May agrees to parliamentary debate on Brexit, rules out vote

Late on Tuesday, May moved to appease some lawmakers in her ruling Conservative Party by allowing a motion proposed by the opposition Labour Party for a “full and transparent debate” on how the government will enact the public vote to leave the EU. 

But May, under pressure from Labour, other lawmakers and global financial markets to offer them more than her catch phrase of “Brexit means Brexit”, stopped short of promising a formal vote on her strategy before triggering Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty. 

“We’ve always said that parliament has an important role to play,” May’s spokeswoman said on Wednesday morning. “But we also believe this should be done in  a way that respects the decision of the people of the U.K. when they voted to leave the EU on 23 June and does not undermine the negotiating position of the government.” “There will not be a vote on triggering Article 50.” 

Increasingly conscious that markets are moving on her words, May was clear in parliament that she  would be 'ambitious' in negotiations with the other 27 EU members to get the best deal. 

“And that will include the maximum possible access to the European market for firms to trade with and operate within,” May told parliament, a statement which helped sterling gain around a quarter of a cent against the dollar.

Appointed Prime Minister shortly after the referendum on EU membership to replace David Cameron who resigned, May has come under pressure to break with her policy of refusing to give a “running commentary”. 

Lawmakers say by refusing to debate her strategy May is undermining Britain’s centuries-old democracy. The leader says she does not want to show her hand before starting some of the most complex negotiations London has ever undertaken. “The idea that parliament somehow wasn’t going to be able to discuss, debate, question was frankly completely wrong,” May said when asked by a Labour lawmaker whether parliament would get a vote on the government’s Brexit plan. The former Interior Minister has given little away on her negotiating strategy, signalling that she wanted to return sovereignty to Britain, reduce immigration but also have the best possible deal for businesses and trade.