Parliament to debate Brexit before Article 50 triggered May says no vote

The government has agreed to allow Parliament to scrutinise and debate the strategy to leave the European Union before Article 50 is triggered by the end of March next year.

In a last-minute concession on Tuesday night, Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to a “full and transparent” debate in the House of Commons on the condition this did not undermine negotiations with EU.

Sterling, which had plummeted in to 31-year lows since the referendum in June, rebounded on Wednesday as news of the debate emerged.

At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, May also assured that the government will try to ensure the "maximum possible access" to the single market, but maintained that a vote to leave the EU was also a vote to control over emigration.

“What we are going to do is deliver on the vote of the British people… be ambitious in our negotiations and that will include maximum possible access to the European market."

The Labour party had proposed the motion calling for a debate, demanding that Parliament be “able to properly scrutinise that plan for leaving the EU before Article 50 is invoked”.

May amended the proposal so that “the process should be undertaken in such a way that respects the decision of the UK when they voted to leave the EU” and the debate “should not undermine the negotiating position of the government” when negotiations start.

The concession from May is contrary to previous comments that she could not give a “running commentary” over the divorce proceedings and ruled out giving MPs a vote on a triggering Article 50 or on the terms of Brexit.

Thornberry told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme on Wednesday: “We are doing our job as the opposition and we’re doing it well. We published 170 questions today that we expect the government to answer, at least to have some idea about, at least to have thought about before they go and trigger Article 50. Today they backed down in parliament and we’re pleased.”

There is debate over what type of deal the government should seek, either a hard Brexit - leaving the EU single market completely, switching to World Trade Organization rules and curbing the free movement of people - or a soft Brexit - retaining access to the single market by allowing free movement and making some contributions to the EU budget.

Connor Campbell, a financial analyst at Spreadex, said: “Still dining out on the news that the prime minister has promised MPs a debate on the terms of the Brexit, sterling has surged nearly 1% against the dollar and 1.3% against the euro. It’s only a minor victory for the pound, which is still stuck below $1.225 and barely over €1.11, but given its recent run any kind of growth will do.”

On Tuesday leaked government papers revealed that the Treasury would stand to lose £66bn a year in lost tax revenue after 15 years if the country opted for a hard Brexit, and GDP would fall by about 9.5%, compared if the country stayed in the EU.