‘The house has spoken’ Benn bill passes – and shock amendment
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MPs voted to demand the Prime Minister requests an extension to Brexit tonight – but with a surprise amendment passing by mistake.
The Benn bill passed its third reading by 327 votes to 299 – a majority of 28.
An amendment put forward by Stephen Kinnock, to bring the Withdrawal Bill agreed under Theresa May to the Commons for debate, was passed in accident, because MPs opposed to it did not put up tellers.
Some claimed this was no mistake.
Alex Sobell MP tweeted: “The amendment in the name of Stephen Kinnock didn’t have a vote as the Government didn’t provide tellers to count.
“This meant the amendment went through although the No Lobby was full. This wasn’t an accident you can be assured there’s some skullduggery going on.”
Hilary Benn thanked colleagues for approving his bill, saying: “The house has spoken this evening “If the other place passes the bill, then I tell the Prime Minister this place expects him to uphod the law.. And prevent this country from leaving the EU without a deal”
A somewhat bemused Kinnock urged the government to publish “as rapidly as possible” the Withdrawal Agreement Bill.
Main image: Getty