'No mandate for hard Brexit', Opposition argues

Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer has told Parliament that there is "no mandate for a hard Brexit".

His words came during a debate in the House of Commons over the planning of the UK's departure from the European Union.

Mr Starmer said: "There is no mandate for a hard Brexit, there is no consensus for a hard Brexit.

"In the last few months I've travelled across the UK to hold meetings with a wide range of interested parties...on the question of the terms under which the UK should exit the EU.

"The overwhelming evidence is that they do not want a hard Brexit, there is not a consensus out there for a hard Brexit."

In reply, the Brexit Secretary David Davis said: "To be honest, I don't really know what hard Brexit means but the simple fact is the mandate was to leave the EU, fullstop."

The Government hopes it has seen off a Tory revolt and potential defeat by accepting a Labour motion calling on ministers to disclose their Brexit plan before starting the EU divorce process.

In exchange, Labour and Tory rebels will agree to the Prime Minister's timetable of triggering Article 50 in March next year.

Mr Starmer called for the Government to publish its Brexit plan well ahead of any vote, to allow amendments to be considered.

He also said that the plan must be detailed enough to "end the circus of uncertainty" on issues such as the single market and immigration, saying that this was "causing more damage to this process than anything else at the moment".

Mr Starmer faced questions from some Tory MPs, however, including from Eurosceptic Peter Bone who said there was already legislation in the House to trigger Article 50 before the end of March.

Tory defence committee chairman Julian Lewis said that if the opposition did not oppose the Government's amendment, it would be "completely unacceptable and totally inconsistent" if they were to try to delay Brexit next year.

Mr Davis said: "Many on the benches opposite pay lip service to respective the result of the referendum, whilst at the same time trying to find new ways to thwart and delay."

But Mr Starmer had insisted Labour was not trying to "frustrate the purpose or delay the timetable" but that their moves were instead aimed at the "accountability and scrutiny" of the Brexit process.

And Mr Davis had turned and appeared to look at a group of Remain-supporting MPs in his own party while using the phrase "thwart and delay".

He also said it was "inconceivable" that Parliament would not get a vote to approve the final Brexit deal.

Mr Starmer also said that the Government should not act "solely for the 52% (who voted to leave the EU)".

"The vote on 23 June was not a vote to write those who voted to remain out of their own history," he said.

"They have a right and an interest in these negotiations and they have a right to have a Government who gives weight to their interests as well as the interests of the 52%."

MPs will vote at about 7pm tonight on the amendment binding them to back the Government's Article 50 timetable.

They will then vote on the Labour motion calling on the Prime Minister to commit to publishing a Brexit plan before Article 50 is triggered.

The debate came as the Government was embroiled in day three of its Brexit battle in the Supreme Court.