Historic defeat in parliament leaves Brexit plans foundering

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This was published 5 years ago

Historic defeat in parliament leaves Brexit plans foundering

By Nick Miller
Updated

A historic defeat in parliament has left British Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plans foundering, with new questions over her leadership and an imminent challenge to her government.

On Wednesday, May's government will face a vote of no-confidence, called by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, that could trigger an election.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal, in the House of Commons.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks after losing a vote on her Brexit deal, in the House of Commons.Credit: PA

But even if the government survives – which it is likely to do as it has the continuing support of the Northern Irish DUP – it has to come to terms with the biggest parliamentary defeat in the history of British democracy, delivered to the linchpin of its Brexit strategy.

After eight days of debate, the House of Commons rejected,  by 432 to 202, the deal thatMay negotiated to govern the withdrawal of Britainfrom the European Union.

Without the deal, if Brexit still takes place as planned on March 29, it will be a chaotic process that causes major and immediate damage to Britain's economy.

The worst previous defeat for a British government was in 1924 when Ramsay MacDonald'sLabour minority government lost by 166 votes.

Scores of pro-Brexit defectors from May’s Conservative Partydoomed the deal, voting "no" because they believe the deal did not deliver enough sovereignty nor opportunity for the country.

They voted alongside most of Labour’s MPs who believed the deal was bad for the country and hope either to call a new Brexit referendum or to renegotiate a Brexit deal that keeps Britain much more closely tied to the EU.

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The vote came after a day of fractious debate at the end of which May called on the parliament to make a "historic decision that will set the future of our country for generations".

MPs could "deliver on our promise to the British people" or "break that promise and endanger trust in politics for a generation", she warned.

After the loss, which was bigger than pundits had forecast and much bigger than the government had hoped, a visibly angry May said the government "will listen" to the parliament.

"It is clear the House does not support this deal," May said. "But tonight's vote tells us nothing about what it does support." She promised to work with the DUP and others in parliament in a bid to find consensus.

"The government will approach these meetings in a constructive spirit," she said.

May has until Monday to deliver her "plan B" for the country.

An anti-Brexit demonstrator cries as he gathers in Parliament Square in London.

An anti-Brexit demonstrator cries as he gathers in Parliament Square in London.Credit: AP

Before the vote, her response to a loss had been widely tipped to be talks with the EU followed by another attempt to get her deal through parliament.

However the scale of the loss could mean the deal needs major surgery, which could require a delay to Brexit and a renegotiation with the EU.

May has previously rejected calls to delay Brexit or hold a new referendum.

May promised to hold meetings with MPs from all parties to test levels of support for alternative options to the deal.

Anti-Brexit demonstrators react after the results of the vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal were announced in Parliament Square in London.

Anti-Brexit demonstrators react after the results of the vote on British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal were announced in Parliament Square in London.Credit: AP

She insisted her strategy was not to "run down the clock" but to work constructively to find a way forward.

One of May’s most vocal rivals, former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, declared that her deal was "dead" and she must go back to the EU to seek more concessions.

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reportedly flew back to Brussels on Tuesday to be ready for "emergency" Brexit talks on Wednesday.

Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament.

Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament.Credit: Bloomberg

EU leaders responded to the vote by warning the "risk of a disorderly exit" had increased, but the negotiated agreement "remains the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal".

However, there could be more flexibility.

"We can adjust our trajectory … we can open all the dossiers," said Mario Centeno, chairman of the eurozone and Portuguese Finance Minister.

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German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said "there could be further talks" but only limited change to the deal.

"I doubt very much that the agreement can be fundamentally reopened," he said.

EU country leaders have previously said a renegotiated deal would be possible only if Britain's "red lines" changed – for instance if it was to consider allowing free movement of EU nationals into Britain after Brexit.

They have also indicated they would grant a short "technical" extension to the Brexit deadline if it was needed, and a longer extension if Britain was to hold a general election or new referendum.

May is largely immune from a leadership challenge for most of the year, after a failed coup in December.

However, she may still be pushed to resign if her political opponents can unite behind a challenger.

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