament, after her deal was rejected by MPs for a third time.
Monday 1 April 2019 14:54, UK
MPs are once again set to take control of the parliamentary agenda in a fresh attempt to find an alternative to Theresa May's Brexit deal.
MPs will take part in a second round of indicative votes to see if there is an option that can command a majority.
Sir Oliver Letwin submitted the motion last week, which allowed MPs to vote on a number of alternatives at the same time, to try to find a way to break the Brexit deadlock in the Commons.
MPs took part in the first round of voting last week, but none of the alternative ideas had a parliamentary majority.
Eight options have been tabled for today's indicative votes, including a no-deal Brexit, a customs union and a people's vote.
Speaker John Bercow will select which options will be part of the fresh vote later on Monday. Reports suggest he may only select three or four.
He is also expected to say if MPs will vote using a preferential voting system, in an effort to bring MPs to a decision.
With the clock ticking down towards the new exit date of 12 April, Mrs May is struggling to find a way through parliament with her deal.
It was rejected for a third time by the Commons on Friday, but it has been suggested she could bring it back for a fourth time this week, to try to avoid a no-deal despite repeated warnings from Mr Bercow that he will not allow the deal to keep coming back to parliament.
Downing Street did not rule out the move in its twice-daily briefing with journalists on Monday.
Mrs May's spokesperson promised to "engage constructively" with the indicative vote results and said the prime minister could bring her deal back if "we have a realistic prospect of success".
The prime minister has spent the weekend trying to win back the support of MPs who could be won over, with her aides saying that she remains focused on getting her deal over the line.
Some hard-Brexit MPs now believe that Mrs May's deal is the hardest break with the EU on offer and could now back it, but the prime minister is still lacking the support of the DUP, who have repeatedly voted against her deal.
But the prime minister has also been warned against accepting a customs union arrangement, one of the options put forward today, as some Conservative MPs believe it would hinder attempts to strike future trade deals.
It has also been reported that cabinet Brexiteers, such as International Development Secretary Penny Morduant and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, are ready to resign if Mrs May accepts the plan.
On the other hand, Justice Secretary David Gauke said he would quit the government if the UK left the EU without a deal.
Piling more pressure on the government, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has hinted this weekend at tabling a no-confidence motion, to try to force a general election, should Mrs May fail in her bid once again.
:: Watch a Sky News Brexit Crisis special this evening, live from Westminster at 6pm with Dermot Murnaghan