Brexit Voting Week Commencing 11th March 2019

Tuesday - We were asked to vote again on the Government's Withdrawal Agreement. I confess again that I was torn as to what to do. I don't like the current agreement, but I feared that by voting it down we would be risking no Brexit. In the end I decided to vote against the agreement and my worse fears have been realised.

Wednesday - Those who are still determined to somehow stop Brexit, tabled an amendment taking "no deal" off the table. I voted against that amendment, as did most of my Conservative colleagues, however, we were defeated by 4 votes, thanks mainly to the Labour Party voting for the amendment, along with the SNP, the Liberal Democrats, the Welsh nationalists, Independents and a dozen or so Conservatives.

Thursday - There were a number of other significant votes. The first was an amendment calling for a second referendum, but that was defeated by 334 votes to 85, with most Labour Party MPs abstaining. I voted against the amendment.

This was followed by an amendment which would have taken control of the Brexit negotiations away from the Government and put it in the hands of the MPs who are trying to stop us leaving the EU. We only just won that vote by 314 votes to 312. Once again the Labour Party showed its true colours by voting for the amendment. I voted against.

Next up was a wishy-washy Labour Party amendment that was confusing and contradictory, but amounted to an attempt to stop Brexit. It was defeated by 318 to 302. I voted against.

The final significant vote was on the Government's own motion to delay Brexit by either a couple of months (to enable the necessary Brexit legislation to get through Parliament if the Withdrawal Agreement is eventually passed), or a longer delay, perhaps up to two years, (if the Agreement is not passed). This motion was passed by 413 to 202. I abstained on this vote, because whilst I accept there will now be a need for a short delay to Brexit, in order to get legislation through Parliament, I could not vote for a possible longer delay.