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The latest move by MPs seeking to stop no deal: cut off the Government’s provision to spend money unless:
1️⃣ The Commons passes a Withdrawal Agreement
2️⃣ The Commons agrees to leave the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement.
1️⃣ The Commons passes a Withdrawal Agreement
2️⃣ The Commons agrees to leave the EU without a Withdrawal Agreement.
Why is this important? Annual expenditure control remains a constitutional requirement, and the Commons must approve the Estimates each year. Estimates scrutiny has historically been very poor, and the @CommonsProcCom produced a report on this in 2017 publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cm…
Tabling amendments to the Estimates that places conditions on the Government’s expenditure is a new tactic - until now MPs opposed to no-deal have tried to capture days to legislate to compel the Government to seek an extension. However chances to do this before 31.10 are scarce.
This stops short of a vote of no confidence, but ups the stakes on the Government. The Estimates process needs to be completed before the House rises before the summer recess. It’s early to assess chances of success, but the Govt will be taking this very seriously.
For clarity, the Govt could delay to the Autumn sittings but not to 31.10, so they could pull the debate next week, but not indefinitely.
