Labour to back Cooper plan for Brexit delay to prevent no-deal ‘chaos’

Labour is backing a plan which could delay Brexit in order to prevent the “chaos” of a no-deal departure from the European Union.

Jeremy Corbyn’s party will back an amendment tabled by senior backbencher Yvette Cooper which would result in the extension of Article 50 to keep the UK in the EU until the end of the year in order to reach a deal.

Former Cabinet minister Ms Cooper’s plan has cross-party support, including from senior Tory Nick Boles, and would allow MPs to call for the delay if no deal had been approved by February 26.

The UK is currently expected to leave – with or without a deal – on March 29.

The Prime Minister said that Ms Cooper’s plan would not succeed in ruling out a no-deal Brexit but merely “delays the point of decision”.

She also warned about the constitutional dangers of seeking to “usurp” the Government.

Labour has been cautious about officially throwing its weight behind the plan, with the party’s leadership nervous about alienating Leave-supporting voters in some of its heartlands.

But Labour MPs will now be told to vote for it as the Commons considers a series of options for the next phase of the Brexit process.

However, the Opposition will seek to limit the delay to the UK’s departure from the bloc.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said the plan was a “fallback” to guard against a no-deal Brexit.

“The issue is how long an extension could be and the general view is as short as possible,” he said.

“But it is literally just a fallback in case there is no deal agreed.”

He suggested that the party was looking at an extension of around three months, shorter than the period envisaged by Ms Cooper and Mr Boles.

Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer said the plan “will allow Parliament to fill the void of leadership left by the Prime Minister”.

Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald told BBC Radio 4’s World At One that a no-deal Brexit would be “catastrophic” and it was “inevitable” that more time would be needed to reach an agreement with Brussels.

He acknowledged there were “legitimate concerns” that delaying Brexit until December 31 would be “offensive to many people, who will level the charge that what we are trying to do is defeat Brexit – and we are not”.

Mr McDonald suggested that the delay could be limited to around three months.

Under the plan, the Commons would consider Ms Cooper’s European Union (Withdrawal) (No 3) Bill on February 5, rather than any Government business.

The legislation would give MPs the chance to instruct Theresa May to seek an extension to Article 50 until the end of 2019 if she has not secured a deal by February 26.

A senior Labour source said: “We’re backing the Cooper amendment to reduce the threat of the chaos of a no-deal exit.”

Ms Cooper has insisted her Bill is not an attempt to prevent Brexit but it “gives Government and Parliament a chance to avert no deal in March if time has run out”.

Any extension to Article 50 would have to be approved by all 27 remaining EU states.

Remaining in the EU until the end of the year could also mean participating in elections to the European Parliament in May.

Speaking in the Commons, the Prime Minister said Ms Cooper’s plan would “allow Parliament to usurp the proper role of the executive”.

“Such actions would be unprecedented and could have far-reaching and long-term implications for the way the UK is governed and for the balance of powers and responsibilities in our democratic institutions,” she said.

Ms Cooper’s plan would also not resolve the difficulties faced in getting any solution through Parliament – it “does not rule out no deal, it simply delays the point of decision”, she said.

Mrs May added: “The EU are very unlikely to agree to extend Article 50 without a credible plan for how we are going to approve a deal.”