Vote on Brexit deal may not happen next week
British Prime Minister Theresa May informed MPs that a third vote on her Brexit deal may not take place next week “if it appears there is not sufficient support”.
If MPs approve the PM’s deal next week, Brexit will be delayed from 29 March until 22 May. Otherwise the UK has until 12 April to propose a new plan.
In a letter to all MPs on Friday evening, Mrs May said: “If it appears that there is not sufficient support to bring the deal back next week, or the House (of Commons) rejects it again, we can ask for another extension before 12 April – but that will involve holding European Parliament elections.”
View full letter here
That was one of four “clear choices” she outlined, along with revoking Article 50, which she said would “betray the result of the referendum”, leaving with no deal, or getting her deal approved next week.
While the Brexit deadline may have moved from March 29, however, parliament shows no sign of budging.
In fact, incensed by comments from May on Wednesday night that pinned the blame for the Brexit chaos on them, many British lawmakers have now hardened their resistance to the deal she is due to bring back before them next week.
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Friday that Brexit’s fate was “in Britain’s hands”.
EU leaders have agreed to delay the departure date by at least two weeks.
May needs to change the minds of 75 more MPs to get her deal through after it was overwhelmingly rejected twice before.
