Brexit: May warns MPs against ‘catastrophic’ failure

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday warned MPs preparing to vote down her EU divorce deal that failing to deliver Brexit would be a "catastrophic and unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy".

May, who is fighting to save her withdrawal agreement negotiated with the bloc over 18 months of talks, told lawmakers they must not let down Brexit-backers in a crunch parliamentary vote Tuesday. "Doing so would be a catastrophic and unforgivable breach of trust in our democracy," May wrote in the Sunday Express.

"So my message to parliament this weekend is simple: it is time to forget the games and do what is right for our country." Britain is set to leave the European Union on March 29 but has yet to finalise the terms of its departure. The prime minister has already postponed a House of Commons vote on her plan once -- in December -- to avoid defeat, and looks certain to see it rejected by MPs on Tuesday amid fierce opposition. Lawmakers fired ominous warning shots this week, voting to force May to quickly set out an alternative plan for Brexit if it is beaten.

It was the second setback in 24 hours for the prime minister, after MPs also voted to deny the government certain taxation powers in a no-deal scenario -- an attempt to scupper that prospect.