British PM suffers defeat on Brexit strategy in parliament

15 Feb '19

2 min read

With Brexit just six weeks away, Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a defeat by British lawmakers in a February 14 vote that left her bid to secure a divorce deal from the European Union (EU) stuck between a stubborn EU and a parliament at home opposed to her plan. The House of Commons voted 303 to 258 against a motion reiterating support for May’s approach.

Though symbolic, the defeat exposes May’s weak position as she tries to secure changes to her divorce deal, according to British media reports.

The British prime minister’s office said in a statement that “while we didn’t secure the support of the Commons this evening,” the government believed Parliament still wanted May to seek changes to the Brexit deal that lawmakers could support.

“The government will continue to pursue this with the EU to ensure we leave on time on 29th March,” it said.

Many lawmakers termed the development as a ‘fiasco’.

Two weeks ago, the parliament voted to send May back to Brussels to seek changes to a section of the withdrawal agreement intended to ensure an open border between the United Kingdom’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland after Brexit.

But lawmakers also voted to rule out a ‘no-deal’ exit, though without indicating how that could be achieved.

Pro-EU lawmakers feel time is running out to seal a deal before the United Kingdom topples off a ‘no-deal’ cliff, with economically devastating results.

Most businesses and economists say the British economy would be severely harmed if the country crashed out of the EU on March 29 without a deal, bringing tariffs and other impediments to trade. (DS)

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