UK steps up no-deal Brexit plans

Prime Minister Theresa May plays for time with 101 days to go

British ministers met on Tuesday to intensify plans for leaving the European Union without a deal – a prospect that’s becoming more likely as Prime Minister Theresa May plays for time with 101 days to Brexit.

The opposition Labour Party meanwhile faced refusal over its request for a no-confidence motion in May and growing pressure to table a binding vote against the government.

May on Monday said government was preparing for a no-deal Brexit and “the cabinet will be discussing the next phase in ensuring we’re ready for that scenario”. She will be refereeing between ministers who want government to step up preparations for a no-deal scenario and those that want parliament to have a final say in a series of votes on potential options for Brexit. One option is the prime minister’s own Brexit deal, but that’s hanging by a thread after she was forced to pull a vote on it last week in the face of huge opposition from her Conservative Party. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a non-binding no-confidence vote in May after she told MPs they would get another chance to vote on her deal after January 14. “This house has no confidence in May due to her failure to allow the House of Commons to have a meaningful vote,” Corbyn told parliament.

But Downing Street was reported to be blocking the motion from being debated. Labour had the option of tabling a binding motion but faced defeat after Conservative Brexit hardliners and the Democratic Unionist Party, which props up her government, both said they would back May. Leading eurosceptic Tory MP Jacob ReesMogg said he “will always support the Conservative government, I will not vote a Conservative government out of office.” Rees-Mogg led a party confidence vote against May last week, which she survived despite a third of her parliamentary party voting against her. Even a non-binding vote of no-confidence from a majority in the House of Commons could leave May’s authority further weakened and potentially prompt another vote in her entire government and a general election. Britain is set to leave the EU on March 29, but after 18 months of tortuous negotiations appears no closer to formalising a deal. If parliament fails to approve the text of her deal, Britain could crash out of the EU with no deal – a prospect experts warn could lead to serious trade disruption and trigger a financial crisis. May insisted on Monday she was continuing to seek assurances from the EU over elements of her plan, but officials said no meetings were planned.