Rishi Sunak, UK Prime Minister, is facing potential backlash from Brexiteers over his plan to implement a Brexit deal with the European Union concerning Northern Ireland without a vote in Parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab did not commit to holding a vote on the deal, stating that Parliament will “inevitably” express its view but stopping short of making any promises.
Brexiteers are angry about the lack of transparency and potential disregard for the will of the British people.
Without a vote, Mr Sunak could potentially face humiliation, especially with up to 100 Tory MPs threatening to oppose the new trading arrangements.
Mr Raab did mention that there has been “real progress” on the Brexit deal, and he hopes for “good news in a matter of days.”
However, there is no indication that a vote will take place, and Prime Minister Sunak has been careful not to commit to one.
Even prominent pro-Brexit MPs have not confirmed whether a vote will occur, with Tom Tugendhat stating that “Parliament is having its voice heard.”
Mr Sunak attempted to persuade hardline Brexiteers over the weekend, but Mark Francois, chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, warned that not holding a vote would be “incredibly unwise.”
He cautioned against trying to “bounce Parliament” and stated that any meaningful changes to the protocol would require a bill, which would necessitate a vote.
Mr Francois added that the Prime Minister’s position is “precarious” after a decline in polling and that the ERG would not support the deal if the Democratic Unionist Party rejects it.
Furthermore, Mr Francois criticised the Government’s lack of transparency, stating that “we don’t know what is in the deal” and that “we haven’t seen the text.”
The potential consequences of Mr Sunak’s decision to implement the Brexit deal without a vote in Parliament could be significant, causing further divide and potential political turmoil.
