Theresa May loses fresh Commons vote on Brexit deal
European Research Group MPs abstain, leading to defeat by 45 votes
![Theresa May](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fNooCrCyhd8KSKSdPFcuyM-415-80.jpg)
Theresa May has suffered another embarrassing defeat in the House of Commons, after her latest attempt to win support for a renegotiated Brexit deal failed.
The vote was effectively scuttled by the European Research Group (ERG) Eurosceptic MPs led by Jacob Rees-Mogg, who abstained from the vote because “it appeared to rule out a no-deal Brexit”, The Guardian says.
May has “consistently rejected calls to rule out a no-deal Brexit”, The BBC says, however some Tories believed that the wording of the government motion still “opened the door for that”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the end, the result of the vote was a disappointing one for the prime minister, with the deal being defeated, 303 votes to 258, a 45 vote shortfall. May had been counting on a win to help her to pressure the EU to reopen negotiations.
Following the loss, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called on the prime minister to admit that she had failed to deliver a Brexit strategy, accusing her of simply “running down the clock and hoping something will turn up”.
May was not present in the Commons, having reportedly been advised that she was going to lose another vote, stifling opposition chances to address the prime minister directly.
“I was going to ask her to come to the despatch box now and admit that her strategy has failed,” Corbyn said. “The government cannot go on ignoring Parliament or ploughing on without a coherent plan.”
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
ICJ ruling: will 'damning verdict' stop Netanyahu?
Talking Point The UN's top court has ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories breaks international law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Venezuela election: first vote in a decade offers hope to poverty-stricken nation
The Explainer Nicolás Maduro agreed to 'free and fair' vote but poor polling and threat of prosecution pushes disputed leader to desperate methods
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
How conservative is Labour?
Today's big question Keir Starmer's party triumphed in the general election despite prioritising 'wealth creation and growth, not redistribution'
By Abby Wilson Published
-
The campaign of destruction against 'sea gypsies'
Under the Radar Malaysia targets traditional seafaring Bajau Laut tribe in crackdown on undocumented migrants
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Bellwether seats and 'big beasts' at risk: how election night will unfold
In the Spotlight Excitement will 'really ramp up' as key constituencies declared through the night
By The Week UK Published
-
New Panama president vows to halt migration
Speed Read José Raúl Mulino will stop migration through the Darien Gap
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published