New Delhi:
In what could be a big blow for British Prime Minister Theresa May, her Brexit divorce deal on Tuesday suffered a crushing defeat in parliament, further complicating the country's historic exit from the European Union (EU). May's deal to get the Withdrawal Agreement, struck between London and Brussels, was defeated with parliament voted 432-202 against her deal, the biggest defeat ever suffered by a British premier in modern history. Within minutes after the defeat, opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn moved a no-confidence motion against May's government. The confidence vote is expected to take place at about 19:00 GMT on Wednesday, triggering a general election anytime soon.
Britain is set to exit the 28-member European Union, which it joined in 1973, on March 29. With just over two months to go until the scheduled departure, Britain is still undecided on what to do. Hardline Brexiteers and Remainers opposed the agreement for different reasons. Many feared that Britain could lock itself into an unfavourable trading relationship with the European Union. Over 100 lawmakers of May's Conservative party - both Brexiteers and Remainers - overwhelmingly voted against the deal, leading to the worst parliamentary defeat for a government in recent British history.
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The crushing defeat also marks the collapse of her two-year strategy of forging an amicable divorce with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit. Following her defeat in the House of Commons, May said that the MPs have established what they are against but not what they are for.
"The house has spoken and the government will listen. It is clear that the house does not support this deal but tonight's vote tells us nothing what it does support. Nothing about how, or even if, it intends to honour the decision the British people took in a referendum parliament decided to hold," she said.
"I ask members on all sides of the house to listen to the British people who want this matter settled and work with the government to do just that," she added.
Moments after the outcome in parliament, Corbyn submitted a motion of no-confidence in May's government, calling her defeat "catastrophic". "Labour will table a motion of no-confidence in May's government tomorrow," he said.
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According to Britain's parliamentary procedure, when a bill is rejected by the MPs, the prime minister has three sitting days to return to Parliament with a Plan B. It is expected that May would head to Brussels on Wednesday to try and secure further concessions from the EU before coming back to UK Parliament with a new proposal.
This could be put to vote by the MPs. Should this also fail, the Government would have another three weeks to come back with another alternative. If the withdrawal agreement never gets through with Parliament, then in all likeliness the UK will crash out of the EU without a deal on March 29. This would mean overnight EU laws and customs and the free movement of goods, services and people will cease.
(With inputs from agencies)
