MPs shoot down May’s Brexit deal
Britain’s parliament on Tuesday rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal by a massive margin, triggering a no-confidence vote that could bring down her government.
The House of Commons lower house voted 432 to 202 against May’s plan for taking Britain out of the European Union after nearly five decades, one of the biggest defeats ever suffered by a British premier.
The EU warned that the vote, which plunges Britain into uncharted waters, boosts the risk of a “no deal” Brexit.
Moments after the outcome, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn submitted a motion of no confidence in May’s government.
The vote is set for Wednesday.
Speaking moments before the MPs cast their ballots, May said MPs had a duty to deliver on the results of a 2016 referendum that started the divorce.
“I believe we have a duty to deliver on the democratic decision of the British people,” May said, warning MPs that the EU would not offer any alternative deal.
“A vote against this deal is a vote for uncertainty, division, and the very real threat of a no deal,” she argued to loud jeers from the packed chamber.
“The responsibility of each and every one of us at this moment is profound, for this is a historic decision that will set the future of our country for generations.”
Most lawmakers have always opposed Brexit, as have some leading members of May’s government, creating an inherent contradiction that has torn apart the island nation.
And with little more than two months to go until the scheduled March 29 departure, Britain still cannot decide what to do.
May must now decide whether she tries to hold another vote, gets kicked out of office, delays Brexit – or if Brexit even happens at all.
As their nation’s fate was being decided, hundreds of noisy supporters and opponents of Brexit, some banging drums and others driving floats with huge dolls mocking top UK politicians, rallied outside the ancient parliament building in London.
“It could end up being the day that will lead to us leaving with no deal,” 25-year-old Simon Fisher, who backs a swift, sharp break with the EU, said.
A much larger rally nearby in support of a second referendum turned Parliament Square into a sea of EU flags.
One pro-Brexit activist trying to join the rally was detained by police to shouts of “scum” from fellow protesters in a sign of rising tensions.
Others voiced their support for a second referendum, an option May’s government has ruled out.
May made it her mission to carry out the wishes of voters after she became premier in July 2016, putting aside her own initial misgivings and stating repeatedly that “Brexit means Brexit”.
But facing a heavy drubbing, May decided to postpone a parliamentary vote in December on the Brexit deal in the hope of winning concessions from Brussels – and that a Christmas break would change lawmakers’ minds.
EU leaders came back with only non-binding clarifications, and just a handful of new MPs have rallied to May’s side.
The UK government’s current plan appears to be to try to ram a very similar version of the agreement through parliament on a second or possibly even a third attempt.
Meanwhile, European Com-
mission president Jean-Claude Juncker said the EU would intensify its preparations for a scenario in which Britain leaves the bloc without a withdrawal agreement.
“The risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom has increased with this evening’s vote,” he said.
“While we do not want this to happen, the European Commission will continue its contingency work to help ensure the EU is fully prepared.”
Belgium Prime Minister Charles Michel said on Twitter his country was also stepping up its planning for a Brexit nodeal.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas raised the possibility of further talks while ruling out a full renegotiation.
Hardline Brexiteers and remainers oppose the agreement for different reasons and many fear it could lock Britain into an unfavourable trading relationship with the EU.
Criticism of the deal is focused on an arrangement to keep open the border with Ireland by aligning Britain with some EU trade rules, if and until London and Brussels sign a new economic partnership which could take several years.
Sammy Wilson, Brexit spokesperson with Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, upon which May relies for her parliamentary majority, told the BBC his party would not be forced into backing the deal by fears over the border.
The government must set out what happens next by Monday, if – as is expected – it survives the no-confidence vote. –