Post by Sysop3 on Mar 27, 2019 21:34:56 GMT -5
Brexit still deadlocked as UK Parliament rejects alternative plans
There was no sign of a breakthrough in the Brexit deadlock Wedesday when UK lawmakers failed to agree on an alternative to Theresa May's beleaguered plan even as she offered to resign in a desperate attempt to save it.
Facing intense pressure from her fractured party, the British Prime Minister said she would step down if and when her Brexit deal was delivered. It was "time for a new approach," she told a meeting of lawmakers from her Conservative Party.
Hours later, members of the House of Commons voted on a range of measures designed to break the impasse over Brexit -- but failed to agree on any of them.
The day ended in chaos as MPs bickered over whether to hold another day of debate under an unprecedented process outside the control of the government.
Downing Street hopes that May's offer to resign would persuade enough rebel Conservative MPs to change their minds and back her deal, which was rejected by a margin of 149 votes last time. In the immediate aftermath of her announcement, key lawmakers fell into line. Boris Johnson, the colorful former Foreign Secretary, who quit over her handling of Brexit. said he would reluctantly support May's deal.
Downing Street hopes to put May's Withdrawal Agreement back before Parliament before the end of the week. But its prospects were dealt a heavy blow when the Democratic Unionist Party, the hardline Northern Irish group that props up May's minority government, announced it was still implacably opposed to it.
At the end of the day, it was by no means clear whether May's offer to resign would be enough to save her deal, which, under a deal struck by the EU to extend the Brexit process, must be passed by Friday.
It was not even clear whether May's offer to quit would stand if she still loses the next vote on herdeal.
'Desire for a new approach'
After days of speculation, May made her pledge to quit at a meeting of the 1922 Committee, the influential group of all backbench Conservative Members of Parliament. It would enable lawmakers to complete their "historic duty" and "deliver on the decision of the British people and leave the European Union with a smooth and orderly exit," she said.
"I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party," May told them.
"I know there is a desire for a new approach -- and new leadership -- in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations -- and I won't stand in the way of that."
more
www.cnn.com/2019/03/27/uk/theresa-may-brexit-intl-gbr/index.html
There was no sign of a breakthrough in the Brexit deadlock Wedesday when UK lawmakers failed to agree on an alternative to Theresa May's beleaguered plan even as she offered to resign in a desperate attempt to save it.
Facing intense pressure from her fractured party, the British Prime Minister said she would step down if and when her Brexit deal was delivered. It was "time for a new approach," she told a meeting of lawmakers from her Conservative Party.
Hours later, members of the House of Commons voted on a range of measures designed to break the impasse over Brexit -- but failed to agree on any of them.
The day ended in chaos as MPs bickered over whether to hold another day of debate under an unprecedented process outside the control of the government.
Downing Street hopes that May's offer to resign would persuade enough rebel Conservative MPs to change their minds and back her deal, which was rejected by a margin of 149 votes last time. In the immediate aftermath of her announcement, key lawmakers fell into line. Boris Johnson, the colorful former Foreign Secretary, who quit over her handling of Brexit. said he would reluctantly support May's deal.
Downing Street hopes to put May's Withdrawal Agreement back before Parliament before the end of the week. But its prospects were dealt a heavy blow when the Democratic Unionist Party, the hardline Northern Irish group that props up May's minority government, announced it was still implacably opposed to it.
At the end of the day, it was by no means clear whether May's offer to resign would be enough to save her deal, which, under a deal struck by the EU to extend the Brexit process, must be passed by Friday.
It was not even clear whether May's offer to quit would stand if she still loses the next vote on herdeal.
'Desire for a new approach'
After days of speculation, May made her pledge to quit at a meeting of the 1922 Committee, the influential group of all backbench Conservative Members of Parliament. It would enable lawmakers to complete their "historic duty" and "deliver on the decision of the British people and leave the European Union with a smooth and orderly exit," she said.
"I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party," May told them.
"I know there is a desire for a new approach -- and new leadership -- in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations -- and I won't stand in the way of that."
more
www.cnn.com/2019/03/27/uk/theresa-may-brexit-intl-gbr/index.html