What are the indicative votes? The eight options that could change the course of Brexit

WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

MPs will tonight be asked to consider a range of eight alternative Brexit options after Parliament seized control of the Commons agenda to force a series of "indicative votes".

Voting will take place in the Commons from 7pm on a series of options to see if anything commands a majority in Parliament.

On Monday evening, MPs backed an amendment for the votes put forward by Tory MP Sir Oliver Letwin and a cross-party group to try to find a way through the Brexit impasse after Theresa May's deal failed to secure a majority in the Commons twice.

Speaker John Bercow has now selected eight of the 16 proposals put forward, which are currently being debated in the Commons.

Speaker John Bercow selected eight options for the 'indicative votes' 
EPA

The House will be suspended for voting to take place from 7pm to 7.30pm and MPs will be able to vote for and against as many options as they like. However, Mr Bercow said MPs cannot vote aye and no to the same motion.

The results of the votes are expected shortly after 9pm and will be available on the House of Commons app.

A second round of voting could take place next Monday to find a single preference once the options are narrowed down.

Here are the different options that MPs will vote on today:

Common Market 2.0

Tabled by Conservatives Nick Boles, Robert Halfon and Andrew Percy and Labour's Stephen Kinnock, Lucy Powell and Diana Johnson, the motion proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area.

It allows continued participation in the single market and a "comprehensive customs arrangement" with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland.

No deal

Backed by Conservative MPs John Baron, David Amess, Martin Vickers and Stephen Metcalfe, the motion proposes leaving the European Union without a deal on April 12.

EEA/EFTA without customs union

A motion tabled by Conservative MP George Eustice - who quit as agriculture minister this month to fight for Brexit - proposes remaining within the EEA and rejoining EFTA, but remaining outside a customs union with the EU.

The motion was also signed by Conservative MPs including former minister Nicky Morgan and head of the Brexit Delivery Group Simon Hart.

Customs union

The motion requires a commitment to negotiate a "permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU" in any Brexit deal.

It was tabled by veteran Conservative Europhile Ken Clarke, backed by Labour's Yvette Cooper, Helen Goodman and chair of the Commons Exiting the EU Committee Hilary Benn and Tory former ministers Sir Oliver Letwin and Sarah Newton.

Labour's plan

Labour has tabled a motion again proposing its plan for a close economic relationship with the EU.

The plan includes a comprehensive customs union with a UK say on future trade deals; close alignment with the single market; matching new EU rights and protections; participation in EU agencies and funding programmes; and agreement on future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant.

Revoke Article 50

Under this plan, if the Government has not passed its Withdrawal Agreement, it would have to stage a vote on a no-deal Brexit two sitting days before the scheduled date of departure.

If MPs refuse to authorise no-deal, the Prime Minister would be required to halt Brexit by revoking Article 50.

The motion, tabled by the SNP's Joanna Cherry, has been signed by 38 MPs including Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable, Labour's Ben Bradshaw and all 11 members of The Independent Group.

Confirmatory public vote

This motion would require a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification.

It was drawn up by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson and tabled by former foreign secretary Dame Margaret Beckett with the backing of scores of MPs across the House.

Contingent preferential arrangements

A group of Conservative MPs, including Marcus Fysh, Steve Baker and Priti Patel, have signed this motion.

It calls for the Government to seek to agree preferential trade arrangements with the EU, in case the UK is unable to implement a Withdrawal Agreement with the bloc.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT