UK to reveal details of Brexit talks plan

At one point during the seven-hour debate in the chamber of the Commons, speakers referred to the hearing taking place 200 meters away in the Supreme Court.

The prime minister has promised to make the move by the end of March 2017, but MPs will have a vote on the issue if the government loses an appeal at the Supreme Court.

But, as HuffPost UK reported yesterday, the “plan” may amount to nothing more than a list of the Prime Minister’s broad objectives, rather than any detailed proposals for negotiation in Brussels.

Davis said the government will “obey the rule of law” whatever the outcome of the historic case. “I will not vote to trigger Article 50 due to the harm I believe it would cause”.

A total of just 22 remain-backing lawmakers from the Conservative and Labour parties have said they either definitely would or may vote against triggering Article 50, depending on what information they have at the time. It is only a commitment to do so by the end of March next year. However, the rebels were told they would be blocking the will of the British people if they refused to back the plans for Article 50 negotiations.

There, the 11 highest judges in Britain will have to decide whether the government can trigger the process without a thumbs up from the two houses of parliament. At least, not enough to block Article 50 (and therefore Brexit) from being triggered.

Starmer insisted the move was not an attempt to “frustrate or delay” the triggering of Article 50 and said Labour will endeavour to “shape the debate” and use its influence to prevent Theresa May and the United Kingdom government from pursuing a so-called hard Brexit.

However, in a bid to woo Tory rebels, Labour’s own motion says: There should be no disclosure of material that could be reasonably judged to damage the United Kingdom in any negotiations.

The non-binding motion was approved by 461 votes to 89, majority 372.

May has previously said she wants the “best possible deal” for trade with the European Union, to create new deals outside the bloc and to control immigration. On workers’ rights? Environmental protections?

But that’s not quite how every Labour MPs sees it. Labour’s Keir Starmer, the party’s Brexit spokesman, will claim victory.

Mr Davis also said it was “inconceivable” that MPs would not be given a vote on the eventual Brexit deal, probably in 2019.

The SNP has tabled its own amendment to Labour’s motion, calling for a formal role for the devolved administrations.

The Government’s amendment was backed by some 150 Labour MPs.

After Labour proposed its motion, Prime Minister Theresa May had reportedly faced a rebellion by up to 40 Conservative MPs.

He said that “soft Brexit is gaining ground”, not only among Tory MPs but in government following a recent softening of language by the secretary of state for exiting the European Union, David Davis.

“The house, the public, businesses, working people, the media and our communities are entitled to know the basis on which the government intend to negotiate their future”, he said. Few will likely oppose the notion for fear of appearing undemocratic.

British police on Wednesday said they had arrested a man on suspicion of sending racist messages to a businesswoman spearheading the legal challenge to Britain’s divorce from the EU.