PM’s Brexit deal rejected by 230 votes

LONDON, January 15 

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British lawmakers defeated Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit divorce deal by a crushing margin on Tuesday, triggering political upheaval that could lead to a disorderly exit from the EU or even to a reversal of the 2016 decision to leave.

Parliament voted 432-202 against her deal, the worst parliamentary defeat for a government in recent British history. Scores of her own lawmakers — both Brexiteers and supporters of EU membership — joined forces to vote down the deal.

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn promptly called a vote of no confidence in May's government, to be held within 24 hours.

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.

May's crushing loss, the first British parliamentary defeat of a treaty since 1864, marks the collapse of her two-year strategy of forging an amicable divorce with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit. "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.

"We need to confirm whether this government still enjoys the confidence of this House," May said.

May said parliament had spoken and the government had listened. The small Northern Irish DUP party, which props up her minority government and had said it would oppose the deal, said it would still back May in the no confidence vote.

The EU said the Brexit deal remained the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal from the EU.

“The Brexit deal is basically dead,” said Anand Menon, professor of European politics and foreign affairs at King’s College London.

Ever since Britain voted by 52-48 per cent to leave the EU in a referendum in June 2016, the political class has been debating how to leave the European project forged by France and Germany after the devastation of World War-II.

While the country is divided over EU membership, most agree that the world's fifth largest economy is at a crossroads and that its choices over Brexit will shape the prosperity of future generations.

Before the vote, May had warned pro-Brexit lawmakers that if her plan was rejected, it was more likely that Britain would not leave the EU at all than that it would leave without a deal.

She has also warned fellow Conservatives not to let the Opposition Labour Party seize control of Brexit. Supporters of EU membership cast Brexit as a gigantic mistake that will undermine the West, smash Britain's reputation as a stable destination for investment and slowly weaken London's position as a global capital.

Many opponents of Brexit hope May's defeat will lead to another referendum on EU membership, though Brexiteers say that thwarting the will of the 17.4 million who voted for Brexit could radicalise much of the electorate. Brexit supporters cast leaving as a way to break free from a Union they see as overly bureaucratic and fast falling behind the leading economic powers of the 21st century, the US and China. — Reuters

Post defeat, May tells Parliament how govt will proceed

• First, we need to confirm whether this government still enjoys the confidence of the House. I believe that it does, but given the scale of vote it is right that others have the chance to test that question if they wish to do so. If Opposition tables a confidence motion, the government will debate it on Wednesday

• Second, if the House confirms its confidence in this government, I will hold meetings with my colleagues, our Confidence & Supply partner the DUP and senior MPs to identify what would be required to secure the backing of the House

• Third, if these meetings yield such ideas, we will explore them with EU n I offer two reassurances — to those who fear that government’s strategy is to run down the clock to March 29. That’s not our strategy; second to the British people who voted to leave the EU. I believe it’s my duty to deliver on their instruction

Labour MP delays birth to vote 

• A 36-year-old Bangladeshi-origin British lawmaker has delayed giving birth to vote on the UK’s landmark divorce deal with the European Union on Tuesday.

• Tulip Siddiq, a Labour lawmaker and a niece of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been advised by doctors to have a caesarean section, but agreed to push the procedure back to Thursday so she can vote on the deal

• Siddiq said: “If my son enters the world even one day later than the doctors advised, but it’s a world with a better chance of a strong relationship between Britain and Europe, then that’s worth fighting for”