Brexit: Mayhem as Theresa May delays Brexit vote by five weeks

UK plunged into political mayhem as Theresa May vows to gain “assurances’’ from the EU after deferring the Brexit vote by up to five weeks.

Anti Brexit protesters use illuminated signs outside the Houses of Parliament. Picture: Getty Images.

Britain has been plunged into political mayhem and Brexit paralysis as a severely weakened Prime Minister Theresa May vowed to gain “assurances’’ from the European Union after controversially deferring a vote on her Brexit withdrawal bill by as much as five weeks.

Mrs May avoided a huge and humiliating defeat of her Brexit deal, by promising to return to Europe expressing “confidence” in getting some sort of EU concessions about the most contentious aspects of the Irish border backstop.

She admitted her deal initially scheduled for Wednesday morning Sydney time, would have been defeated. Number experts in the parliament believed the magnitude of the defeat could have been higher than 200 votes. Mrs May told the House of Commons: “People are concerned about the permanent nature of the (Irish) backstop, that is a genuine concern held by people across this House and it is entirely right the government addresses it.’’

However the Labour opposition has threatened but failed to bring the political impasse to a halt, even though the Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable said his party would support a Labour vote of no confidence in the government.

Behind the scenes MPs were furious that they had not been given the chance to decide whether the vote on the deal was to be deferred.

The Speaker of the House John Bercow slapped down the government, allowing an emergency debate on the decision and saying it was “deeply discourteous’’ not to allow a parliament vote on the delay. The three hour debate will take place later today (AEST)

The Brexit co-ordinator for the European parliament Guy Verhofstadt blasted Mrs May’s decision saying on Twitter: “I can’t follow anymore. After two years of negotiations, the Tory government wants to delay the vote. Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down. This delay will further aggravate the uncertainty for people & businesses. It’s time they make up their mind.’’

Mrs May continued to insist despite the widespread opposition, that the deal “represents the best deal negotiable with the EU. I still believe a majority to be won if I can secure additional reassurance on the backstop and that will be my focus in the days ahead.’’

She refused to say when any deal would be put to parliament, saying there was a January 21 parliamentary deadline. House of Commons officials later insisted the vote only had to be put before the Commons by March 28, the day before Brexit.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the country had endured two years of shambolic negotiations. and called on a new leader to take control. “This is an extremely serious and unprecedented situation,’’ he said, adding: “The government has lost control of events and is in disarray, uncertainty is building for business, people are in despair about what it means. It has been clear for weeks she does not have the confidence of the house and she ploughed on regardless. The PM is trying to buy herself one last chance, if she doesn’t take on changes, she must make way for those who can.’’

There was laughing incredulity in the Commons about Mrs May’s belief she can extract meaningful alterations to the deal and she was accused of can-kicking the issue and shortening the time available for other options.

The DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds, who supports the government with supply and confidence said: “Frankly what the Prime Minister says today is simply not credible, this is an impossible position for the government to find itself in, she does she not get it now, the withdrawal agreement is unacceptable to this house.’’

The Confederation of British Industry said: “The country risked sliding towards a national crisis,’’ and the day’s developments were “yet another blow for companies desperate for clarity’’.

CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said politicians need to show leadership by building consensus to protect both the UK and EU’s prosperity and warned that “no one can afford to head into Christmas with the threat of no-deal costing jobs and hitting living standards’’.