British lawmakers voted Monday night to take control of the parliamentary timetable on Wednesday, giving them the opportunity to vote on alternatives to Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal.
The amendment, put forward by a member of May's Conservative Party, passed 329 to 302, and three ministers resigned from May's government in order to support it. Alternatives to May's plan include leaving the European Union without a deal, extending the country's departure, and revoking Article 50 to remain in the EU, and Parliament will vote on a range of proposals Wednesday. A spokesman for the Department of Exiting the European Union told Reuters the government will "continue to call for realism — any options considered must be deliverable in negotiations with the EU."
The United Kingdom was supposed to leave the bloc on March 29; last week, the EU agreed to postpone Brexit until May 22 if British lawmakers agree to May's withdrawal deal, which has already been rejected twice. Otherwise, the EU will extend the delay only to April 12. Earlier Monday, May, who promised a clean break with the EU, said she did not have enough support to hold a third vote. For her deal to pass, at least 75 members of Parliament who voted against her on March 12 must join her side.