Theresa May loses fresh Commons vote on Brexit deal
European Research Group MPs abstain, leading to defeat by 45 votes
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.
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
-
Today's political cartoons - May 11, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - bathroom blues, family feud, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 blustery cartoons about the Stormy Daniels testimony
Cartoons Artists take on gag orders, lurid details, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Idea of You review: 'impossible escapism' starring Anne Hathaway
The Week Recommends Steamy romcom about a 40-year-old who falls for a boy band singer
By The Week UK Published
-
Kristi Noem and the politics of puppy killing
Talking Point Revelations in Republican's upcoming memoir may have doomed her political career
By The Week UK Published
-
Panama presidency won by stand-in for fugitive
Speed Read José Raúl Mulino was the stand-in candidate for disqualified former president Ricardo Martinelli
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Xi comes to Europe: what's on the agenda?
The Explainer China's president visiting for first time since 2019, with spotlight on support for Russia over Ukraine and trade tensions with EU
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Russia gains as Ukraine awaits US aid
Speed Read Ukrainian forces have retreated from several villages as the situation at the front line worsens
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published