Results of the Brexit indicative votes II: Every option rejected once again

Results of the Brexit indicative votes II: Every option rejected once again

Following last Wednesday’s first session of indicative votes, MPs have spent a second day debating a variety of proposals relating to Brexit, at the end of which indicative votes again took place using paper ballots which gave us the following results:

C) Customs union (Ken Clarke)
AYES: 273   NOES: 276

D) “Common market 2.0” (Nick Boles)
AYES: 261   NOES: 282

E) Second Referendum (Peter Kyle)
AYES: 280   NOES: 292

G) Parliamentary supremacy (Joanna Cherry)
AYES: 191   NOES: 292

As last week, Tory MPs had a free vote, except for Cabinet ministers, who were whipped to abstain. There were four other motions tabled which the Speaker didn’t select to be voted upon, including two from Tory Brexiteer John Baron, on seeking the right to leave the backstop unilaterally and backing No Deal.

As last week, MPs rejected every single option put to a vote.

A breakdown of how MPs voted in each division appears below.

C) Customs union
AYES: 273   NOES: 276  Majority: 3

Proposed by veteran Tory europhile Ken Clarke with support from some Labour backbenchers and a few Tory Remainers, this demands that any Brexit deal should include, as a minimum, a commitment to negotiate a “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU”. It had been rejected last week by 272 votes to 264.

Voting in favour: 37 Conservatives, 230 Labour MPs, 1 Liberal Democrat and 5 Independents 

Voting against: 236 Conservatives, 10 Labour MPs, 5 Liberal Democrats, all 11 TIG MPs, all 10 DUP MPs, the 1 Green MP and 3 Independents

Among the 37 Conservatives voting in favour (despite the Conservative manifesto explicitly opposing Customs Union membership) were 9 ministers: Robert Buckland, Alan Duncan, Tobias Ellwood, Mark Field, Stephen Hammond, Margot James, Anne Milton, Guy Opperman and Rory Stewart.   

Details of who voted which way here.

D) “Common market 2.0”=====================
AYES: 261   NOES: 282  Majority: 21

Proposed by a cross-party group led by Conservative Nick Boles and Labour’s Stephen Kinnock with support from the SNP’s Stewart Hosie, this proposes UK membership of the European Free Trade Association and European Economic Area, allowing continued participation in the Single Market and a “comprehensive customs arrangement” (including a UK say on future EU trade deals) with the EU after Brexit, which would remain in place until the agreement of a wider trade deal which guarantees frictionless movement of goods and an open border in Ireland. It had been rejected last week by 283 votes to 188.

Voting in favour: 33 Conservatives, 185 Labour MPs, 32 SNP MPs, 4 Plaid Cymru MPs, 2 Liberal Democrats and 5 Independents 

Voting against: 228 Conservatives, 25 Labour MPs, 4 Liberal Democrats, all 11 TIG MPs, all 10 DUP MPs, the 1 Green MP and 3 Independents  

Details of who voted which way here.

E) Confirmatory public vote (a.k.a. second referendum)
AYES: 280   NOES: 292  Majority: 12

Proposed by Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson with support from numerous Labour backbenchers, some Tory Remainers, the Lib Dems, Independent Group, SNP and Plaid Cymru, this requires a public vote to confirm any Brexit deal passed by Parliament before its ratification. It had been rejected last week by 295 votes to 268.

Voting in favour: 15 Conservatives, 203 Labour MPs, 31 SNP MPs, 4 Plaid Cymru MPs, all 11 Liberal Democrats, all 11 TIG MPs, the 1 Green MP and 4 Independents 

Voting against: 253 Conservatives, 24 Labour MPs, all 10 DUP MPs and 5 Independents 

Details of who voted which way here.

G) Parliamentary supremacy=====================
AYES: 191   NOES: 292  Majority 101

Proposed by the SNP’s Joanna Cherry along with Dominic Grieve with support from numerous Labour backbenchers, the Lib Dems, Independent Group and Plaid Cymru, they plan to seek an extension to the Brexit process, and if this is not possible then Parliament would have to choose between either No Deal or revoking Article 50, followed by an inquiry to assess the future relationship likely to be acceptable to Brussels and have majority support in the UK.

Voting in favour: 10 Conservatives, 121 Labour MPs, 32 SNP MPs, 4 Plaid Cymru MPs, 10 Liberal Democrats, all 11 TIG MPs, the 1 Green MP and 2 Independents 

Voting against: 260 Conservatives, 18 Labour MPs, all 10 DUP MPs and 4 Independents 

Details of who voted which way here.

Photocredit: ©UK Parliament/Mark Duffy