British Parliament rejects Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, leaving withdrawal from EU and prime minister’s political future in doubt, according to The Washington Post.
With just 73 days to go until Britain is scheduled to leave the European Union, British lawmakers yesterday overwhelmingly rejected — by a vote of 432 to 202 — the withdrawal deal.
The Washington Post notes that the landslide vote was pure humiliation for a British leader who has spent the past two years trying to sell her vision of Brexit to a skeptical public, and her failure raised serious questions about how — and if — Britain will leave the E.U. as promised on March 29.
Hardcore Brexiteers, such as former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, cheered the result as increasing the chances of Britain leaving the European Union with no deal and no compromises — or with a much, much better deal than May or EU leaders say is realistic.
At the same time, those who want to see a second referendum on Brexit, and who want to stay in the union, think May’s loss gets them closer to their goal.
The political turmoil heightened fears among European leaders that Britain will crash out of the bloc in a chaotic, no-deal departure that would have harsh economic and humanitarian consequences on both sides of the English Channel.
In the House of Commons on Tuesday, May reportedly stood almost alone, flashing defiance and frustration, as many in her own party abandoned their leader.
Meanwhile, European leaders urge Britain to clarify position after MPs vote against Prime Minister Theresa May's negotiated deal.
Al Jazeera notes that following the crucial vote on Tuesday in Britain's lower house of parliament, officials in Brussels and other European capitals insisted the divorce deal they signed with May's government in late 2018 remains the best way to avoid a feared "hard Brexit" on March 29.
"We regret the outcome of the vote and urge the UK government to clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps as soon as possible," said a spokesperson for Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council.
