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Britain in crisis as May’s Brexit deal overwhelmingly rejected in House of Commons vote

Britain has fallen into a political crisis after MPs overwhelmingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, triggering a no-confidence vote against her.

Ellen Whinnett in London
5 min read
January 16, 2019 - 2:29PM
News Corp Australia Network
Parliament rejects Theresa May's Brexit deal in a historic vote

Britain has been plunged into a full political crisis, with the House of Commons voting down Theresa May’s Brexit plans by a crushing 230 votes and triggering a vote of no-confidence.

The parliament voted 432-202 to reject Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement, which was to spell out how the UK would leave the EU on March 29.

The UK now has to find a new way forward with just 73 days to go until all agreements with the EU expire.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she speaks in the House of Commons in London. Picture: AFP
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she speaks in the House of Commons in London. Picture: AFP

The defeat — the worst ever by a British prime minister — was even worse than Number 10 had feared and indicates up to 100 Tories voted against their own government’s bill.

Mrs May immediately got to her feet and challenged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to move a motion of no-confidence against her.

“We need to confirm whether this Government still enjoys the confidence of the House,’’ she said.

MORE: What happens now? A five minute guide to Brexit

“I can confirm that if the official opposition table it (a motion of no-confidence) this evening … the Government will make time to debate it tomorrow.’’

Mr Corbyn responded by saying he had tabled the motion.

“I am pleased that motion will be debated tomorrow so this House can give its verdict on the sheer incompetence of this Government and pass that motion of no confidence.’’

In extraordinary scenes in the historic Palaces of Westminster, the House of Commons categorically rejected Mrs May’s deal, which would have kept the UK closely tied to the EU but allowed Britain to negotiate their own trade deals, and avoided a physical border between Ireland the Northern Ireland.

OPINION: May and British politicians have utterly failed the UK public

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after Theresa May lost a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons. Picture: AP
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks after Theresa May lost a vote on her Brexit deal in the House of Commons. Picture: AP

The PM said while it showed the House did not support her bill, it didn’t show how the UK would manage its divorce from the EU.

She said if the House confirmed it had confidence in her Government tomorrow, she would attempt to break the deadlock by meeting with Government colleagues, minority government partners the DUP and MPs from other parties to try to agree a deal.

She would then take it back to Brussels for a final renegotiation.

There have only been three occasions in the past 100 years when British prime ministers faced defeats of more than 100 votes, all under a Labour minority government in the 1920s.

Mrs May has already lost majority government and survived an attempted leadership coup which saw 117 of her colleagues vote against her.

She told Cabinet overnight she hoped to push on with Brexit no matter what the outcome of the vote saying it’s “the only option”.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the House of Commons after warning MPs that rejecting her Brexit deal it would lead to “paralysis” that could see Britain stay in the bloc.
Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to the House of Commons after warning MPs that rejecting her Brexit deal it would lead to “paralysis” that could see Britain stay in the bloc.

JOHNSON DENIES REJOICING DEFEAT

The Tory hard Brexiteer ERG faction said they would support the Prime Minister in the vote of no-confidence.

Senior Brexiteer and potential leadership contender Boris Johnson denied he was rejoicing in the Prime Minister’s defeat, but said the margin was bigger than he had expected.

He told Sky the Prime Minister had got lost in the “quicksand’’ of the Northern Irish backstop, and being locked into the customs union and single market under the backstop.

“She now has a massive mandate…to take it back to Brussels and say we can’t do this deal,’’ he said.

Britain's Conservative MP and former foreign minister Boris Johnson has denied claims that he was rejoicing in the PM’s defeat. Picture: AFP
Britain's Conservative MP and former foreign minister Boris Johnson has denied claims that he was rejoicing in the PM’s defeat. Picture: AFP

He urged her to “keep the good bits’’ in her Withdrawal Agreement but “surgically remove’’ the Irish backstop, saying “that’s the problem, that’s the obstacle, that’s the trap.’’

“Use the implementation period that runs for a couple of years to do the free trade agreements. ‘’

The decision was met by dismay in Europe, with European Commissioner Jean-Claude Juncker expressing regret at the failure of what he said was “the best possible deal.’’

“The risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom has increased with this evening’s vote. While we do not want this to happen, the European Commission will continue its contingency work to help ensure the EU is fully prepared,’’ he said.

“I urge the United Kingdom to clarify its intentions as soon as possible.’’

