Brexit suffers another setback as MPs reject May’s withdrawal agreement

March 29, 2019 6:41 pm

Members of Parliament (MPs) have rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s agreement on the date UK should leave EU.

The UK had originally planned to leave the EU on Friday but divisions within the country and May’s own party made her delay the planned departure date.

British lawmakers had voted on the agreement date but the government lost by 58 votes after a 344 to 286 count.

The UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal.

Britain now has until April 12 to present another plan to seek a longer extension to the negotiation process to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

The defeat is coming less than three months after members of parliament reject May’s Brexit deal by 230 votes, and Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition party, called for a vote of no confidence in the government, which is expected to lead to a general election in the country.

The prime minister said the UK would have to find “an alternative way forward”. That would require Britain to take part in elections in May to the European parliament or leave the EU without a deal.

She said the outcome was “a matter of profound regret”, adding that “I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House”.

“I think it should be a matter of profound regret to every member of this House that once again we have been unable to support leaving the European Union in an orderly fashion,” May said.

“The implications of the House’s decision are grave.

“This Government will continue to press the case for the orderly Brexit that the result of the referendum demands.”

Reacting to the development, Steve Baker, deputy chairman of the European Research Group of Brexiteer conservatives, said it was time for May to quit.

“This must be the final defeat for Theresa May’s deal. It’s finished. And we must move on,” Baker said.

“It has not passed. It will not pass. I regret to say it is time for Theresa May to follow through on her words and make way so that a new leader can deliver a withdrawal agreement which will be passed by Parliament.”