MNI: DEXEU Offers Clarity On Earlier Comments From Davis

-"Expects and Intends" Commons Brexit Vote Before UK Leaves EU

By Kieran Williams

     LONDON (MNI) - The Department for Exiting the European Union (DEXEU) have

issued a statement saying that it expects that parliament will be able to vote

on the Brexit deal before the UK leaves the EU. The release comes after Brexit

Secretary David Davis said earlier that the vote could come after the UK leaves

the EU.

"We are working to reach an agreement on the final deal in good time before we

leave the EU in March 2019. Once the deal is agreed we will meet our

long-standing commitment to a vote in both Houses and we expect and intend this

to be before the vote in the European parliament and therefore before we leave,"

said the DEXEU statement.

DEXEU said that this morning Davis was asked questions about "hypothetical

scenarios."

When the Prime Minister was quizzed about this in question earlier Wednesday May

said she was confident there would be a vote in the commons before Brexit. 

     "The timetable does give time until March 2019 but I'm confident, because

it is in the interests of both sides there will be ratification by other

parliaments, that we will be able to have this agreement and that negotiation in

time for this parliament to have a vote we can listen to," said May.

When reached for comment No. 10 said that the PM has full confidence in the

Brexit team and David Davis.

The DEXEU statement, however, is not a guarantee of a vote and is unlikely to

assuage Members of Parliament's fears that they will not get a "meaningful" vote

on the deal as previously promised by the PM.

--MNI London Bureau; +44 203 865 3809; email: kieran.williams@marketnews.com

--MNI London Bureau; tel: +44 203-586-2223; email: david.robinson@marketnews.com

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