It is being reported in the press today that "rebels" opposed to Brexit "have drawn up an amendment that would allow a motion backed by a minority of 300 MPs to take precedence over government business". "This", they say, "would allow backbench MPs to propose plans blocking a no-deal Brexit". (Defiant John Bercow 'set to stay as speaker' by Toby Helms and Michael Savage; Observer 20/1/19).
It is reported slightly differently in the Sunday Times, in a way which leads me to think that a minority of 300 MPs could actually have a vote carried if those MPs belonged to five different parties.
Is it the case that 300 MPs from five parties can simply exercise a right to precedence so far as the Order Paper is concerned (per The Observer)? Or can a vote be carried by a minority of 300 as Tim Shipman in today's Sunday Times seems to be suggesting?
Shipman says in reference to "a group of more than 20 plotters, led by Grieve" that "their plan would need the support of 300 MPs - not even a majority - as long as they came from five different parties. Only 10 Tories would have to approve, making it all but impossible for May's team to thwart the plot". –
Personally I have never before heard of a minority being able to prevail over a majority in the House of Commons in any circumstances.