The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bristish Parliamnet rejects May's latest Brexit plan
Lawmakers could ask European Union leaders for a delay.
LONDON — Three years after Britain voted to leave the European Union, lawmakers have failed to agree on how to do it.
Parliament overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s revised Brexit deal Tuesday in a vote of 391-242. The defeat for May and her government was total.
What happened
Last-minute negotiations with the EU were not enough to secure the support of hard-liners in the prime minister’s Conservative Party.
Ahead of Tuesday’s vote, May told Parliament she had secured the “legally binding” assurances they sought that would guarantee Britain would not be “indefinitely” tied to EU rules and regulations, even if the sides cannot agree in the future on how else to keep the border on the island of Ireland free and open.
She said this was a good deal for Britain that honored the 2016 Brexit referendum: it took back control of borders, immigration, laws and money — and would allow the country to seek new trade deals around the world, including with the United States.
“If this dealis not passed tonight, Brexit might be lost,” May warned lawmakers in the House of Commons.
But the opinion from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox was potentially devastating.
In answers to questions in Parliament, Cox said May’s tweaked deal does “reduce the risk that the United Kingdom could be indefi- nitely and involuntarily detained within the protocol’s provisions,” but he warned “the legal risk remains unchanged.” Cox said Britain would have “no internationally lawful means of exiting the protocol’s arrangements, save by agreement” with the Europeans.
Why it matters
May’s Brexit deal, negotiated over two years with the EU, was originally rejected by Parliament in January by a 432-202 vote. Since then, she has pressed for adjustments that might induce support from hard-line Brexiteers.
This deal is only about the terms of departure and does not include what the future relationship between Britain and the EU will look like.
What’s next
Parliament will vote today on whether to leave the EU on schedule (March 29), without a deal — a scenario that could create economic chaos.
If lawmakers want to keep trying for a managed withdrawal, as is most likely, they will vote Thursday on whether to request a delay from EU leaders, who suggested they would grant an extension.