European Council president Donald Tusk seemed to indicate it was an opportunity for Brexit to be cancelled, tweeting: “If a deal is impossible, and no one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?’’

Australia’s former High Commissioner to the UK, Alexander Downer, tweeted that Australia may never have got a free trade deal with the UK under the “EU offer to May.’’

The British pound, which had fallen throughout the day, lifted .1 per cent after the vote.

Senior foreign exchange strategist at SEB Richard Falkenhall told the BBC the “defeat has been broadly anticipated in markets since the agreement with the EU was closed in November 2018 and caused several members of the government to resign.’’

Earlier, Jeremy Corbyn told the EU that if parliament votes down the deal then reopening negotiations “should not, and cannot, be ruled out”.

He had urged the 650-member House of Commons to vote the bill down, and take the UK to another election.

Drinkers watch a television screen in the Red Lion public house on Whitehall, as it shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaking in the House of Commons. Picture: AFP
Drinkers watch a television screen in the Red Lion public house on Whitehall, as it shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaking in the House of Commons. Picture: AFP
British politicians begin voting on whether to approve or reject the divorce agreement between the government and the European Union. Picture: AP
British politicians begin voting on whether to approve or reject the divorce agreement between the government and the European Union. Picture: AP

Parliamentarians are furiously working up other options, ranging from a bespoke trade deal, to no deal at all, to cancelling Brexit altogether.

A snap election or even a second referendum are also options being considered, with the divisive debate uniting unlikely allies across party lines as MPs line up on the Brexiteer or Remainer sides.

Theresa May’s proposal looks set for a resounding defeat. Picture: AFP
Theresa May’s proposal looks set for a resounding defeat. Picture: AFP

Mrs May had made a last-minute speech warning Brexiteers that if they blocked her deal, there was a chance Remainer MPs would win any subsequent battle, potentially meaning no Brexit at all.

A pro-Brexit supporter holds up a placard as he demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament.
A pro-Brexit supporter holds up a placard as he demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament.

Mrs May had urged the House to support her deal, saying MPs had a responsibility to deliver on the democratic will of the people, who voted at the 2016 referendum to leave the EU.

“The responsibility on each and every one if us at this moment is profound,’’ she said at the time.

The Environment Minister Michael Gove had earlier warned MPs against holding out for the perfect deal, likening obstructionists to “mid-50s swingers’’ waiting for attractive Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson to show up to a party.

Mrs May echoed this sentiment in a speech in the strongly Leave-voting area of Stoke-on-Trent, albeit it much less colourful language.

“Nobody has yet come up with an alternative Brexit deal that is negotiable and that delivers on the result of the referendum,’’ she said.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove likened obstructionists to “mid-50s swingers’’ waiting for Scarlett Johansson to show up to a party.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove likened obstructionists to “mid-50s swingers’’ waiting for Scarlett Johansson to show up to a party.

The scale of the political upheaval was reflected in a new YouGov poll taken for the Times, which showed despite the chaos of Mrs May’s Government, Labour had fallen six points behind in the latest opinion poll.

The poll showed Jeremy Corbyn had failed to capitalise on the political upheaval in the government, including a bid to topple Mrs May from the prime ministership, and Labour support had fallen to 35 per cent, while the Conservatives were sitting at 41 per cent.

LITTLE IMPACT HERE: MORRISON

Prime Minister Scott Morrison moved to reassure Australians the country won’t face any economic fallout from the political chaos in Britain.

“While the uncertainty, that is the immediate shock of what’s happening in terms of the issues with Brexit, is there, the direct economic impacts on Australia, I know from my days at Treasurer, is limited,” he said, speaking from Vanuatu on the first day of a Pacific tour.

“But it does highlight the impacts of global uncertainty in the economy.”

HOW THE PAPERS RESPONDED

The British media weren’t shy in attacking Mrs May after her huge Brexit loss.

“May’s Brexit deal dead as a Dodo,” The Sun’s front page read, with the British PMs face attached to the extinct bird.

“Fighting for her life,” wrote the Daily Mail on their cover, while the Daily Mirror’s read, “No deal.. No Hope.. No clue.. No confidence”.

Originally published as Britain in crisis as May’s Brexit deal overwhelmingly rejected in House of Commons vote

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/brexit-vote-dday-as-may-faces-huge-defeat/news-story/da51334987406ddf4b7a97c5867addc0