Politics

Brexit shock as British MPs reject no-deal, move against PM Theresa May’s plan

Mar 14, 2019

Theresa May has lost out after MPs voted against her plan. Source: Getty.

British MPs have voted against a no-deal Brexit, completely rejecting any option of leaving the EU without a withdrawal agreement.

In a shock move against Prime Minister Theresa May, the BBC reports MPs voted by 312 to 308 – meaning they could now vote on delaying Brexit completely as the current deadline of March 29 looms.

The vote to delay Brexit will take place on Thursday (UK time) and, if passed and the EU is in agreement, the deadline will be pushed back.

According to the Australian, some cabinet ministers could now face being sacked if it emerges they abstained in the vote, or crossed the floor.

Speaking to the House of Commons after the shock vote, May listed a series of options left now for MPs to reach a conclusion – insisting another referendum would “risk no Brexit at all, damaging the fragile trust between the British public and the members of this House”.

“The legal default in UK and EU law remains that the UK will leave the EU without a deal unless something else is agreed,” she said, according to the news outlet.

“The onus is now on every one of us in this House to find out what that is. The options before us are the same as they always have been.

“We could leave with the deal this government has negotiated over the past two years. We could leave with a deal we have negotiated but subject to a second referendum but that would risk no Brexit at all, damaging the fragile trust between the British public and the members of this House.

“We could seek to negotiate a different deal, however, the EU has been clear the deal on the table is indeed the only deal available.”

Meanwhile, the BBC reports MPs also voted by 374 to 164 to reject a plan to delay the UK’s departure from the EU until May 22, after the amendment was proposed by May’s former second-in-command, Conservative MP Damian Green.

It comes after the Queen sparked claims she’s finally weighed in on the ongoing Brexit debate as she gave a powerful speech urging the UK to find “common ground” and told people to “respect different points of view” at the end of January.

According to multiple reports, the monarch gave the hard-hitting speech to mark the centenary of the Sandringham Women’s Institute (WI), and also insisted people should “never lose sight of the bigger picture”.

It was interpreted by several major UK newspapers and commentators at the time as alluding to the deep divide in parliament over the issue of Britain leaving the EU, despite Her Majesty being required to always remain publicly politically neutral.

Speaking directly about the Women’s Institute, she commended the organisation for enduring and remaining as strong as ever in a year of deep change.

“The continued emphasis on patience, friendship, a strong community-focus and considering the needs of others are as important today as they were when the group was founded all those years ago,” she said, according to The Guardian.

“Of course, every generation faces fresh challenges and opportunities. As we look for new answers in the modern age, I for one prefer the tried and tested recipes, like speaking well of each other and respecting different points of view; coming together to seek out the common ground; and never losing sight of the bigger picture.

“To me, these approaches are timeless, and I commend them to everyone.”