Forget that this ... thing ... is "not legally binding"; there's no action specified by the bill which to "bind" parliamentary acts. Not even appropriation for funds to print a commemorative postage stamp.

(US-Eng.) The Spellman amendment "expresses the sense" of the House of Commons that "leaving the European Union without [signing the] Withdrawal Agreement and a Framework for the Future Relationship [ETA]" is not a desirable policy choice.

The Brady amendment to the UK (Withdrawal) Bill is equally stupid in that it does not propose what "alternative arrangements to avoid a hard border" to the "backstop" for consideration by parliament. The only feature keeping it alive for vote is

Theresa May has ordered Conservative MPs to vote for this amendment.

Some Conservative rebels, who voted against the prime minister two weeks ago, have said it is too vague and does not address their other concerns about her deal.

Others, such as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, said they would support it if Mrs May indicated that she will press the EU to re-open the withdrawal agreement to make changes to the backstop that would be legally binding - something she has told MPs that she will do.

"There's no negotiation between the EU and UK, that negotiation is finished."

The EU's Deputy Chief Negotiator for Brexit Sabine Weyand says that the controversial 'backstop' was heavily shaped by British negotiators and that it will not be amended. pic.twitter.com/c5LRGJfmlY

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) January 28, 2019