Cross-party committee says ‘time is not on our side’ amid slow-moving talks with EU

A committee of MPs has warned that parliament may not have enough time to approve the UK’s exit from the European Union by March 2019 as Theresa May heads to Brussels for the latest round of the slow-moving divorce talks.

The cross-party Brexit committee said that “even under the most optimistic outcome” of a divorce deal being agreed in October, there was not necessarily enough time for ratification by the article 50 deadline, particularly if MPs seek to amend the final deal.

Hilary Benn, the committee chairman, warned that “time is not on our side”, citing the fact that future customs arrangements and other crucial elements had not yet been signed off by cabinet or agreed with the EU.

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He added: “While the cabinet continues to run down the clock as it tries to agree on a plan, it would be unconscionable if the House of Commons was not provided with the time and opportunity both for the fullest debate and to enable a clear expression of its opinion on the most significant decision our country has faced in a generation.”

May travelled to Brussels for a summit on Thursday with her fellow EU leaders, at which they are expected to criticise the lack of clarity from the UK government on its Brexit choices.

There is no expectation of significant progress in the latest talks but a growing number of officials now believe it will not be possible to reach a final agreement in October either. That would delay a deal until the December summit, making the parliamentary timetable even tighter.

The Brexit committee concluded that the Commons would need at least five days to debate a government motion seeking approval for the final deal and consider amendments put down by MPs.

It rejected statements made by ministers that if the MPs and peers were not to sign off on their proposed exit deal the UK would automatically crash out of the EU on a “no deal” scenario in March 2019.

Instead the MPs said ministers should provide for a second parliamentary vote in such circumstances to allow for the government to negotiate further with the 27 other EU countries – and, if necessary, seek a limited extension to article 50 to allow negotiations to conclude.

If there was no prospect of reaching a satisfactory agreement and ministers were determined on leaving the UK on a “no deal” scenario, the committee said the Commons should also have the chance to express its view clearly and advise the government on how to proceed. The report added: “The country would expect more than MPs simply ‘took note’ of the situation.”

Separately, the chairs of two other select committees have expressed concern that parliament has not been given enough information by the government on which to make crucial Brexit decisions over the next few months.

Nicky Morgan, the chair of the Treasury select committee, and Meg Hiller, the chair of the public accounts committee, have sent a joint letter to MPs claiming the true cost of Brexit has not yet been made clear and will need to be revealed before a series of votes.

They highlighted a recent National Audit Office report warning that the divorce bill could be higher than the £39bn estimate and would be subject to a number of fluctuating factors. Some have estimated that the final bill could be closer to £50bn.



“Unless we understand what we and future generations are paying for we cannot call this a meaningful vote,” they wrote.

Once viewed as a crucial staging post on the way to Britain’s departure, the agenda of the June European council meeting will instead be dominated by migration and plans for eurozone reform. May will be allowed a few minutes to deliver a Brexit update at the start of a working dinner on Thursday evening.



The prime minister is due to return to London on Thursday night, leaving the EU27 to discuss their approach to Brexit without her on Friday morning.