Tory Brexiteers ‘are poised to back Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal with EU’ as PM crashes accord through Parliament tomorrow in ONE DAY – scrambling RAF plane to bring paperwork from Brussels to ensure both sides sign agreement before deadline
- European Research Group of Tory MPs will deliver verdict on trade deal today
- Brexiteer Tories are expected to announce their support for the UK-EU accord
- Comes as Boris Johnson prepares to crash deal through Parliament tomorrow
Tory Brexiteers are expected to announce their support for Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal this afternoon as the Prime Minister prepares to crash the accord through Parliament in a single day tomorrow.
The European Research Group of Conservative MPs has reserved its judgement on the UK’s agreement with the EU while its ‘Star Chamber’ of legal experts pores over the detail.
But the 70-member strong ERG is widely expected to back the agreement, likely concluding that it does sufficiently restore British sovereignty.
The passage of the deal through Parliament was already viewed as a formality because of the PM’s 80-seat majority and the fact Sir Keir Starmer has told Labour MPs they have to vote for it.
But the expected backing of the ERG will represent a significant win for Mr Johnson as he tries to finally put an end to the Conservative Party’s rows over Europe.
It came as it was revealed that an RAF plane will be deployed to fly the official trade treaty from Brussels to Number 10 tomorrow to make sure both sides sign it before the end of the transition period on December 31.
Boris Johnson will crash his Brexit trade deal with the EU through Parliament in a single day tomorrow
The ERG’s ‘Star Chamber’ of lawyers has been examining the contents of the trade deal since it was hammered out on Christmas Eve.
The group is expected to deliver its official verdict on the accord this afternoon ahead of it being rushed through Parliament tomorrow.
Despite some reported misgivings over elements of the package, it is thought the group will be broadly favourable in its assessment of what Mr Johnson has agreed.
The PM will enshrine his trade deal in law tomorrow when MPs and peers are recalled from their Christmas break for one day to debate and vote on the Future Relationship Bill.
The debate on the draft legislation in the House of Commons will be opened by Mr Johnson at 9.30am and will be closed by Michael Gove at 2.30pm when MPs will be asked to vote on it.
The Bill will then move to the House of Lords, with the debate starting at approximately 3pm.
The Government is hoping that peers will finish their scrutiny of the deal between 10pm and 11pm.
Once the draft legislation clears both houses, MPs and peers will face a short wait for the Bill to be given Royal Assent – the point at which it becomes law.
It is thought that could happen either very late tomorrow night or in the early hours of Thursday morning.
While MPs debate the deal, the official copy will be signed by Ursula von der Leyen before being flown by an RAF plane to London for Mr Johnson to sign
While the deal is debated in Parliament, the formal copy of the accord will be signed by Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, in Brussels before it is then flown by an RAF plane to London.
The official document will then be taken to 10 Downing Street, accompanied by UK and EU officials, for Mr Johnson to sign in the afternoon.
EU ambassadors have already given their provisional approval to the deal and assuming it clears Parliament, the new trading arrangements between Britain and the bloc will be in place in time for the end of the transition period at 11pm on December 31.