Theresa May battles party rebels for power to trigger Brexit

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Theresa May is preparing to trigger Brexit but must first pacify rebels within her own governing party. With a vote set for Monday on a bill granting May the authority to open divorce talks with the European Union, some Conservative lawmakers are pushing for Parliament to have a say on what happens if negotiations break down without an agreement. If May refuses to bow to their demand, they may oppose her in the vote, according to lawmaker Alistair Burt, a former minister.

The lower house of Parliament is being asked by May to delete conditions imposed by the unelected upper House of Lords to her draft law, so she can press ahead and start Brexit by March 31. Peers amended the bill to protect residency rights of EU nationals living in the UK and guarantee legislators a binding vote on the outcome of talks with the EU, even if there is no pact.

“Parliament must be involved and I want the government to give an assurance about Parliament’s role if there is no deal,” Burt said in a telephone interview on Friday. “If they can’t, it may not be possible to get in the way of the Lords’ amendment.”

Bob Nei l l, another former Tory minister, said by phone on Saturday he’s weighing how to vote and hopes May will give new assurances over Parliament’s role.

Among other senior Tories pressing May over Parliament’s role shaping Brexit is former cabinet minister Nicky Morgan. She said by phone she hadn’t decided whether to oppose May and keep the Lords’ amendment and was “waiting to hear how the government deals with how Parliament has a say if no deal is agreed.”

Brexit Secretary David Davis said the House of Commons, meeting on Monday, should restore the short bill to its original form.