Brexit crunch looms for PM Theresa May as EU talks stall

LONDON/ BRUSSELS: British PM Theresa May’s Brexit strategy was in meltdown on Monday after her failure to win last-minute concessions from the European Union set the stage for another humiliating defeat of her divorce deal in parliament.

Just 18 days before the UK is due to leave the EU on March 29, there is still no ratified divorce deal and talks with the bloc have stalled as May tries to break the political deadlock in London. May’s spokesman said a “meaningful” parliamentary vote on her deal would go ahead on Tuesday, even though talks with the EU are deadlocked, and the motion would be published later on Monday. The exact vote format was not immediately clear.

European officials said there had been no breakthrough in talks over the weekend and expressed frustration with May’s attempts to secure concessions just weeks before Britain’s exit. “We really want to be over with it now. It’s not going anywhere so even an extension is unlikely to break the impasse. There is not much patience or goodwill left on our side,” one EU official said. European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas said it was up to the UK parliament to take important decisions on Brexit this week.