Brexit: Theresa May offers MPs a vote to delay Brexit

Theresa May has bowed to intense political pressure and offered MPs a vote on delaying Brexit if her deal is voted down in March.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she makes a statement to the House of Commons in London. Picture: AFP

British Prime Minister Theresa May has bowed to intense political pressure and handed control of Brexit to parliament, telling politicians they will get to choose between leaving the European Union on schedule — with or without a divorce deal — or asking the EU to postpone.

In a series of “commitments” made in the Commons, the prime minister confirmed that parliament will choose next month in quick succession between her deal, a no-deal Brexit or asking Brussels for an extension to the Article 50 negotiating period.

Mrs May said she would put her withdrawal agreement to another meaningful vote by March 12. If it is rejected then the next day MPs will be asked if they support a no-deal Brexit. If MPs spurn leaving without a deal on that occasion, the day after that the government will table a motion on “whether parliament wants to seek a short, limited extension to Article 50”.

Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29, but so far the government has not been able to win Parliament’s backing for its divorce deal with the bloc. That leaves the UK facing a chaotic “no-deal” Brexit that could cause disruption for businesses and people in both Britain and the EU.

Mrs May shifted position after members of her own government joined calls for her to rule out a “no-deal” Brexit.

Three junior government ministers wrote in the Daily Mail that they would vote with opposition politicians to stop a no-deal departure unless Mrs May agreed to delay Brexit and guarantee “we are not swept over the precipice on March 29.” Mrs May said her goal remains to lead Britain out of the EU on schedule and with a deal, even though she still hasn’t managed to win Parliament’s approval for her agreement with the bloc.

Her concession to parliament overnight comes ahead of a series of votes Wednesday in which pro-EU politicians will try to force the government to rule out the “no-deal” Brexit and to seek an extension to the Brexit date if parliament fails to back her deal.

Businesses warn that without a deal Britain risks a chaotic departure that could disrupt trade between the UK and the EU, its biggest trading partner. The uncertainty has already led many British firms to shift some operations abroad, stockpile goods or defer investment decisions.

British politicians rejected Mrs May’s deal with the EU last month — largely over concerns about a provision to guarantee an open border between the UK’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland — and sent Mrs May back to Brussels to get changes.

The EU is adamant that the legally binding withdrawal agreement can’t be changed, though the bloc’s negotiators are holding talks with UK Attorney-General Geoffrey Cox about potential tweaks or additions around the margins. Mrs May has said a new vote on any revised Brexit deal won’t be held this week and could come as late as March 12.

Both Mrs May’s governing Conservatives and the main opposition Labour Party are deeply split over Brexit, and there is no quick or easy way to break the political impasse.

Labour on Monday took a step toward campaigning for a new Brexit referendum as a way to break the deadlock. The left-of-centre party said it would back a second public vote if the House of Commons rejects its alternative Brexit plan. Labour’s Brexit spokesman, Keir Starmer, said the public should be given a vote on whether to accept Mrs May’s deal or to remain in the EU.

But that idea faces opposition from some Labour politicians in areas that voted to leave the bloc, who say reversing Brexit would betray the will of voters. “We can’t ignore millions of Labour ‘leave’ voters,” said Labour politician Caroline Flint.

AP