Today’s political headlines include Corbyn to support second referendum if MPs reject Labour’s Brexit plan, May to offer MPs Brexit delay, ministers call on May to rule out no-deal Brexit and UK would pay divorce bill in no-deal scenario.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n
Corbyn to support second referendum if MPs reject Labour\u2019s Brexit plan May to offer MPs Brexit delay Ministers call on May to rule out no-deal Brexit to prevent a \u2018disaster\u2019 UK would pay \u2018divorce bill\u2019 in no-deal Brexit scenario New poll shows Independent Group and Lib Dems combined would outpoll Labour Shuker to convene the Independent Group Government to protect sensitive sectors with tariffs May faces rebellion over EU citizens\u2019 rights
\n<\/strong>The Guardian<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that Jeremy Corbyn has \u2018finally\u2019 given Labour\u2019s backing to a second Brexit referendum, in which remain would be an option. The party has said it will back such a vote if its Brexit proposals are rejected this week, in a move designed to stem defections to the Independent Group but which will lead to opposition from MPs with leave-voting seats.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>\u00a0reports<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is to \u2018offer MPs the chance to take a no-deal Brexit off the table\u2019, making a statement in the Commons later today in which she will say that there could be a \u2018short\u2019 delay in Brexit. This morning\u2019s Cabinet will be presented with a new plan, with a \u2018meaningful vote\u2019 on a revised Brexit deal on March 12, and if this is rejected there would be a further vote between a no-deal Brexit or a \u2018short extension\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The\u00a0Daily Mail<\/em>\u00a0claims<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is ready to rule out a no-deal Brexit after 23 dissident ministers met in the Commons last night to discuss how to prevent such as scenario. Up to 15 are believed to be prepared to resign, with ministers Richard Harrington, Margot James and Clare Perry writing in the paper that, if Parliament doesn\u2019t agree a deal by March 13, May must extend the negotiations, or they \u2018will have no choice other than to join MPs of all parties and fellow ministers in acting in the national interest to prevent a disaster\u2019.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph<\/em>\u00a0says<\/a>\u00a0that a Cabinet committee dealing with preparations for a no-deal Brexit has signed off plans to settle a large part of the \u00a339bn Brexit settlement even if there is a no-deal Brexit, despite the expectation of Brexiteers that it would not be payable in such a scenario. The Treasury has advised that at least part of the settlement is legally unavoidable and failing to honour the UK\u2019s commitments would risk the UK\u2019s debt rating.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Times\u00a0<\/em>carries details<\/a>\u00a0of a new YouGov poll which shows that the combined level of support of the Independent Group and the Liberal Democrats is now higher than that of Labour. Labour are on 23%, the Independent Group (TIG) on 18% and the Liberal Democrats on 6%. However, the Conservatives are on 36%. Without TIG the Conservatives are on 41%, Labour are on 30% and the Lib Dems on 10%.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Guardian\u00a0<\/em>reports<\/a>\u00a0that the Independent Group has selected Gavin Shuker as its convenor, having decided to postpone selecting a leader until later this year, when it hopes to have become a political party. Specialist spokesperson roles may be announced earlier, while the group has rebuffed suggestions from the Lib Dems that they might work together.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>According<\/a>\u00a0to the\u00a0Financial Times<\/em>, the Government has decided to protect \u2018sensitive agricultural and manufacturing sectors\u2019 after a no-deal Brexit by maintaining tariffs, while dropping tariffs on most other goods. As 30% of the food consumed in the UK comes from the EU, this will push up prices for consumers.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>The Daily Telegraph\u00a0<\/em>claims<\/a>\u00a0that Theresa May is facing a \u2018major rebellion\u2019 after over 130 MPs, including 60 Conservatives, backed an amendment to her Brexit motion demanding a written guarantee on the right of EU citizens in the UK in a no-deal Brexit scenario. Backers include both Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and pro-EU MPs including Dominic Grieve.<\/p>\n