Britain's Theresa May warns that no Brexit is more likely than an EU divorce with no deal


British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan goes up for a key vote in Parliament on Tuesday, and as it is widely expected to be rejected, she is making a last-ditch case Monday for her proposal to separate from the European Union. May is telling factory workers on Monday that if her plan fails, it is more likely that Parliament will scrap Brexit entirely rather than let the U.K. leave with no deal; with a deal, ties with the EU would be severed immediately on March 29, along with Britain's existing trade deals, leaving uncertainty if not chaos.
A significant number of Brexit supporters now argue a "no deal" Brexit is the best option. Brexit opponents are hoping to force a second referendum or, according to one plan being floated, let Parliament take control of the Brexit process. There are those in Parliament "who would wish to delay or even stop Brexit and who will use every device available to them to do so," May warned. And if they succeed, "people's faith in the democratic process and their politicians would suffer catastrophic harm. We all have a duty to implement the result of the referendum."
The opposition Labour Party will vote against the deal, joined by about 100 members of May's Conservative Party and the 10 members of the Democratic Unionist Party. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said if May's plan fails, his party will set in motion a vote of no confidence in her government in a bid to force new elections. More immediately, rejection of May's EU divorce plan would give her three days to propose a Plan B, and she's likely to head to Brussels on Wednesday to try to wrest more concessions from the EU before a Jan. 21 vote on her fallback plan.
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.
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
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect