UK rules out Brexit plan vote

Questioned by MPs in parliament during a debate on a Labour motion to allow parliament to “properly scrutinise the plan” beforehand, Mr Davis said the government was still consulting widely with different sectors about their concerns surrounding Brexit – and about opportunities - so as to formulate the plan for what it will seek in negotiations with the EU.

He said it was still too early to come to conclusions – that was why Theresa May had allowed until the end of March next year before triggering article 50. However he also ruled out fully explaining the plan before the trigger, saying the government should not reveal its hand before the negotiations start.

“It’s like when you buy a house – if you say ‘I love your house and I’m not looking at any others’ the price will probably go up,” he said.

Mr Davis said parliament would not be given the chance to '"veto" the plan but there would be further opportunities for it to debate issues surrounding Brexit before article 50 is triggered and an MPs’ select committee would also be set up from next month to discuss it at regular intervals, as well as an equivalent group in the Lords.

Senior Conservatives were among those who spoke in favour of a full parliamentary vote, including Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, and Ken Clarke.

Mr Grieve said: 'Is it not the case that the convention is very clearly established that a major treaty change has to be triggered by an affirmative resolution of this House?

The debate followed a Prime Minister’s Question Time in which Theresa May also ruled out a vote. She said: “Labour didn't want a referendum, we gave them a referendum, Labour didn't like the result - we are listening to the British people and delivering on that result.”

Triggering article 50 – the EU’s exit clause, starts a two-year countdown after which the UK would no longer be in the EU unless the other 27 states agree to an extension of Brexit negotiations.

Experts say however the ‘Brexit negotiations’ on the terms of the UK’s departure may not include full details of matters like the future trading relationship between the UK and EU, which could be negotiated in parallel and may well take longer to conclude (perhaps with an intervening period when the UK will trade under

World Trade Organisation rules if no other interim arrangement is agreed). They will however include such matters as what the UK owes the EU and vice versa, and it is hoped that agreements on key expat rights – on both sides of the channel – would be reached.

Also this week a legal challenge is being heard in the High Court by parties seeking a court ruling that a vote is required before article 50 is triggered