The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow has ruled that the Prime Minister is not allowed to ask MPs to vote on her Brexit deal a third time unless it has “substantially” changed.
It had been reported that Theresa May would make a last ditch attempt to get her deal through this week, but that’s unlikely to be the case now.
Bercow said: “If the government wishes to bring forward a new proposition that is neither the same nor substantially the same as that disposed of by the House on March 12, this would be entirely in order,” he said.
“What the government cannot legitimately do is resubmit to the House the same proposition – or substantially the same proposition – as that of last week, which was rejected by 149 votes.”
One govt minister tells me Bercow is ‘breaking the constitution’ by stopping them putting forward another vote on the deal
— Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) March 18, 2019
Speaker Bercow says @theresa_may may not bring her motion back for another meaningful vote unless her Brexit deal is seen to have changed substantially – because that would breach Commons conventions and rules. This is difficult for the prime minister’s hopes of getting her…
— Robert Peston (@Peston) March 18, 2019
Can I say this. I love John Bercow….!!! #Bercow https://t.co/DArkQAanpo
— Bevan Boy? (@mac123_m) March 18, 2019
I think Erskine May has just defeated Theresa May. The Meaningful Vote can only come back if substantially changed the Speaker John Bercow has advised
— (((Alex Sobel MP))) (@alexsobel) March 18, 2019
Tory Brexiteers’ vote for Theresa May’s deal depend on new leader for party
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