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Dominic Grieve: 'Something was inexplicably modified'
Tory rebels could collapse the government in the event that they vote towards a Brexit deal negotiated with the EU, a main rebel has admitted.
Dominic Grieve mentioned he wakes up "in a cold sweat" excited about what could occur if a closing deal is rejected.
But he instructed rebels wouldn't again down in a present row with ministers about how a lot of a say MPs ought to get.
The EU Withdrawal Bill returns to the Lords and Commons this week, with additional rebellions anticipated.
Last week the government prevented a defeat on the invoice over the problem of Parliament's function, ought to a closing Brexit deal be rejected by MPs, or if no deal is reached, by agreeing to carry additional talks with rebels.
Former Attorney General Mr Grieve informed BBC One's Sunday Politics that he thought that they had agreed MPs could have an "advisory" vote, that might not order the government to do something, however would assist individuals to "keep calm" throughout what could be a "critical situation".
But after two days of talks, Mr Grieve mentioned a government modification drawn as much as avert a rebel was modified on the final minute and was now "valueless". He implied rebels would vote towards it this week.
The government's modification to the EU (Withdrawal) Bill units out what should occur within the occasion of three situations: If MPs vote down the UK-EU Brexit deal, if Theresa May declares earlier than 21 January 2019 that no deal has been reached, or if 21st January passes with no deal being struck.
Under these circumstances, a minister should make a assertion in Parliament setting out their subsequent steps and provides MPs an alternative to vote.
However, the vote could be on "a motion in neutral terms", merely stating that the House has thought-about the assertion.
Rebels had initially needed the modification to say that the government should search the approval of Parliament for its plan of actionand that ministers have to be directed by MPs and friends.
When it was put to him that voting towards any Brexit deal at "the 11th hour" of negotiations could collapse the government, he replied: "We could collapse the government and I can assure you, I wake up at 2am in a cold sweat thinking about the problems that we have put on our shoulders."
But for the government, Solicitor General Robert Buckland mentioned ministers would help the modification the government had put ahead for now, including: "Of course we have Tuesday to consider matters ahead of the Wednesday vote."
Earlier the prime minister defended her dealing with of the row.
She informed BBC One's Andrew Marr Show she had met Tory rebels and "undertook to consider their concerns".
She admitted there had been "a debate" about what a "meaningful" vote for Parliament meant: "I've listened carefully to the concerns, I've put an amendment down which I think balances this issue of the role of Parliament together with the need for us to ensure we don't overturn the decision of the British people."
But she mentioned Parliament "cannot tie the hands of government in negotiations".
"As we are sitting there negotiating on the details of our future relationship or our withdrawal agreement, we can't have a situation where every time we have to take a decision we have to go back and have a lengthy debate," she mentioned.
The foremost functions of the EU Withdrawal Bill are to finish the supremacy of EU legislation within the UK, and switch current EU legislation into UK legislation so the identical guidelines and laws apply on the day after Brexit.
But because it passes by Parliament, MPs and friends have been making an attempt to alter it, in some circumstances including bits on that might change the government's Brexit technique.
The government says the entire row is concerning the "hypothetical" state of affairs the place no deal is reachedor one is rejected by Parliamentand they're "confident we will agree a good deal with the EU which Parliament will support".