David Davis tried to reassure Tory MPs that last week’s court ruling — and the forthcoming supreme court appeal — would not delay the government invoking Article 50, in a Commons statement this afternoon. The Brexit secretary re-stated Theresa May’s words that the government values the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the press. He insisted that, despite the appeal, May still plans to trigger Article 50 by the end of March.
The subsequent debate, however, made clear just how much division there is on the issue — as Davis accused those MPs demanding control over Brexit of wanting to ‘wreck the negotiation’. Anna Soubry’s call for ‘temperate’ language in the debate, provoked light mockery from her colleagues — with Soubry herself not one to be known for biting her tongue. Theresa Villiers was heckled by Nick Clegg when she suggested it would be undemocratic for the so-called Liberal Democrats to block the will of the people. Meanwhile, Davis surprised Ed Miliband by telling him that the country was not as divided as the former Labour leader made out — with Davis admitting to agreeing with two thirds of what Jeremy Corbyn proposed on Sunday in relation to Article 50.
While Davis batted off most concerns from MPs without breaking a sweat, he was asked several times — by MPs including Nicky Morgan and Douglas Carswell — why the government doesn’t just scrap the appeal and pass a bill to trigger Article 50. In reply, the Brexit secretary insisted that it was best to wait for the appeal, due in January. However, with Labour today suggesting they would not block a bill and Theresa May insisting that she still plans to trigger Article 50 in March, a bill could now prove the most time and cost efficient option.
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