A group of 125 people have signed a letter addressed to Glyn Davies MP calling on him to back a Brexit amendment in next week's parliamentary vote after he cancelled a meeting with his constituents.

Anne Whitehouse and David Eyres sent the letter to the Conservative MP for Montgomeryshire, which calls on him to back the 'Benn Amendment': a amendment put forward by Labour MP Hilary Benn. The amendment has three parts: making it impossible for the UK to leave the EU without a deal in place; rejection of the Theresa May’s EU Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration; and giving MPs a voice and a vote in what happens next.

The third part of the amendment was passed by parliament on Tuesday, December 4, as part of the Grieve Amendment.

The letter says: "We think it was a mistake for you to cancel this week’s Brexit meeting with your constituents until after the ‘meaningful vote’. You have said you have done this because “until then, I have no idea what the future will be”. However the Benn amendment offers the opportunity for Parliament to shape that future now and in the national interest – and, as concerned Montgomeryshire citizens, we urge you to vote for it."

Anne Whitehouse said: “The number of people prepared to put their names publicly to a detailed political letter has been a real surprise.”

“When we started emailing the open letter it was just to a few friends and people we knew, but it’s been extraordinary to see the energy it’s created as they forwarded it to their friends and neighbours.”

“I think the way it’s taken off is a measure of the anxiety and powerlessness that people are feeling about what’s likely to happen to our country with Brexit. And that’s made worse if you feel you are not being listened to by your MP.

Glyn Davis said: "As a PPS, I am subject to the Ministerial Code and would have to resign my position if I were to vote for an amendment opposing the Government, ending my influence in the Wales Office. This would be a big step and would be pointlessly self-defeating - and certainly not in Montgomeryshire’s interest. As always, I will have to decide how I vote after listening to 40 hours of debate, taking several factors into account. Also, we will not know what divisions are called until the time.

A few weeks ago, I invited those who had discussed the issue with me in the past to a meeting to outline what might happen if the ‘Meaningful Vote’ were to be lost, (which seems likely at present). At present no-one, including me has much idea. Because the debate was much postponed, I also postponed my meeting, (which was never intended to be a re-run of the 2016 referendum). It does seem very odd that I should be criticised for holding a meeting with constituents who had contacted me to help explain a complex position. I don’t think many MPs have sought to engage with constituents in this way."

The letter to Glyn Davies was written prior to the vote on the Grieve Amendment, which he did not vote in favour of. In response to this passing,

David Eyres said: “Tuesday was a good day for parliamentary sovereignty, and offers the start of a possible way forward. I’m very pleased that part of the Benn Amendment has now been passed as the Grieve Amendment. This will allow Parliament to have say on what happens next if the Withdrawal Agreement is rejected – and addresses one of the concerns raised in the open letter.

"I hope that Mr Davies will now be able to support the remaining parts of the Benn Amendment in next week’s vote – in particular to prevent the possibility that the UK could crash out of the EU without a deal.”

Read the full letter sent to Glyn Davies MP below:

Dear Glyn Davies MP

We are writing an open letter to ask you to support the Benn amendment in next week’s Brexit vote on the EU Withdrawal Agreement. This is in response to you cancelling your meeting with constituents until after the vote has taken place.

It is clear that the EU Withdrawal Agreement is going to be decisively rejected by Parliament in next week’s ‘meaningful vote’ – with only 40 or 50 MPs who are not on the government payroll, yourself included, likely to back it. Ironically, Theresa May has managed to unite Brexiters and remainers – against this agreement. Whatever version of Brexit people were expecting or hoping for, it wasn’t this. The big unknown is clearly whether there is a Plan B for what happens after the Withdrawal Agreement is voted down … a no deal Brexit, or no Brexit, Norway Plus or a People’s Vote in a second referendum?

The cross-party amendment tabled by Labour MP Hilary Benn already has the support of around 300 MPs, including a number of Conservatives as well as the Labour party, the Lib Dems, the SNP, the Green Party and Plaid Cymru. This amendment would prevent a ‘no deal’ Brexit and give Parliament a meaningful voice and vote on what should happen instead. This could include an extension to Article 50 to give more time, a Norway Plus Brexit model (with single market and customs union membership but independent agriculture and fishing policies) or a second referendum with remain as an option (to check if what the people are being offered is what they intended). It gives the country a clear route to agree a Plan B, when Theresa May has already and recklessly tried to rule out all other options apart from crashing out with no deal. In our view, crashing out with no deal would be dangerous, damaging and extremely irresponsible – as Government and Bank of England reports published last week made clear. During the referendum no-one suggested a no deal Brexit would either be necessary or desirable. As our MP, you owe it to us your constituents to do whatever you can to prevent this.

We think it was a mistake for you to cancel this week’s Brexit meeting with your constituents until after the ‘meaningful vote’. You have said you have done this because “until then, I have no idea what the future will be”. However the Benn amendment offers the opportunity for Parliament to shape that future now and in the national interest – and, as concerned Montgomeryshire citizens, we urge you to vote for it.

Yours sincerely