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Friday, March 15, 2019

BREXIT - UK parliament rejects 'no-deal' option Wed March 13,2019

With just over two weeks to go until the BREXIT  deadline, the British parliament has signalled that it is strongly against leaving the European Union without a deal.

After politicians rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's plan to quit the EU for a second time on Tuesday March 12,2019, the government on Wednesday March 13,2019 put forward a motion to rule out a "no-deal" Brexit on March 29, 2019 the current deadline.

MPs then backed an amendment to that motion, which rules out a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances. The motion as amended was passed by 321 votes to 278.

Wednesday March 13,2019 's vote is not legally binding, however, and does not rule out a no-deal Brexit altogether.

A deal or another alternative needs Parliament's approval.

MPs on Wednesday March 13,2019 also voted down an amendment which resurrected elements of the "Malthouse compromise" for a "managed no-deal", supported by prominent Brexiters. That amendment included a delay to May 22 for preparations.

The prime minister Theresa May confirmed that a vote on extending Article 50 will take place as promised on Thursday March 14,2019

"The options before us are the same as they always have been," she warned, reiterating that voting for a deal is the only way of avoiding no deal.


What's next?

If MPs on Thursday vote to delay Brexit, the prime minister will put forward a formal request to the European Union for an extension of Article 50.

May wants to avoid an extension that would oblige the UK to take part in the European Parliament elections while in the process of exiting the bloc.

That means the new deadline would have to be before the new assembly's first sitting on July 2.

Any extension of Article 50 would have to be agreed by all 27 remaining EU member states.

The next opportunity to do that will be on March 21-22, when the next European Council convenes.

 


 



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