MPs will 'veto' a no-deal Brexit as May heads to emergency Brussels meet
London: Theresa May has been warned that parliament will "veto" a no-deal Brexit, as she makes an emergency trip to Brussels to try to break the deadlock in the talks.
Ken Clarke, the veteran pro-EU Conservative, increased the pressure to do what is necessary to strike an agreement, ahead of the Prime Minister's surprise dinner with the EU's top officials.
An amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, co-tabled by Clarke, would put into law May's plan for a two-year transition period - preventing Brexit if that transition is not agreed. Asked if MPs could stop a no-deal Brexit in that way, he vowed: "Parliament can veto anything it wants."
Clarke – who insisted he was not trying to reverse Brexit, if there was a workable plan – said "only a handful of hard right-wing Eurosceptics think no deal is desirable".
In fact, it would have a "catastrophic effect" on the British economy, he said, describing it as "complete fantasy, la-la land, going down the hole with the white rabbit".
On Sunday, John McDonnell, Labour's Shadow Chancellor, said there were "enough sensible people in the House of Commons" to prevent the growing risk of a no deal exit.
Clarke, speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, agreed, saying: "This is a parliamentary democracy – parliament can do practically whatever it likes."
It had been expected that only Brexit Secretary David Davis would be in Brussels on Monday – but, late last night, it was announced that the Prime Minister will join him.
The pair will dine with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier and Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker, just three days before a crunch summit to test progress in the negotiations. EU heads of state will make clear that "sufficient progress" has not been made on the divorce terms – in particular the financial settlement the UK must pay - thus delaying talks on future trade.