UK will likely have to delay Brexit if lawmakers reject May\'s deal - Hammond

ROUGH CUT - NO REPORTER NARRATION Britain will probably have to delay its departure from the European Union if lawmakers reject the government's proposed divorce deal in a vote next week, finance minister Philip Hammond said on Thursday (March 7).

Britain is due to leave the EU in 22 days, but if lawmakers reject the deal this will put in doubt how, when or possibly even if Britain's biggest foreign and trade policy shift in more than 40 years will take place.

On March 12, the government is expected to try again to get its deal approved, having sought extra assurances from the EU.

If that fails, May will ask parliament on March 13 if it wants to leave without a deal - a disruptive divorce with damaging consequences for the world's fifth largest economy.

If parliament rejects that outcome as well, lawmakers will decide on March 14 if they want to try to delay Brexit, opening the door to a wholesale renegotiation, or a second referendum which critics say would destroy faith in democracy.