Theresa May's Brexit divorce deal suffers crushing parliamentary defeat
British lawmakers have defeated Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit divorce deal by a crushing margin on Tuesday (local time), plunging the Brexit process into chaos and ultimately leading to a no-confidence vote in her government.
The House of Commons’ 432-202 vote against May’s plan was widely expected, but it was still devastating for her fragile leadership. It came after more than two years of political upheaval — and was the biggest defeat for a government in the House of Commons in more than a century.
Scores of her own lawmakers – both Brexiteers and supporters of EU membership – joined forces to vote down the deal.
With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for Brexit, the United Kingdom is now ensnared in the deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European project that it joined in 1973.
Ms May’s crushing loss, the first British parliamentary defeat of a treaty since 1864, marks the collapse of her two-year strategy of forging an amicable divorce with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit.
“The Brexit deal is basically dead,” Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London, said.
“The EU and British lawmakers will consider the deal dead, so the UK will have no Brexit policy and no viable alternative to the Brexit policy.”
What happens next?
Britain’s Parliament will hold a no-confidence vote in the government after its Brexit divorce deal was crushingly rejected by lawmakers.
Ms May said the government needed to know if it still had the support of the House of Commons. May said lawmakers would consider the no-confidence motion on Wednesday.
Her statement, after the Brexit deal was defeated in a resounding 432 -202 vote, pre-empted a call for a confidence vote by opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Corbyn urged lawmakers to defeat the government and trigger a national election.
May’s options include setting course for a no-deal exit, brinkmanship to try to secure concessions from the EU, a delay to Brexit, resignation, an election or a referendum.
Will Brexit be delayed?
It is possible that the PM could delay Brexit by seeking an extension to Article 50 if her deal is defeated to allow more time to tinker with the Withdrawal Agreement.
Mrs May’s tone on extending Article 50 has notably softened this week. She continues to say she does not believe doing so would be a good idea, but is not categorically ruling it out.
The EU would have to agree to this, as Britain cannot extend Article 50 without their permission.
Stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo7’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
