MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling demanding the government publish Brexit plans
MPs have overwhelmingly backed a motion calling on the government to publish its Brexit plans, while also making clear support for triggering Article 50 early next year.
In a vote in the House of Commons, MPs voted by 448 to 75 in favour of Labour's motion calling on the government to reveal information before triggering Article 50. That motion included a government amendment which called on MPs to support Theresa May's plan to begin Brexit talks by 31 March.
And that amendment – which MPs separately backed 461 – 89 – meant that Conservative MPs were free to back the motion alongside their Labour peers.
Both the SNP and the Lib Dems, who total 63 MPs, said they would not support it, alongside a handful of Labour MPs, who feared the government was being handed a blank cheque.
Although the vote is non-binding, it represents a hugely significant first step on the route to Brexit, and provides an early indication of how actual legislation over Article 50 would fare in the House of Commons.
The government has yet to establish exactly what it will publish ahead of triggering the divorce process, but Labour's shadow Brexit secretary Keir Starmer said today information should include plans for the Single Market and Europe's customs union.
The vote came after almost seven hours of debate in the commons, with Starmer opening proceedings at around 13.00.
Brexit secretary David Davis responded by stressing that while MPs would likely be able to vote on the final terms of a deal with the EU, this would not overturn the result of the referendum.