Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in the House of Commons after postponing Parliament's vote on her European Union divorce deal to avoid a shattering defeat. Photo / AP
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in the House of Commons after postponing Parliament's vote on her European Union divorce deal to avoid a shattering defeat. Photo / AP
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has called off a crucial vote in Parliament on whether to approve her Brexit deal and will head back to Brussels to seek a better offer from the European Union.
May told her Cabinet she will travel to Brussels for talks with EU leaders on Thursday and ask for better terms on the most controversial part of the withdrawal agreement - the plan for the Irish border. She spoke to leaders by phone at the weekend, though the bloc has made clear it won't re-open negotiations.
The vote in the House of Commons was due to be held on Tuesday evening but is now set to be rescheduled, according to people familiar with the situation.
Remaining in the European Union supporters, including one dressed as Santa, hold placards and protest outside the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. Photo / AP
The pound fell to the lowest since June 2017 as fears about a no-deal Brexit resurfaced. UK Government bonds rallied, with yields hitting the lowest since August.
British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn challenged May's decision to delay the vote, arguing that her government is in "complete disarray."
Labour lawmakers shouted "Resign! Resign!' as May wrapped up her remarks in the House of Commons, adding further insult to the humiliation of failing to deliver on her signature piece of legislation, the Brexit divorce deal from the European Union.
Corbyn described the situation as unprecedented and serious. He says "the government has lost control of events and is in complete disarray."
Even members of May's own party were quick to further criticise the way she's handled the negotiations.
Conservative Party lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg sharply rejected May's "undeliverable deal," saying it risked paving the way for a Labour Party government led by Corbyn.
May's plan to delay the vote throws the Brexit process into further turmoil. She has promised to give the House of Commons a binding say on whether or not to ratify the UK's withdrawal agreement with the EU before the country leaves the bloc on March 29. It's now unclear when that vote will happen, though some expect it won't be called until January.
The words 'Peoples Vote', which calls for another referendum on Britain's European Union membership, stand across the street from the House of Commons. Photo / AP
The stakes for May are high. If Parliament refuses to endorse the withdrawal agreement, the UK will be on course to leave the EU without a deal, unleashing political and economic chaos. May herself could be forced from office and the UK might need a fresh election or referendum to resolve the crisis.
The prime minister spent the weekend talking to fellow EU leaders to update them on her struggle for support and to explore possible changes to the agreement to make it more palatable. She will attend an EU summit on Thursday.
May's battling to quell a revolt from pro- and anti-Brexit politicians inside her own Conservative Party, with dozens of rebels trying to force her out as party leader and prime minister. Separately, the opposition Labour Party is weighing up whether to call a formal vote of no confidence in the government. If May loses that, the UK would be on course for an election.
"This is essentially a defeat of the prime minister's Brexit deal" and shows the terms of the divorce were so bad that May didn't even dare to put it to a vote, leading pro-Brexit Conservative Steve Baker said. "This isn't the mark of a stable government or a strong plan."
Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee representing rank-and-file Tory lawmakers, said May's decision to pull the vote "is clearly the right thing to do." He is a key figure because he receives the letters from lawmakers that could initiate a leadership challenge in May.
Last week Brady had publicly urged the premier to drop her plans for a vote, amid opposition to the so-called Irish border backstop. In an interview Monday, he said, "Obviously there wasn't sufficient support to press ahead successfully."
"Everyone knows what the bone of contention is - the backstop - and there are a large number of MPs who are prepared to compromise," Brady said. Now the prime minister can go to Brussels and re-negotiate, he added.
Delaying the vote is likely only to provide a temporary reprieve for the premier as she has promised to give Parliament a decisive say on whether to accept or reject the agreement before the UK leaves the bloc on March 29.
