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”.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.”
-
The Roses: Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch star in black comedy reboot'Acidly enjoyable' remake of the 1980s classic features a warring couple
-
Why reports of Donald Trump's demise are greatly exaggeratedIn The Spotlight US president has once again brushed aside rumours that he's dead
-
Lose yourself in these magnificent mazesThe Week Recommends These fiendishly clever puzzles aren't just for kids
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
-
'Like a sound from hell': Serbia and sonic weaponsThe Explainer Half a million people sign petition alleging Serbian police used an illegal 'sound cannon' to disrupt anti-government protests
-
The arrest of the Philippines' former president leaves the country's drug war in disarrayIn the Spotlight Rodrigo Duterte was arrested by the ICC earlier this month
