British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to suffer a crushing defeat when the UK parliament votes on her Brexit plan. With just over two months until the scheduled exit from the EU, the UK remains fiercely divided.
Welcome to Deutsche Welle’s live coverage of the UK parliament’s vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal. The vote is expected to take place around 8 p.m. local time with the results available shortly after. It is unclear whether a “no” vote would push the British government toward an abrupt “no-deal” break with the EU or nudge it towards a softer departure, or even a second referendum.
The vote
20:40 Speaker John Bercow announces the outcome of Parliament’s final vote on the government motion to back the EU Withdrawal Agreement with the EU: No 432, Aye 202.
Now that Prime Minister Theresa May has lost the vote, she has three days to outline her response.
20:26 Speaker John Bercow announces the result of an amendment vote on the UK’s unilateral right to terminate the backstop: Aye 24, No 600
Parliamentary debate in the UK
20:01 Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow ends debate after several amendments to May’s Brexit deal are withdrawn.
19:40 Prime Minister Theresa May, addressing the House of Commons, made the case for voting for her plan by outlining the downsides of all other alternatives. She also brushed off the issue of a new general election. May said that voters spoke on Brexit, and that it was the job of Parliament to deliver on the wishes of the British people. She said that a second referendum would create further disunity.
Speaking on the issue of the backstop, May argued that “no one wants to see the return of a hard border,” nevertheless, May underscored the importance of the backstop as an insurance policy.
On the attack against her political opponent Jeremy Corbyn, May accused him of “cynicism,” and sowing “disruption” during the Brexit debate. She closed her remarks by emphasizing the “historical importance” of the vote, and the trust the British people had put in Parliament. May told lawmakers, “The responsibility on each and every one of us at this moment is profound, for this is a historic decision that will set the future of our country for generations.”
19:25 Labour Leader Jeremy Corby, after a lengthy discussion with Speaker John Bercow, addressed the chamber, accusing Prime Minister May of trying to “run down the clock on Brexit to strong-arm members.” He vowed that Labour will vote against the deal “because it is bad for the country.” He strongly urged MPs to vote against the deal.
19:13 Prime Minister May enters Parliament.
13:55 Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn vowed that if May loses the vote, the first thing he will do is demand new election, tweeting, “We need an election to have the chance to vote for a government that can bring people together.”
12:46 In a last-ditch appeal to push May’s plan over the finish line, UK Attorney General Geoffrey Cox warned colleagues that voting no would be the “height of irresponsibility.” Chastising politicians, Cox said: “You are not children in the playground, you are lawmakers. We are playing with people’s lives.”
EU voices ahead of the vote
European politicians have reiterated the fact that Britain can expect no further concessions no matter how the vote in London ends.
14:57 European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, announced that he would cancel his Wednesday engagements in order to hold emergency talks in Brussels.
12:40 Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz appealed for further solidarity among the EU’s 27 remaining member states, saying: “The EU has nothing to regret in terms of our negotiations with the UK. Yet, even if this evening’s vote in Great Britain fails and the next weeks and months could perhaps be difficult, I hope very much that we can continue to maintain the solidarity of the EU27.”
12:23 German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that he was skeptical about the prospects of reopening negotiations should May lose today’s vote. Although he voiced the possibility of further talks, Maas added: “I don’t believe that any completely new solutions beyond those that we have already negotiated and agreed to will be put on the table.”
Maas’ words were referred to in the British media and during the debate as presenting the hope of new negotiations with the EU. With or without a deal, Brexit is slated to happen on March 29, as stipulated by British law and article 50 of the European Union treaty. In an effort to strong-arm lawmakers to vote for her so-called Chequers Plan, May has put forth a number of measures ostensibly designed to prepare the UK for a no-deal Brexit.
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