Fresh Brexit chaos as speaker blocks third vote on May's deal

Theresa May's hopes of finally passing her Brexit deal were dealt a fresh blow on Monday when it emerged that the British prime minister will not be allowed to put the agreement before MPs for a third time this parliamentary session unless there are fundamental changes to it.

The latest twist in May's attempts to take Britain out of the European Union came at the hands of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow, a controversial figure among pro-Brexit MPs, just 11 days before the scheduled departure date.‍

What did Bercow say?

Bercow announced on Monday – to the surprise of May's office – that the government would not be able to bring forward proposals for a vote in parliament this week unless the content was substantially different from those defeated twice before.

May's deal was crushed by 230 votes in January and a slightly revised version went down by 149 on February 12, but the government had indicated the agreement would be put before MPs for a third time this week if there was a realistic chance of victory.

Speaker John Bercow addresses the House of Commons in London, Britain, March 14, 2019. /VCG Photo

Parliamentary rules dictate that substantially similar proposals cannot be voted on in the House of Commons more than once during the same session of parliament, Bercow said, citing precedent dating back to 1604.

"This is my conclusion: 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 the 12th of March, this would be entirely in order."

What happens now?

Bercow's decision came as May was negotiating with the Democratic Unionists (DUP), the small Northern Irish party which props up the Conservative Party in government, over the terms by which its MPs could back her deal.

The talks appeared to be positive, and several Conservative hardliners had said they would be willing to follow the lead of the DUP.

However, Bercow's ruling makes a vote ahead of the European Council meeting on March 21-22 unlikely.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in Strasbourg, France, March 11, 2019. /VCG Photo

May is expected to ask EU leaders for an extension to Article 50 at the meeting in Brussels on Thursday. Without a deal in place, the prime minister will probably have to request a lengthy delay.

An agreed delay – or other changes struck with the EU – May be sufficient to hold a new vote in parliament next week, but it will be up to Bercow to decide what constitutes a "substantial change."

The government May also seek to circumvent Bercow's ruling.

It could push for a vote indicating MPs are in favor of a third meaningful vote or even start a new session of parliament, though that would be extremely controversial.

It could also institute a major alteration to May's deal, such as making it conditional on ratification in a referendum, or seek to push through a parliamentary rule change.

What was the reaction?

Bercow is an unpopular figure with Brexiteers, several of whom have publicly questioned his impartiality.

However the ruling was welcomed by some hardline Conservatives, who argued that the chances of a no-deal Brexit – their preferred option – had been increased by the decision.

A government source told AFP the speaker's move suggested "what he really wants is a longer extension, where parliament will take over the process and force a softer form of Brexit."

Robert Buckland, the government's solicitor general, told the BBC that Bercow had plunged Britain into "a major constitutional crisis."

The government indicated it still intends to seek an extension to the March 29 Brexit deadline, but the EU has voiced reservations about granting a delay without a clear roadmap.

"We are not against an extension in Belgium, but the problem is to do what?" Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told reporters on Monday.

Reports on Monday suggested a delay of up to nine months could be on offer, a move that would require Britons to vote in the European Parliament elections in May.