Brussels bureaucrats, MEPs, and European newspapers have celebrated the government’s Brexit defeat in Parliament, claiming the mandate for a clean exit from the European Union (EU) has been weakened.
European papers largely viewed the defeat as weakening the UK’s position in negotiations and closing the way to a “hard Brexit.”
France’s Le Figaro said it was a “humiliating defeat” showing “weakness on the eve of a European summit.” Germany’s Die Welt ran the headline: “Theresa May’s own people rebel against the hard Brexit.”
Guy Verhofstadt, the European parliament’s Brexit coordinator, claimed the vote represented pro-EU MPs and MEP “taking back control.”
Writing on Twitter, he seemed to argue that the European and Westminster parliaments could now collude to take on Brexit-supporting politicians.
“British parliament takes back control,” he said. “European and British parliament together will decide on the final agreement. Interests of the citizens will prevail over narrow party politics. A good day for democracy.”
Anti-Brexit Labour politicians echoed this sentiment.
“Lawmakers in London will now have the power and a decisive vote on the #Brexit deal,” added Danuta Hübner, a former EU commissioner and chairman of the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee.
She said “it is not only about power. It is first of all about increased responsibility,” also appearing to urge parliament to alter Brexit.
Some observers have argued the vote last night is unimportant and the UK will leave the EU in 2019, regardless of parliament’s view, as Article 50 has been triggered.
Others, however, think the new amendment could be used to block an exit from the bloc if the government wants to leave with a “no deal” or “hard Brexit” scenario, or even allow Labour to push for a second referendum.
The EU, of course, can only negotiate details with one party – the government – and it is unclear how parliament can use its new power other than to block or frustrate a final deal and exit – it can not contribute to talks in Brussels.
“There’s probably a majority for ‘no Brexit’ as reality dawns,” wrote Labour Lord Adonis in a revealing Tweet.
Supporters of clean Brexit were quick to attack the Tory rebels, for damaging the nation’s chances of a good deal and potentially betraying Brexit voters.
UKIP MEP Jonathan Arnott said in a statement: “MPs should consider the consequences of their actions. Brexit is backed by a referendum, a General Election, and an Act of Parliament. Does anything in history have a stronger democratic mandate?”
He added: “Those who drape themselves in the notion of Parliamentary sovereignty… are betraying their voters.”
One unnamed Tory MP told a Guido Fawkes reporter: “This vote was either about ego or about indulging those who hate the public for voting Brexit.
“They should be ashamed of themselves for lining up with Corbyn and his hateful brand of socialism. The people voted for Brexit and parliament should respect the will of the people”
Tory MP Nadine Dorries added: “Tonight, the Tory rebels have put a spring in Labours step, given them a taste of winning, guaranteed the party a weekend of bad press, undermined the PM and devalued her impact in Brussels.
“They should be deselected and never allowed to stand as a Tory MP, ever again.”
Former UKIP leader and MEP Nigel Farge wrote simply: “My contempt for career politicians knows no bounds.”
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