May promises Brexit deal vote by March 12

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt — Prime Minister Theresa May put off a vote in parliament on her Brexit deal until as late as March 12 — just 17 days before Britain is due to leave the European Union (EU) — setting up a showdown this week with lawmakers who accuse her of running out the clock.

As the Brexit crisis goes down to the wire, Ms. May said a “meaningful vote” would not take place this week as expected. Parliament will still hold a series of Brexit votes on Wednesday, but Ms. May’s deal itself will not be on the table.

On her way to an EU-Middle East summit, Ms. May said she is close to bringing home changes to her agreement that would satisfy objections to it, but needed time for meetings with European leaders which meant it would not be ready this week.

“We won’t bring a meaningful vote to parliament this week but we will ensure that that happens by the 12th of March,” Ms. May told reporters on board her plane.

“It is still within our grasp to leave the European Union with a deal on the 29th of March and that is what we are working to do.”

Critics accuse her of running out the clock to force parliament to choose between a deal it has rejected or leaving the EU with no deal at all, which businesses say would destroy their supply chains.

Ms. May’s Conservatives and the main opposition Labor Party are committed to exiting the EU in line with a 2016 vote, but they are internally divided over how or even whether to do so. —