British lawmakers set to reject no-deal exit
london — British lawmakers were on Wednesday set to vote against the threat of a ‘no-deal’ exit from the European Union on March 29 after a second defeat for Prime Minister Theresa May’s divorce treaty left Britain heading into the unknown.
After two-and-a-half years of negotiations and two failed attempts to pass her deal, parliament is expected to reject a no-deal exit, which investors fear would spook financial markets, dislocate supply chains and damage the world’s fifth largest economy.
Lawmakers will vote shortly after 1900 GMT on a government motion stating that parliament rejects leaving the EU without a deal on March 29 — but notes that leaving without a deal remains the legal default unless a deal is agreed, allowing for it to happen at a later date.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove, standing in for May after she lost her voice in earlier debates, told parliament that tens of thousands of businesses were not prepared for a no-deal exit.
While Wednesday’s motion has no legal force and ultimately does not prevent a no-deal exit, if lawmakers support it as expected then they will get a vote on Thursday on whether to ask the EU to delay Brexit, probably by months.
Finance Minister Philip Hammond said he could free billions of pounds for extra public spending or tax cuts if parliament spared Britain the shock of leaving the world’s biggest trading bloc without an agreement to smooth the transition. —
brussels — The European Union will not negotiate Brexit again, it said, after Britain’s parliament rejected the divorce package for a second time in a vote that made a chaotic no-deal scenario more likely.
“The EU has done everything it can to help get the Withdrawal Agreement over the line,” Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier said after the House of Commons vote.
“The impasse can only be solved in the UK. Our ‘no-deal’ preparations are now more important than ever before.”
In coordinated statements, European Council President Donald Tusk and the bloc’s executive European Commission said the EU had done “all that is possible to reach an agreement ... it is difficult to see what more we can do.”
The bloc insists the divorce deal — already rejected by parliament in January — will not be revisited.
It expects Prime Minister Theresa May to ask for a delay to Brexit to avoid economic disruption should Britain leave with no plan in place.
“Should there be a UK reasoned request for an extension, the EU27 will consider it and decide by unanimity. The EU27 will expect a credible justification for a possible extension and its duration,” it said, adding that any Brexit delay must not interfere with EU parliamentary elections due on May 24-26.
While a short Brexit delay is acceptable to the EU, few in the bloc believe it would be enough to break the deadlock in Britain’s government, parliament and the wider country, all split in half on Brexit.
Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday Britain must leave on May 23 at the latest or would have to take part in the EU elections.
Typical of the exasperation felt in Brussels, one EU diplomat said: “What credibility does she (May) have left? Why would EU leaders engage with her again after yet another failure? This really needs to end.”
But there were some more sanguine voices too, with Ireland’s foreign minister calling for patience and another national EU diplomat saying: “There is still more drama to be had — and then we’ll see.”
An EU lawmaker dealing with Brexit, Philippe Lamberts, said the UK needed a second referendum or make a U-turn and seek to remain in the EU’s customs union after Brexit to break the deadlock.
“The EU has gone to every length to try and accommodate the UK government’s red lines,” he said.
“We cannot continue to witness Theresa May’s travelling circus of CO2 and hot air to Brussels, London, Dublin and Strasbourg, so long as Westminster is unable to agree with itself.”
Many fear Brexit will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional US presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China, leaving Britain economically weaker and with its security capabilities depleted.
Supporters say it allows Britain to control immigration and take advantage of global trade opportunities, while keeping close links to the EU. —
Achieving an orderly exit together, and I particularly want to repeat this today, remains in our mutual interest. That remains our objective
Angela Merkel, German Chancellor
If the UK still wants to leave the EU in an orderly manner, this treaty is — and will remain — the only treaty possible
Michel Barnier, EU’s Brexit negotiator
I assume among the (EU) heads of govt there is unanimous view that it makes sense to avoid a no-deal scenario, a socalled hard Brexit
Sebastian Kurz,
Austrian Chancellor
Does it (parliament) wish to revoke Article 50?”. Does it want to hold a second referendum? Or does it want to leave with a deal but not this deal? These are unenviable choices but... they must now be faced
Theresa May,
British prime minister
I think no Brexit is catastrophic for our democracy. Between those very unpleasant choices, I think no Brexit is the bigger risk
Stephen Barclay,
Brexit minister