Prime Minister Theresa May won a confidence vote in the British
parliament on Wednesday before inviting other party leaders for
immediate talks to try to break the impasse on a Brexit divorce
agreement.
parliament on Wednesday before inviting other party leaders for
immediate talks to try to break the impasse on a Brexit divorce
agreement.
 |
| Prime Minister Theresa May |
Lawmakers voted 325 to 306 that they had confidence in May’s
government, just 24 hours after handing her European Union withdrawal
deal a crushing defeat that left Britain’s exit from the bloc in
disarray.
government, just 24 hours after handing her European Union withdrawal
deal a crushing defeat that left Britain’s exit from the bloc in
disarray.
With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for
Brexit, the United Kingdom is now in the deepest political crisis in
half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the
European project it joined in 1973.
Brexit, the United Kingdom is now in the deepest political crisis in
half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the
European project it joined in 1973.
After the results of the confidence vote were announced to cheers
from Conservative lawmakers, May said she believed parliament had a duty
to find a solution that delivered on the 2016 Brexit referendum result.
from Conservative lawmakers, May said she believed parliament had a duty
to find a solution that delivered on the 2016 Brexit referendum result.
“To that end, I have proposed a series of meetings between senior
parliamentarians and representatives of the government over the coming
days,” May told parliament.
parliamentarians and representatives of the government over the coming
days,” May told parliament.
“I would like to invite the leaders of parliamentary parties to meet
with me individually, and I would like to start these meetings
tonight.”
with me individually, and I would like to start these meetings
tonight.”
But with lawmakers deadlocked on the way forward, the United Kingdom
could face a disorderly “no-deal” Brexit, a delay to Brexit, or even
another referendum on membership.
could face a disorderly “no-deal” Brexit, a delay to Brexit, or even
another referendum on membership.
The votes on Tuesday and Wednesday brought into sharp relief the
problem May faces; trying to win over pro-EU supporters in her own and
other parties without alienating those who keep her in power – for
instance, by giving up the “no-deal Brexit” that they see as a crucial
bargaining chip.
problem May faces; trying to win over pro-EU supporters in her own and
other parties without alienating those who keep her in power – for
instance, by giving up the “no-deal Brexit” that they see as a crucial
bargaining chip.
Hardline Brexit-supporters in her party, who last month made an
unsuccessful attempt to oust her, and the Northern Irish party that
props up her minority government will not countenance a deal that keeps
close trade ties with the EU.
unsuccessful attempt to oust her, and the Northern Irish party that
props up her minority government will not countenance a deal that keeps
close trade ties with the EU.
“The confidence and supply arrangement (to support May) of course is
built upon delivering Brexit on the basis of our shared priorities,”
said Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
built upon delivering Brexit on the basis of our shared priorities,”
said Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
