British lawmakers defeated Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit divorce deal by a crushing margin on Tuesday, triggering political chaos that could lead to a disorderly exit from the EU or even to a reversal of the 2016 decision to leave.
London:
After parliament voted 432-202 against her deal, the worst defeat in modern British history, opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn promptly called a vote of no confidence in May’s government, to be held at 1900 GMT on Wednesday.
With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for Brexit, the United Kingdom is now ensnared in the deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European project that it joined in 1973.
“It is clear that the House does not support this deal, but tonight’s vote tells us nothing about what it does support,” May told parliament, moments after the result was announced.
“... nothing about how - or even if - it intends to honour the decision the British people took in a referendum parliament decided to hold.”
More than 100 of May’s own Conservative MPs - both Brexit backers and supporters of EU membership - joined forces to vote down the deal. In doing so, they smashed the previous record defeat for a government, a 166-vote margin, set in 1924.
The humiliating loss, the first British parliamentary defeat of a treaty since 1864, appeared to catastrophically undermine May’s two-year strategy of forging an amicable divorce with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit.
With May vowing to stand by her deal and Labour trying to trigger a national election, parliament is still effectively deadlocked, with no alternative proposal.
May’s spokesman told reporters that May’s deal could still form the basis of an accord with the EU, but opponents disagreed.
“This deal is dead,” said Boris Johnson, the Conservative Party’s most prominent Brexiteer, who urged May to go back to Brussels to seek better terms.
“The risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom has increased with this evening’s vote,” said EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, adding that it would intensify preparations for a no-deal Brexit.
A Labour Party spokesman said it was becoming more likely that Britain would have to ask the EU to postpone the March 29 departure date required by the Article 50 withdrawal notice.
But Donald Tusk, the chairman of EU leaders, suggested Britain should now consider reversing Brexit altogether.
“If a deal is impossible, and no one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?” he tweeted.
NO CONFIDENCE VOTE
British lawmakers will on Wednesday vote on whether they have confidence in the government, after Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal suffered a heavy defeat in parliament.
HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK?
The opposition Labour Party, backed by other smaller opposition parties, has put forward a motion which states “That this House has no confidence in Her Majesty’s Government.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will open the debate on the motion at around 1300 GMT. May will also speak in the debate and it will last until 1900 GMT.
MPs will then vote on the motion at 1900 GMT, with the result due at around 1915 GMT.
There are 650 MPs in the House of Commons. May’s government needs 318 votes to win the vote, as seven members of the Irish nationalist Sinn Fein party do not sit, four speakers do not vote and four MPs who help count votes, known as tellers, are not counted.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GOVERNMENT WINS?
The government continues in office. However, there are no restrictions on how soon another confidence vote can be called, so Labour could put forward another no confidence motion at any point.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THE GOVERNMENT LOSES?
May does not have to resign. A 14-day period is triggered in which any party, including May’s Conservatives, can seek to form a government. To do this they would have to win a confidence vote in the House of Commons.
If a new government cannot be formed within 14 days, an election is triggered.