Brexit in chaos as Labour wins vote to release 58 key impact studies - but Tories might try to hide them anyway

The Tories lost a key Brexit vote tonight forcing them
to publish 58 studies into the impact of Brexit.
Yet they might try to hide the documents anyway - a
move that's left MPs baffled and furious.
The House of Commons descended into "chaos" after
Labour won a formal motion to release the 58
documents on different sectors of the economy.
In dramatic scenes, Tory minister Robin Walker
revealed the government would not oppose Labour's
motion - which meant it passed unanimously.
Yet he also said the studies SHOULDN'T be released
in full, because they are “highly commercially
sensitive" and could harm negotiations with the EU.
Instead it was suggested the documents would be
half-released in a "redacted" form.
In scenes likened to TV comedy The Thick of It, no
one could agree on whether or not Labour's motion
would be legally binding.
The government said it wasn't binding.
But even Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said it
could be a "breach of privilege" for the government to
refuse to provide information MPs voted for.
And Speaker John Bercow delivered a hammerblow to
the government, saying traditionally such motions had
been binding, and he would "expect" Tory ministers to
act on the motion "in the usual way".
Labour veteran Dennis Skinner said: "The government
is dying on its feet!"
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer warned
ignoring the motion could be a "contempt of the
House" of Commons.
Mr Bercow said he
would consider any
allegation there
was a contempt of
the House - but
the government
must be given the
chance to comply
first.
Labour MP Liz
Kendall tweeted:
"Farcical. Like
scene from The
Thick of It."
The SNP 's Pete Wishart added: "Incredible scenes in
the Commons. We are now reaching the point where
no vote is ‘binding’ on Government.
Stephen Doughty: "Descending into chaos here in
Commons on Government attempts to keep Brexit
reports secret. Total contempt for democracy."
The 58 studies estimate how leaving the EU will hit
different sectors of the economy.
There is no timescale for when they might be
published, and there's a suggestion they could be held
back until they're no longer useful - or even until after
Brexit Day in March 2019.
Brexit Secretary David Davis has refused to publish
the documents, saying it will undermine Britain's
negotiating position.
But by proposing a 'humble address', Labour asked
the Queen herself to order the release of the
documents.
The government was in danger of losing the vote after
a handful of Tories said they would rebel. Now, after
saying they won't oppose it, it will almost definitely
pass.
The Tory Brexit minister, Robin Walker, suggested he
could publish a redacted (censored) or summarised
version of the studies.
He added: "We will take note of whatever the House
decides on this matter."
But he strongly suggested they would not be
published in full, saying: "We would need to reflect on
various constraints and conflicting responsibilities."
The SNP's Hannah Bardell demanded he "stop
governing in secret and make sure the people who are
running this country and the people who voted have
all the information and the truth."

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