Britain in ‘constitutional crisis’ following ban on 3rd Brexit vote

British Prime Minister Theresa May sought ideas at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after being thrown a curveball a day earlier by the moderator of the House of Commons, who told her she could not ask MPs to vote on her proposed Brexit withdrawal deal for a third time.

John Bercow, Parliament’s speaker, who ensures democratic rules are followed in the British institution, said a question “may not be brought forward again during the same session (of Parliament)”. He said his decision was based on a “strong and long-standing convention” that dates back to 1604.

May’s bill, he told Parliament, would need to be “different in terms of substance” and not just “different in terms of wording”.

May’s proposed bill, which she negotiated with EU leaders over many months and which the European Union signed off on in November, has been heavily defeated twice, but May was hoping MPs would back it on the third request because the March 29 date by which the UK is committed to leave the bloc is fast approaching. Many MPs, while disliking May’s deal, would rather see it in place than a so-called no-deal Brexit.

But, with the prospect of a third vote apparently off the table, May is likely to now ask the EU for a lengthy postponement of the exit. The Guardian newspaper said EU officials may proactively offer such an extension, in an effort to help solve the crisis.

May is almost certain to talk about an extension while in Brussels for an EU summit on Thursday.

Any delay is likely to mean Britain will participate in upcoming EU elections. And a lengthy delay is sure to motivate those seeking to thwart Brexit, including groups lobbying for a second referendum, or so-called People’s Vote.

May, meanwhile, is understood to also be considering ways around the parliamentary procedure quoted by Bercow so she can get a third vote on her proposed Brexit deal.

Robert Buckland, the UK’s solicitor general and one of the nation’s most senior lawyers, said Bercow’s ruling has triggered a “constitutional crisis”.

He told the BBC: “Frankly, we could have done without this, but it’s something we’re going to have to negotiate with and deal with.”

Many of Britain’s right-of-center Brexit-supporting newspapers criticized Bercow. The Daily Mail accused him of an “act of sabotage” because of “anti-Brexit prejudice” and The Daily Express labeled him “The Brexit Destroyer” in a front-page headline.

The Financial Times, meanwhile, reported the United States bank Citigroup’s new broker-dealer operation in Frankfurt, Germany, is fully operational. The bank set the operation up so it can trade on the main European exchanges and issue in capital markets on behalf of institutional and corporate clients that it will not be able to serve through its British entities in the event of a no-deal Brexit.