Prime Minister Theresa May was under pressure on Saturday to set out plans for her departure, leading British newspapers reported, as her B<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-theresa-may-welcomes-brexit-delay-204744">rexit strategy lay in tatters</a> just weeks before the United Kingdom was due to leave the European Union.

May's Brexit deal has been defeated twice by lawmakers, and while she has secured a delay to Brexit until at least April 12, she hinted on Friday that she would not bring back the plan for another vote next week if she was not confident it would pass.

May's office declined to comment on a report in The Times newspaper that discussions on a timetable for the prime minister to stand down were now underway.

But a Downing Street source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the report was incorrect.

"News to me," the source said. "No, it's not correct."

The Times quoted an unidentified Downing Street source saying that even her closest allies believed it was inevitable she would have to resign.

The Daily Telegraph said that senior ministers had urged May to quit, and Buzzfeed reported that one lawmaker, a "whip" responsible for party discipline, had told her to set out plans to quit in the Sunday newspapers.

"She needs to set out a timetable for her departure and try to get her meaningful vote through. That's the best way forward," the Telegraph quoted an unnamed cabinet minister as saying.

Betting odds indicate there is now a 20 per cent chance that May will be out of her job by the end of this month, Ladbrokes said on Saturday.

Brexit had been due to happen on March 29 before May secured a delay in talks with the European Union on Thursday.

Now a May 22 departure date will apply if parliament rallies behind the British prime minister next week. If it does not, Britain will have until April 12 to offer a new plan or decide to leave the European Union without a treaty.

Prime Minister Theresa May was under pressure on Saturday to set out plans for her departure, leading British newspapers reported, as her Brexit strategy lay in tatters just weeks before the United Kingdom was due to leave the European Union.

Prime Minister Theresa May was under pressure on Saturday to set out plans for her departure, leading British newspapers reported, as her Brexit strategy lay in tatters just weeks before the United Kingdom was due to leave the European Union. May's Brexit deal has been defeated twice by lawmakers, and while she has secured a delay to Brexit until at least April 12, she hinted on Friday that she would not bring back the plan for another vote next week if she was not confident it would pass. May's office declined to comment on a report in The Times newspaper that discussions on a timetable for the prime minister to stand down were now underway. But a Downing Street source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the report was incorrect. "News to me," the source said. "No, it's not correct." The Times quoted an unidentified Downing Street source saying that even her closest allies believed it was inevitable she would have to resign. The Daily Telegraph said that senior ministers had urged May to quit, and Buzzfeed reported that one lawmaker, a "whip" responsible for party discipline, had told her to set out plans to quit in the Sunday newspapers. "She needs to set out a timetable for her departure and try to get her meaningful vote through. That's the best way forward," the Telegraph quoted an unnamed cabinet minister as saying. Betting odds indicate there is now a 20 per cent chance that May will be out of her job by the end of this month, Ladbrokes said on Saturday. Brexit had been due to happen on March 29 before May secured a delay in talks with the European Union on Thursday. Now a May 22 departure date will apply if parliament rallies behind the British prime minister next week. If it does not, Britain will have until April 12 to offer a new plan or decide to leave the European Union without a treaty.

Mayday? Pressure builds on UK PM Theresa May to announce plans to quit

European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/stop-brexit-700000-sign-uk-petition-to-stay-in-european-union-204690">Britain's divorce from the European Union</a> in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit.&nbsp;"I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted.&nbsp;

Britain had faced a sharp cliff-edge deadline of March 29 to leave, but May's EU colleagues said the split could wait until May 22 if British lawmakers approve a withdrawal accord next week.

But if the House of Commons rejects the deal -- as it has done twice before -- Brexit will take place on April 12, unless Britain has decided by then to take part in this year's European Parliamentary elections.&nbsp;

"April 12 is the key date in terms of the UK deciding whether to hold European parliament elections," EU Council president and summit host Donald Tusk said, announcing the arrangement.&nbsp;

Britain would need time to legislate to take part in the May 23 to 26 election, and May has insisted it will not try, preferring in her words "to honour" voters' decision to end London's 46-year-old membership.

"I believe strongly that it would be wrong to ask people in the UK to participate in these elections three years after voting to leave the European Union," May said, confirming the agreement.

'Responsibility lies with the British'&nbsp;

Tusk said that if the vote is not organised then a further "extension will automatically become impossible" and that even with an election, all 27 remaining EU member states would unanimously have to approve it.

"March 29 is over. As of tonight, April 12 is the new March 29," an EU official said.

"On April 12 we have to know where things stand ... if we don't have a response by then we will have a no deal Brexit," Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel warned.

And French President Emmanuel Macron, who had taken a harder public line than some of his colleagues declared: "The responsibility now lies with the British, and I think that's the big achievement of the day."

Despite an extraordinary joint warning from Britain's business and trade union leaders that the economic disruptions of a no deal Brexit would present a "national emergency", May had refused to rule out walking away.

Even as she was meeting the EU 27 in Brussels for the European Council summit, an online petition hosted by the UK parliament and calling for Brexit to be abandoned topped two million signatures.&nbsp;

It still remains far from clear that May will be able to get the withdrawal agreement she signed last November past the House of Commons, and she turned up the heat on her own MPs after the Brexit talks.

"What the decision today underlines is the importance of the House of Commons passing a Brexit deal next week," she insisted.

"Tomorrow morning I am returning to the UK and working hard on building support to get the deal through... I hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision."

May had requested a short delay until June 30 to allow time for the ratification of her deal if it approved, but European leaders decided they did not want Brexit concerns to linger into the election campaign.

Deep divisions&nbsp;

Despite winning the extension, there is a chance the decision might be taken out of May's hands.

She had intended to hold a third vote on her deal this week, but the Speaker of the House of Commons blocked it, citing 400-year-old precedent that says the same proposition cannot be put to MPs again and again.

May is hoping that the EU summit's approval of fresh guarantees about the agreement will overcome the speaker's objections, but even if the deal goes forward rebel MPs may seize control of the process.

May's deal remains hugely unpopular among MPs on all sides of the Brexit debate, with some arguing it keeps Britain too closely to the EU, and others saying it would not keep it close enough.

British voters are also sharply divided.

Many pro-Europeans support a lengthy delay to Brexit, believing it would increase pressure at home for a general election or for a second referendum that might reverse the decision.&nbsp;

But there is huge anger among those who want to leave the EU and do not understand why it is taking so long, while eight of May's senior ministers last week voted against any delay.

European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit.

European leaders and Prime Minister Theresa May agreed Thursday on a short delay to Britain's divorce from the European Union in the hope of ensuring an orderly Brexit. "I think what this decision tonight does is show the clear choice that is available, open to MPs," May noted. Britain had faced a sharp cliff-edge deadline of March 29 to leave, but May's EU colleagues said the split could wait until May 22 if British lawmakers approve a withdrawal accord next week. But if the House of Commons rejects the deal -- as it has done twice before -- Brexit will take place on April 12, unless Britain has decided by then to take part in this year's European Parliamentary elections. "April 12 is the key date in terms of the UK deciding whether to hold European parliament elections," EU Council president and summit host Donald Tusk said, announcing the arrangement. Britain would need time to legislate to take part in the May 23 to 26 election, and May has insisted it will not try, preferring in her words "to honour" voters' decision to end London's 46-year-old membership. "I believe strongly that it would be wrong to ask people in the UK to participate in these elections three years after voting to leave the European Union," May said, confirming the agreement. 'Responsibility lies with the British' Tusk said that if the vote is not organised then a further "extension will automatically become impossible" and that even with an election, all 27 remaining EU member states would unanimously have to approve it. "March 29 is over. As of tonight, April 12 is the new March 29," an EU official said. "On April 12 we have to know where things stand ... if we don't have a response by then we will have a no deal Brexit," Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel warned. And French President Emmanuel Macron, who had taken a harder public line than some of his colleagues declared: "The responsibility now lies with the British, and I think that's the big achievement of the day." Despite an extraordinary joint warning from Britain's business and trade union leaders that the economic disruptions of a no deal Brexit would present a "national emergency", May had refused to rule out walking away. Even as she was meeting the EU 27 in Brussels for the European Council summit, an online petition hosted by the UK parliament and calling for Brexit to be abandoned topped two million signatures. It still remains far from clear that May will be able to get the withdrawal agreement she signed last November past the House of Commons, and she turned up the heat on her own MPs after the Brexit talks. "What the decision today underlines is the importance of the House of Commons passing a Brexit deal next week," she insisted. "Tomorrow morning I am returning to the UK and working hard on building support to get the deal through... I hope we can all agree we are now at the moment of decision." May had requested a short delay until June 30 to allow time for the ratification of her deal if it approved, but European leaders decided they did not want Brexit concerns to linger into the election campaign. Deep divisions Despite winning the extension, there is a chance the decision might be taken out of May's hands. She had intended to hold a third vote on her deal this week, but the Speaker of the House of Commons blocked it, citing 400-year-old precedent that says the same proposition cannot be put to MPs again and again. May is hoping that the EU summit's approval of fresh guarantees about the agreement will overcome the speaker's objections, but even if the deal goes forward rebel MPs may seize control of the process. May's deal remains hugely unpopular among MPs on all sides of the Brexit debate, with some arguing it keeps Britain too closely to the EU, and others saying it would not keep it close enough. British voters are also sharply divided. Many pro-Europeans support a lengthy delay to Brexit, believing it would increase pressure at home for a general election or for a second referendum that might reverse the decision. But there is huge anger among those who want to leave the EU and do not understand why it is taking so long, while eight of May's senior ministers last week voted against any delay.

UK PM Theresa May welcomes Brexit delay, says Parliament now has clear choice

European Union leaders have given Prime Minister Theresa May a two-week reprieve before Britain could leave the bloc without an exit deal if she fails to win parliament's backing for her agreement with Brussels.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/if-brexit-happens-it-will-constitute-a-real-test-of-eus-longevity-204853">If Brexit happens, it will constitute a real test of EU’s longevity</a>

Below is what is due to happen next:

Brexit debate: Monday 25 March

Lawmakers are due to debate a government motion saying that parliament has considered a statement made by May on March 15 which set out the government's next steps on Brexit, including its plan to seek a delay.

They will put forward proposed changes, known as amendments, to this motion setting out alternative ways forward on Brexit.

While amendments are not legally binding - although they exert political pressure on May to change course - a cross-party group of lawmakers hopes to use one to change the rules of parliament to wrest control of the Brexit process from the government.

The group, including lawmakers from May's Conservatives, have put forward a proposal which would set aside March 27 to debate and vote on alternative ways forward on Brexit to try to find a majority that would break the parliamentary deadlock.

A similar amendment voted on last week lost by just two votes so this is expected to have a good chance of passing.

Third vote on May's deal: Tuesday 26 March?

EU leaders have agreed to delay Brexit to May 22, from March 29, on the condition the Withdrawal Agreement is approved by parliament next week.

The government has yet to schedule a day for a vote but it will have to notify parliament the day before it plans to hold one. Tuesday had been the day most widely expected but with the threat of a no-deal exit on Friday now removed, some believe it could be later in the week.

Commons Speaker John Bercow has ruled that the government cannot bring forward proposals for a vote that are substantially the same as those already defeated twice before, but this is not ultimately expected to prevent the third vote if lawmakers want one to happen.

May's team says that the approval at an EU summit of the so-called Strasbourg agreement - extra assurances on the Northern Irish backstop arrangement - and other measures now change the deal's shape from the last time it was voted on.

May needs to win over at least 75 lawmakers to get her deal approved, at the moment this looks like an uphill struggle.

Indicative votes: Wednesday 27&nbsp;March?

Last week, May's de facto deputy, David Lidington, promised that if the government's deal was not approved and Britain was facing a long delay to Brexit, the government would give parliament time to consider the way forward.

"In such a scenario the government ... would facilitate a process in the two weeks after the March European Council to allow ​the House to seek a majority on the way forward," he said.

This has been interpreted as so-called indicative votes, which would allow lawmakers to vote on a variety of possible Brexit outcomes to see if there is a majority for any option.

On Thursday, May said she would honour the commitments made to parliament by her government.

Such votes could be forced on the government on Wednesday if the proposal to take control of the business in parliament, put forward by the cross-party group of lawmakers, passes on Monday.

Legislation to change exit date

Parliament must pass the legislation required to change the exit date in law before March 29.

This can be done via secondary legislation, known as a Statutory Instrument, or SI, and would need the approval of both parliament's lower chamber, the House of Commons, and upper chamber, the House of Lords. May's spokesman has said the government expects this could be done in one or two days.

No deal exit: April 12

If parliament does not support May's deal next week, the EU has agreed to delay Brexit until April 12 - the day on which Britain would have to give legal notice that it was taking part in EU elections on May 23.

"At this point we would either leave with no deal, or put forward an alternative plan," May said in Brussels on Thursday.

Exit with a deal: May 22

If May's deal is approved next week, Britain's exit will be delayed until May 22 in order to give parliament time to pass the legislation necessary to ratify the deal.

European Union leaders have given Prime Minister Theresa May a two-week reprieve before Britain could leave the bloc without an exit deal if she fails to win parliament's backing for her agreement with Brussels.

European Union leaders have given Prime Minister Theresa May a two-week reprieve before Britain could leave the bloc without an exit deal if she fails to win parliament's backing for her agreement with Brussels. Also read: If Brexit happens, it will constitute a real test of EU’s longevity Below is what is due to happen next: Brexit debate: Monday 25 March Lawmakers are due to debate a government motion saying that parliament has considered a statement made by May on March 15 which set out the government's next steps on Brexit, including its plan to seek a delay. They will put forward proposed changes, known as amendments, to this motion setting out alternative ways forward on Brexit. While amendments are not legally binding - although they exert political pressure on May to change course - a cross-party group of lawmakers hopes to use one to change the rules of parliament to wrest control of the Brexit process from the government. The group, including lawmakers from May's Conservatives, have put forward a proposal which would set aside March 27 to debate and vote on alternative ways forward on Brexit to try to find a majority that would break the parliamentary deadlock. A similar amendment voted on last week lost by just two votes so this is expected to have a good chance of passing. Third vote on May's deal: Tuesday 26 March? EU leaders have agreed to delay Brexit to May 22, from March 29, on the condition the Withdrawal Agreement is approved by parliament next week. The government has yet to schedule a day for a vote but it will have to notify parliament the day before it plans to hold one. Tuesday had been the day most widely expected but with the threat of a no-deal exit on Friday now removed, some believe it could be later in the week. Commons Speaker John Bercow has ruled that the government cannot bring forward proposals for a vote that are substantially the same as those already defeated twice before, but this is not ultimately expected to prevent the third vote if lawmakers want one to happen. May's team says that the approval at an EU summit of the so-called Strasbourg agreement - extra assurances on the Northern Irish backstop arrangement - and other measures now change the deal's shape from the last time it was voted on. May needs to win over at least 75 lawmakers to get her deal approved, at the moment this looks like an uphill struggle. Indicative votes: Wednesday 27 March? Last week, May's de facto deputy, David Lidington, promised that if the government's deal was not approved and Britain was facing a long delay to Brexit, the government would give parliament time to consider the way forward. "In such a scenario the government ... would facilitate a process in the two weeks after the March European Council to allow the House to seek a majority on the way forward," he said. This has been interpreted as so-called indicative votes, which would allow lawmakers to vote on a variety of possible Brexit outcomes to see if there is a majority for any option. On Thursday, May said she would honour the commitments made to parliament by her government. Such votes could be forced on the government on Wednesday if the proposal to take control of the business in parliament, put forward by the cross-party group of lawmakers, passes on Monday. Legislation to change exit date Parliament must pass the legislation required to change the exit date in law before March 29. This can be done via secondary legislation, known as a Statutory Instrument, or SI, and would need the approval of both parliament's lower chamber, the House of Commons, and upper chamber, the House of Lords. May's spokesman has said the government expects this could be done in one or two days. No deal exit: April 12 If parliament does not support May's deal next week, the EU has agreed to delay Brexit until April 12 - the day on which Britain would have to give legal notice that it was taking part in EU elections on May 23. "At this point we would either leave with no deal, or put forward an alternative plan," May said in Brussels on Thursday. Exit with a deal: May 22 If May's deal is approved next week, Britain's exit will be delayed until May 22 in order to give parliament time to pass the legislation necessary to ratify the deal.

Here is what is due to happen next in Brexit

Britain faces a "national emergency" as the risk of a no-deal Brexit rises, business and union leaders warned in an open letter to embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.

The heads of Britain's biggest employers' grouping, the Confederation of British Industry, and union umbrella organisation the Trades Union Congress, urged May to change tack and find a "Plan B" to avert the country leaving the European Union without a deal.

"Our country is facing a national emergency. Decisions of recent days have caused the risk of no-deal to soar," read the letter from CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn and TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady.

"Firms and communities across the UK are not ready for this outcome. The shock to our economy would be felt by generations to come," added the pair, who have demanded an "urgent meeting" with May.

The grim warning, contained in a rare coming together of two organisations usually at odds with one another, comes as May meets the other 27 EU leaders in a Brussels summit to plead for a three-month postponement to Brexit.

The premier has already asked EU President and summit host Donald Tusk for the withdrawal date to be moved to June 30 from March 29.

However, EU leaders are likely to refuse her request, leaving Britain vulnerable to departing from the bloc with no trade deal in place.

May's Brexit deal has twice been resoundingly rejected by British lawmakers, and a third vote the premier hoped to hold this week was cancelled by the House of Commons speaker on procedural grounds.

"The current deal-or-no-deal must not be the only choice," added Fairbairn and O'Grady in their joint letter.

"A 'Plan B' must be found -- one that protects workers, the economy and an open Irish border, commands a parliamentary majority, and is negotiable with the EU.

"A new approach is needed to secure this -- whether through indicative votes or another mechanism for compromise," they added.

"We cannot overstate the gravity of this crisis for firms and working people."

Britain faces a "national emergency" as the risk of a no-deal Brexit rises, business and union leaders warned in an open letter to embattled Prime Minister Theresa May.

Britain faces a "national emergency" as the risk of a no-deal Brexit rises, business and union leaders warned in an open letter to embattled Prime Minister Theresa May. The heads of Britain's biggest employers' grouping, the Confederation of British Industry, and union umbrella organisation the Trades Union Congress, urged May to change tack and find a "Plan B" to avert the country leaving the European Union without a deal. "Our country is facing a national emergency. Decisions of recent days have caused the risk of no-deal to soar," read the letter from CBI director-general Carolyn Fairbairn and TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady. "Firms and communities across the UK are not ready for this outcome. The shock to our economy would be felt by generations to come," added the pair, who have demanded an "urgent meeting" with May. The grim warning, contained in a rare coming together of two organisations usually at odds with one another, comes as May meets the other 27 EU leaders in a Brussels summit to plead for a three-month postponement to Brexit. The premier has already asked EU President and summit host Donald Tusk for the withdrawal date to be moved to June 30 from March 29. However, EU leaders are likely to refuse her request, leaving Britain vulnerable to departing from the bloc with no trade deal in place. May's Brexit deal has twice been resoundingly rejected by British lawmakers, and a third vote the premier hoped to hold this week was cancelled by the House of Commons speaker on procedural grounds. "The current deal-or-no-deal must not be the only choice," added Fairbairn and O'Grady in their joint letter. "A 'Plan B' must be found -- one that protects workers, the economy and an open Irish border, commands a parliamentary majority, and is negotiable with the EU. "A new approach is needed to secure this -- whether through indicative votes or another mechanism for compromise," they added. "We cannot overstate the gravity of this crisis for firms and working people."

UK facing 'national emergency' on Brexit: Business, unions leaders

More than 700,000 people have rushed to sign a petition on the British parliament's website calling for the government to revoke its divorce notice to the European Union and remain in the bloc.

Attracting thousands of signatures every few minutes, the petition took off in the hours after Prime Minister Theresa May made a televised address to the country late on Wednesday, criticising squabbling lawmakers for failing to agree an exit strategy and telling parliament to make a final choice.

"It is high time we made a decision," May said, telling Britons: "I am on your side."

EU leaders will tell May on Thursday she can have two months to organise an orderly Brexit but Britain could face a disruptive ejection from the bloc next Friday if she fails to win backing from parliament.

More than 17 million Britons voted in favour of leaving the EU in a 2016 referendum while 16 million voted to remain, with May serving notice of the UK’s intent to leave under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty the following year.

The "Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU" petition on the parliament website had attracted 706,096 signatures by 1048 GMT, backed by support on social media, although the site appeared to be regularly crashing due to the large numbers trying to sign.

"The government repeatedly claims exiting the EU is 'the will of the people'. We need to put a stop to this claim by proving the strength of public support now, for remaining in the EU," the petition said.

Parliament must consider holding a debate on all petitions that gain more than 100,000 signatures.

Supporters wrote on Twitter that the petition showed the strength of feeling against May's strategy while backers of Brexit said it needed to attract more signatures than the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the EU three years ago before anyone should take any notice.

More than 1.8 million people signed a petition calling for U.S. President Donald Trump to be prevented from making a state visit to Britain, leading to a debate in parliament in 2017.

More than 4 million people signed another petition in 2016 which called for another EU referendum in the event that neither the remain or leave camps achieved 60 percent of the vote.

More than 700,000 people have rushed to sign a petition on the British parliament's website calling for the government to revoke its divorce notice to the European Union and remain in the bloc.

More than 700,000 people have rushed to sign a petition on the British parliament's website calling for the government to revoke its divorce notice to the European Union and remain in the bloc. Attracting thousands of signatures every few minutes, the petition took off in the hours after Prime Minister Theresa May made a televised address to the country late on Wednesday, criticising squabbling lawmakers for failing to agree an exit strategy and telling parliament to make a final choice. "It is high time we made a decision," May said, telling Britons: "I am on your side." EU leaders will tell May on Thursday she can have two months to organise an orderly Brexit but Britain could face a disruptive ejection from the bloc next Friday if she fails to win backing from parliament. More than 17 million Britons voted in favour of leaving the EU in a 2016 referendum while 16 million voted to remain, with May serving notice of the UK’s intent to leave under Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty the following year. The "Revoke Article 50 and remain in the EU" petition on the parliament website had attracted 706,096 signatures by 1048 GMT, backed by support on social media, although the site appeared to be regularly crashing due to the large numbers trying to sign. "The government repeatedly claims exiting the EU is 'the will of the people'. We need to put a stop to this claim by proving the strength of public support now, for remaining in the EU," the petition said. Parliament must consider holding a debate on all petitions that gain more than 100,000 signatures. Supporters wrote on Twitter that the petition showed the strength of feeling against May's strategy while backers of Brexit said it needed to attract more signatures than the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the EU three years ago before anyone should take any notice. More than 1.8 million people signed a petition calling for U.S. President Donald Trump to be prevented from making a state visit to Britain, leading to a debate in parliament in 2017. More than 4 million people signed another petition in 2016 which called for another EU referendum in the event that neither the remain or leave camps achieved 60 percent of the vote.

Stop Brexit: 700,000 sign UK petition to stay in European Union

Germany is prepared to agree to Britain's request for a postponement of Brexit if the parliament in London backs British Prime Minister Theresa May's exit deal, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (March 21).

The European Union requires unanimous agreement from all member states to grant an extension to the so-called "Article 50" process that currently envisages a British exit from the European Union on March 29.

"I believe we can say, as Germany, we can meet that request," Merkel told German legislators ahead of Thursday's European Council meeting.

Merkel warned that an extension of the Brexit deadline to June 30, as requested by May, would be complicated because of the question of Britain's possible participation in the European Parliament elections.

Germany is prepared to agree to Britain's request for a postponement of Brexit if the parliament in London backs British Prime Minister Theresa May's exit deal, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (March 21).

Germany is prepared to agree to Britain's request for a postponement of Brexit if the parliament in London backs British Prime Minister Theresa May's exit deal, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Thursday (March 21). The European Union requires unanimous agreement from all member states to grant an extension to the so-called "Article 50" process that currently envisages a British exit from the European Union on March 29. "I believe we can say, as Germany, we can meet that request," Merkel told German legislators ahead of Thursday's European Council meeting. Merkel warned that an extension of the Brexit deadline to June 30, as requested by May, would be complicated because of the question of Britain's possible participation in the European Parliament elections.

Berlin can agree to Brexit delay if British Parliament backs May's deal: Merkel

Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a backlash after blaming lawmakers for the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/short-extension-possible-on-brexit-if-british-lawmakers-approve-withdrawal-deal-european-council-president-tusk-204602">Brexit chaos gripping Britain </a>-- the very people she hopes will finally approve her withdrawal deal.

May made a rare address to the public on Wednesday, putting the onus on MPs to break the deadlock with just eight days to go until Britain is officially due to leave the European Union.

"You the public have had enough. You're tired of the infighting. You're tired of the political games and the arcane procedural rows," she said.

"Tired of MPs talking about nothing else but Brexit. You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. I am on your side. It is now time for MPs to decide," she added.

May is in Brussels on Thursday to ask for a short extension to the March 29 deadline, with a third vote on her unpopular deal expected in parliament next week.

She lost the two previous votes by majorities of 230 and 149, but did little to win over MPs by portraying them as being against the public.

"Her speech was incendiary and irresponsible," said Labour MP Wes Streeting.

"If any harm comes to any of us, she will have to accept her share of responsibility."

Labour colleague Lisa Nandy, a Brexit supporter who has previously suggested she was open to May's deal, called the comments "dangerous and reckless".

'I could have wept'

Pro-EU backbencher Dominic Grieve led the Conservative backlash, criticising a similar speech made by May in the House of Commons earlier in the day.

The former attorney general is one of those the premier is trying to win over to vote for her deal, but said he had "never felt more ashamed to be a member of the Conservative party, or to lend her my support."

"When the prime minister came to despatch box today... I confessed I think it was the worst moment I have experienced since I came into the House of Commons," he said.

"She spent most of her time castigating the House for its misconduct and at no stage did she pause to consider whether it is in fact the way she is leading this government which might be contributing to this situation.

"I have to say I could have wept."

Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King's College London, told BBC Radio London that it was "strange" for May to court MPs by "abusing them".

Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended his leader, telling BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that "no prime minister in recent years has been tested in the way that she has."

"Let's not forget the extraordinary pressure she is personally under," he said.

'Brexit paralysis'

May has not ruled out any outcome, including leaving with no deal and also cancelling Brexit altogether, apparently in the hope that hardliners on both sides will drop their opposition in order to prevent their worst-case-scenarios from being realised.

But MPs and cabinet members have instead capitalised on May's weakness, with government ministers on both sides threatening mass resignations.

Some pro-EU ministers have said they would quit if she proceeded with plans to leave without a deal, forcing May to hold a symbolic parliamentary vote on ruling it out.

Brexit-backing ministers this week threatened to walk out if she asked the EU for a long delay to the Brexit deadline, forcing her to limit her request to Brussels for an extension until June 30.

Conservative MP Nigel Evans said that if May couldn't deliver Brexit on time "she has to go", suggesting that MPs were hardening against May ahead of the possible vote.

But ministers loyal to the prime minister remained confident that May could still win the day, despite her personal unpopularity.

"Right now the choice is, do&nbsp;we resolve this or do we have Brexit paralysis?" Foreign Secretary Hunt told the BBC.&nbsp;

"I think it's entirely possible when people look at the choices... people will say actually what the country wants is to get on with it."

Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a backlash after blaming lawmakers for the Brexit chaos gripping Britain -- the very people she hopes will finally approve her withdrawal deal.

Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a backlash after blaming lawmakers for the Brexit chaos gripping Britain -- the very people she hopes will finally approve her withdrawal deal. May made a rare address to the public on Wednesday, putting the onus on MPs to break the deadlock with just eight days to go until Britain is officially due to leave the European Union. "You the public have had enough. You're tired of the infighting. You're tired of the political games and the arcane procedural rows," she said. "Tired of MPs talking about nothing else but Brexit. You want this stage of the Brexit process to be over and done with. I agree. I am on your side. It is now time for MPs to decide," she added. May is in Brussels on Thursday to ask for a short extension to the March 29 deadline, with a third vote on her unpopular deal expected in parliament next week. She lost the two previous votes by majorities of 230 and 149, but did little to win over MPs by portraying them as being against the public. "Her speech was incendiary and irresponsible," said Labour MP Wes Streeting. "If any harm comes to any of us, she will have to accept her share of responsibility." Labour colleague Lisa Nandy, a Brexit supporter who has previously suggested she was open to May's deal, called the comments "dangerous and reckless". 'I could have wept' Pro-EU backbencher Dominic Grieve led the Conservative backlash, criticising a similar speech made by May in the House of Commons earlier in the day. The former attorney general is one of those the premier is trying to win over to vote for her deal, but said he had "never felt more ashamed to be a member of the Conservative party, or to lend her my support." "When the prime minister came to despatch box today... I confessed I think it was the worst moment I have experienced since I came into the House of Commons," he said. "She spent most of her time castigating the House for its misconduct and at no stage did she pause to consider whether it is in fact the way she is leading this government which might be contributing to this situation. "I have to say I could have wept." Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King's College London, told BBC Radio London that it was "strange" for May to court MPs by "abusing them". Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended his leader, telling BBC Radio 4 on Thursday that "no prime minister in recent years has been tested in the way that she has." "Let's not forget the extraordinary pressure she is personally under," he said. 'Brexit paralysis' May has not ruled out any outcome, including leaving with no deal and also cancelling Brexit altogether, apparently in the hope that hardliners on both sides will drop their opposition in order to prevent their worst-case-scenarios from being realised. But MPs and cabinet members have instead capitalised on May's weakness, with government ministers on both sides threatening mass resignations. Some pro-EU ministers have said they would quit if she proceeded with plans to leave without a deal, forcing May to hold a symbolic parliamentary vote on ruling it out. Brexit-backing ministers this week threatened to walk out if she asked the EU for a long delay to the Brexit deadline, forcing her to limit her request to Brussels for an extension until June 30. Conservative MP Nigel Evans said that if May couldn't deliver Brexit on time "she has to go", suggesting that MPs were hardening against May ahead of the possible vote. But ministers loyal to the prime minister remained confident that May could still win the day, despite her personal unpopularity. "Right now the choice is, do we resolve this or do we have Brexit paralysis?" Foreign Secretary Hunt told the BBC. "I think it's entirely possible when people look at the choices... people will say actually what the country wants is to get on with it."

Desperate for votes, Theresa May angers MPs in Brexit blame-game

By Philomena Murray

There is a song by the Melbourne band Little Heroes, called One Perfect Day, from back in 1982 (though it still attracts a cult following). In it, the lead singer asks his ex-girlfriend in England: tell me, is it still raining there in England, and did the government fall last night?

Well, it is still raining. And there is still talk of the government of Theresa May falling. We just observed a week of three parliamentary votes on Brexit, where the government was defeated in two of them.

In another extraordinary day yesterday, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, invoked the “Erskine May” parliamentary rules of procedure. That means that an amendment “which is the same, in substance” as an issue that has already been voted on cannot be proposed again in parliament. The speaker said that a new proposal must be “not different in terms of wording, but different in terms of substance”. Unless there are significant changes to the substance of the government’s proposed Withdrawal Agreement, it cannot be sent back to the House for a third “meaningful” vote.

So, what might happen now, with nine days to go until the UK is supposed to leave the EU?

The UK could still leave without an agreement

If there is no parliamentary support for the Withdrawal Agreement, that does not mean the UK does not leave. The UK will leave on 29 March unless the UK government requests an extension to Article 50, which was activated by Theresa May two years ago on 29 March 2017. The Article says, among other things:

The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period.

If the UK leaves in a little over a week, it will no longer be in the EU and will no longer be party to hundreds of international treaties and thousands of pieces of legislation.

Proroguing the parliament is an option

What are the options in order to avoid crashing out this way? Could the British government somehow get the Withdrawal Agreement through parliament on a third attempt?

One step that Theresa May might be contemplating is taking the extraordinary measure of “proroguing” the parliament. Proroguing effectively means terminating the current session, without actually dissolving it, and having parliament reconvene in a new session. The government would then have the option – if the temporary suspension of the parliament goes smoothly – to re-send the Withdrawal Agreement for a meaningful vote to a newly-convened parliament.

This may not occur in time for the looming exit deadline, and May is unlikely to attempt to present the deal for a third time, unless the Speaker changes his position. So, May could be obliged to yet again set out for Brussels and some EU national capitals to shore up support for an extension of Article 50.

So far, no request to extend Article 50 
 
The EU has not yet received a formal request for an extension of Article 50, even though the House of Commons voted last week for such an extension and May has now indicated she will request one. Nathalie Loiseau, the French Minister for the EU, said, “No such request has been made”.

Perhaps giving a sense of the frustration in some EU capitals about the negotiations, Loiseau revealed she has called her cat Brexit because it is indecisive, as it “meows loudly to be let out each morning, but then refuses to go outside when she opens the door”.

The EU would no doubt request that an extension be fully justified – and there is little European appetite to reopen negotiations with Britain. The EU has been preparing for Brexit for some time.

It is conceivable that Theresa May could seek to justify a request that Article 50 be extended well beyond the 30 June 2019 date currently under discussion in the UK. But there are major problems with this, as the UK would need to take part in the European Parliament elections to take place in May this year. It could also be obliged to contribute to the new EU budget round, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework.

The Brexit saga continues 
​​​​​​​ 
Of course, the idea of voting more than once on a Brexit deal in Parliament raises again the call for a second referendum on EU membership by the people – a people’s vote.

Alternatively, the UK could remain in the EU and revoke Article 50. A recent court ruling that this does not require the consent of the other 27 EU states has emboldened those who are campaigning for a new referendum – although it is far from clear what questions would appear on the ballot paper.

The possibility of Theresa May resigning is never far from the minds of her detractors – whether the European Research Group in her own party, or the Labour party leadership under Jeremy Corbyn.

Meanwhile, the UK Trade Secretary Liam Fox has announced a trade deal that has just been initialled with Iceland and Norway. He stated that this was in addition to the agreement signed with Liechtenstein. At least Norway and Iceland are larger than Liechtenstein, a country of fewer than 38,000 people – famous for being the world’s largest exporter of false teeth.

These new trading partners are considerably smaller than the EU Single Market of over 500 million that the UK currently belongs to. They will certainly not fill the huge void left by Brexit.

Yet again, Theresa May’s government is no doubt hoping for just One Perfect Day, but it is not looking likely at the moment.

(Philomena Murray is Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/nine-days-and-counting-what-options-does-the-uk-have-before-the-brexit-deadline-113910">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

By Philomena Murray There is a song by the Melbourne band Little Heroes, called One Perfect Day, from back in 1982 (though it still attracts a cult following). In it, the lead singer asks his ex-girlfriend in England: tell me, is it still raining there in England, and did the government fall last night?

By Philomena Murray There is a song by the Melbourne band Little Heroes, called One Perfect Day, from back in 1982 (though it still attracts a cult following). In it, the lead singer asks his ex-girlfriend in England: tell me, is it still raining there in England, and did the government fall last night? Well, it is still raining. And there is still talk of the government of Theresa May falling. We just observed a week of three parliamentary votes on Brexit, where the government was defeated in two of them. In another extraordinary day yesterday, the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, invoked the “Erskine May” parliamentary rules of procedure. That means that an amendment “which is the same, in substance” as an issue that has already been voted on cannot be proposed again in parliament. The speaker said that a new proposal must be “not different in terms of wording, but different in terms of substance”. Unless there are significant changes to the substance of the government’s proposed Withdrawal Agreement, it cannot be sent back to the House for a third “meaningful” vote. So, what might happen now, with nine days to go until the UK is supposed to leave the EU? The UK could still leave without an agreement If there is no parliamentary support for the Withdrawal Agreement, that does not mean the UK does not leave. The UK will leave on 29 March unless the UK government requests an extension to Article 50, which was activated by Theresa May two years ago on 29 March 2017. The Article says, among other things: The Treaties shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after the notification referred to in paragraph 2, unless the European Council, in agreement with the Member State concerned, unanimously decides to extend this period. If the UK leaves in a little over a week, it will no longer be in the EU and will no longer be party to hundreds of international treaties and thousands of pieces of legislation. Proroguing the parliament is an option What are the options in order to avoid crashing out this way? Could the British government somehow get the Withdrawal Agreement through parliament on a third attempt? One step that Theresa May might be contemplating is taking the extraordinary measure of “proroguing” the parliament. Proroguing effectively means terminating the current session, without actually dissolving it, and having parliament reconvene in a new session. The government would then have the option – if the temporary suspension of the parliament goes smoothly – to re-send the Withdrawal Agreement for a meaningful vote to a newly-convened parliament. This may not occur in time for the looming exit deadline, and May is unlikely to attempt to present the deal for a third time, unless the Speaker changes his position. So, May could be obliged to yet again set out for Brussels and some EU national capitals to shore up support for an extension of Article 50. So far, no request to extend Article 50 The EU has not yet received a formal request for an extension of Article 50, even though the House of Commons voted last week for such an extension and May has now indicated she will request one. Nathalie Loiseau, the French Minister for the EU, said, “No such request has been made”. Perhaps giving a sense of the frustration in some EU capitals about the negotiations, Loiseau revealed she has called her cat Brexit because it is indecisive, as it “meows loudly to be let out each morning, but then refuses to go outside when she opens the door”. The EU would no doubt request that an extension be fully justified – and there is little European appetite to reopen negotiations with Britain. The EU has been preparing for Brexit for some time. It is conceivable that Theresa May could seek to justify a request that Article 50 be extended well beyond the 30 June 2019 date currently under discussion in the UK. But there are major problems with this, as the UK would need to take part in the European Parliament elections to take place in May this year. It could also be obliged to contribute to the new EU budget round, known as the Multiannual Financial Framework. The Brexit saga continues Of course, the idea of voting more than once on a Brexit deal in Parliament raises again the call for a second referendum on EU membership by the people – a people’s vote. Alternatively, the UK could remain in the EU and revoke Article 50. A recent court ruling that this does not require the consent of the other 27 EU states has emboldened those who are campaigning for a new referendum – although it is far from clear what questions would appear on the ballot paper. The possibility of Theresa May resigning is never far from the minds of her detractors – whether the European Research Group in her own party, or the Labour party leadership under Jeremy Corbyn. Meanwhile, the UK Trade Secretary Liam Fox has announced a trade deal that has just been initialled with Iceland and Norway. He stated that this was in addition to the agreement signed with Liechtenstein. At least Norway and Iceland are larger than Liechtenstein, a country of fewer than 38,000 people – famous for being the world’s largest exporter of false teeth. These new trading partners are considerably smaller than the EU Single Market of over 500 million that the UK currently belongs to. They will certainly not fill the huge void left by Brexit. Yet again, Theresa May’s government is no doubt hoping for just One Perfect Day, but it is not looking likely at the moment. (Philomena Murray is Professor, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

What options does the UK have before the Brexit deadline?

=German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she would struggle until the last possible moment to achieve an orderly Brexit, saying the interests of Germany, Britain and the EU were at stake.

"I will fight to the last hour of the deadline on March 29 for an orderly exit (of Britain from the European Union)," she told a conference in Berlin.

"We don't have a lot of time for it but still have a few days."

Merkel admitted she had been surprised by the bombshell announcement on Monday by House of Commons speaker John Bercow that he could not put Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan to another vote in its current form.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-warns-it-could-vote-against-brexit-extension-204598"> France warns it could vote against Brexit extension</a>

"I must confess that I was not familiar with the rules of order of the British parliament from the 17th century," she said with a wry smile.

And she stressed ahead of a crunch EU summit in Brussels Thursday and Friday at which Brexit is to take centre stage that the ball remained in London's court to plot the way forward.

"I am as of now unable to say what my position will be on Thursday because it depends on what Theresa May presents, what the situation looks like, (and) what may still happen in parliament," she said.

Merkel stressed that avoiding Britain crashing out of the EU without an exit deal was in the fundamental interest of all sides.

"We, together as the other 27 (EU member states), will react in an adequate manner and the less people play guessing games, the easier it will be," she said.

May is still hoping she can get the divorce agreement she struck with the European Union through parliament before March 29, despite MPs having rejected it twice.

But weeks of chaotic political deadlock in parliament have already forced May to concede that Brexit must be delayed, amid fears of an economic shock if Britain ends its 46-year membership of the EU with no new arrangements in place.

She had been hoping to ask EU leaders for only a short delay when they meet at the Brussels summit, warning that without a deal, any extension would be lengthy.

=German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she would struggle until the last possible moment to achieve an orderly Brexit, saying the interests of Germany, Britain and the EU were at stake.

=German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday she would struggle until the last possible moment to achieve an orderly Brexit, saying the interests of Germany, Britain and the EU were at stake. "I will fight to the last hour of the deadline on March 29 for an orderly exit (of Britain from the European Union)," she told a conference in Berlin. "We don't have a lot of time for it but still have a few days." Merkel admitted she had been surprised by the bombshell announcement on Monday by House of Commons speaker John Bercow that he could not put Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit plan to another vote in its current form. Also read: France warns it could vote against Brexit extension "I must confess that I was not familiar with the rules of order of the British parliament from the 17th century," she said with a wry smile. And she stressed ahead of a crunch EU summit in Brussels Thursday and Friday at which Brexit is to take centre stage that the ball remained in London's court to plot the way forward. "I am as of now unable to say what my position will be on Thursday because it depends on what Theresa May presents, what the situation looks like, (and) what may still happen in parliament," she said. Merkel stressed that avoiding Britain crashing out of the EU without an exit deal was in the fundamental interest of all sides. "We, together as the other 27 (EU member states), will react in an adequate manner and the less people play guessing games, the easier it will be," she said. May is still hoping she can get the divorce agreement she struck with the European Union through parliament before March 29, despite MPs having rejected it twice. But weeks of chaotic political deadlock in parliament have already forced May to concede that Brexit must be delayed, amid fears of an economic shock if Britain ends its 46-year membership of the EU with no new arrangements in place. She had been hoping to ask EU leaders for only a short delay when they meet at the Brussels summit, warning that without a deal, any extension would be lengthy.

Angela Merkel says will 'fight to last hour' for orderly Brexit

France warned Wednesday it might vote against Britain's demand for an extension to its planned EU departure date unless Theresa May presents a credible exit strategy to fellow European leaders.

"A situation in which Mrs May is unable to deliver sufficient guarantees on the credibility of her strategy at the European Council meeting would lead to the request being refused and a preference for a no deal," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament.

The remarks upped the pressure on the British prime minister ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels which begins Thursday where Brexit is set to top the agenda.

Le Drian said an extension to the March 29 deadline would only be granted if May agreed to three conditions.

First, that any extension only be given to approve an exit deal negotiated by May and the other 27 European Union members, which has twice been rejected by British lawmakers.

Secondly, that May not seek to renegotiate the deal.&nbsp;

And thirdly that Britain not participate in elections for the European Parliament which are scheduled for May 23-26.

France warned Wednesday it might vote against Britain's demand for an extension to its planned EU departure date unless Theresa May presents a credible exit strategy to fellow European leaders.

France warned Wednesday it might vote against Britain's demand for an extension to its planned EU departure date unless Theresa May presents a credible exit strategy to fellow European leaders. "A situation in which Mrs May is unable to deliver sufficient guarantees on the credibility of her strategy at the European Council meeting would lead to the request being refused and a preference for a no deal," Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told parliament. The remarks upped the pressure on the British prime minister ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels which begins Thursday where Brexit is set to top the agenda. Le Drian said an extension to the March 29 deadline would only be granted if May agreed to three conditions. First, that any extension only be given to approve an exit deal negotiated by May and the other 27 European Union members, which has twice been rejected by British lawmakers. Secondly, that May not seek to renegotiate the deal. And thirdly that Britain not participate in elections for the European Parliament which are scheduled for May 23-26.

France warns it could vote against Brexit extension

The British pound fell Wednesday on simmering Brexit tensions after Prime Minister Theresa <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/requested-brexit-delay-until-june-30-uk-pm-theresa-may-to-european-union-leaders-204557">May asked EU leaders to delay the nation's departure</a> until June 30.

On eve of an EU summit in Brussels, May told parliament that she has written to EU President Donald Tusk to ask for the withdrawal date to be moved from March 29.

The European Commission warned in an internal briefing note that delaying Brexit to June 30 would bring "serious legal and political risks".

The EU's executive arm instead urged leaders to choose instead a short delay to May 23 or a longer one at least until the end of this year.

At around 1300 GMT, sterling was down almost one percent in value, sliding to $1.3149, while the euro rose to 86.40 pence. The unit was already in negative territory prior to May's announcement.

Analysts expressed doubt that the delay extension would allow May's Conservative government sufficient time to resolve the crisis.

"The pound's Wednesday only got worse after the confirmation that Theresa May is seeking a short delay from the EU, one that arguably does not give the government enough time to get through a sterling-positive Brexit deal," Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell told AFP.

"It appears that, despite the various votes highlighting MPs unwilling to leave the EU without a deal, that kind of disastrous exit is still very much on the table."

Rebecca O'Keeffe, analyst at online broker Interactive Investor, was similarly downbeat.

"A short delay is being perceived as the worst of all possible worlds for the UK and sterling," she told AFP.

"Rather than resolve the crisis, it suggests that Mrs May is likely to undergo three more months of brinkmanship.

"This will represent one more damaging quarter for UK businesses, especially those who had already implemented plans to cope with an end-March Brexit date.

"So it really is no surprise that the pound is going down, as investors face the prospect of another three months of purgatory."

The British pound fell Wednesday on simmering Brexit tensions after Prime Minister Theresa May asked EU leaders to delay the nation's departure until June 30. On eve of an EU summit in Brussels, May told parliament that she has written to EU President Donald Tusk to ask for the withdrawal date to be moved from March 29.

The British pound fell Wednesday on simmering Brexit tensions after Prime Minister Theresa May asked EU leaders to delay the nation's departure until June 30. On eve of an EU summit in Brussels, May told parliament that she has written to EU President Donald Tusk to ask for the withdrawal date to be moved from March 29. The European Commission warned in an internal briefing note that delaying Brexit to June 30 would bring "serious legal and political risks". The EU's executive arm instead urged leaders to choose instead a short delay to May 23 or a longer one at least until the end of this year. At around 1300 GMT, sterling was down almost one percent in value, sliding to $1.3149, while the euro rose to 86.40 pence. The unit was already in negative territory prior to May's announcement. Analysts expressed doubt that the delay extension would allow May's Conservative government sufficient time to resolve the crisis. "The pound's Wednesday only got worse after the confirmation that Theresa May is seeking a short delay from the EU, one that arguably does not give the government enough time to get through a sterling-positive Brexit deal," Spreadex analyst Connor Campbell told AFP. "It appears that, despite the various votes highlighting MPs unwilling to leave the EU without a deal, that kind of disastrous exit is still very much on the table." Rebecca O'Keeffe, analyst at online broker Interactive Investor, was similarly downbeat. "A short delay is being perceived as the worst of all possible worlds for the UK and sterling," she told AFP. "Rather than resolve the crisis, it suggests that Mrs May is likely to undergo three more months of brinkmanship. "This will represent one more damaging quarter for UK businesses, especially those who had already implemented plans to cope with an end-March Brexit date. "So it really is no surprise that the pound is going down, as investors face the prospect of another three months of purgatory."

Pound slides after UK requests Brexit delay

European Union leaders have not yet received a letter from British Prime Minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uks-theresa-may-to-urge-european-union-chief-donald-tusk-to-delay-brexit-ahead-of-brussels-summit-204363"> Theresa May requesting Brexit be postponed</a>, an official said Wednesday, on the eve of their summit.

"I have a problem here because, to be frank, I have no new information to offer to you," the senior European official told a briefing for reporters ahead of the two-day European Council which will consider any request.

"We have not received a letter from Prime Minister May. We have not received the request from the UK on the extension of Article 50 in any other form," he said, despite reports that May plans to ask her colleagues for more time.

"For the moment, there is no request from the UK. Maybe it will come, maybe it won't come," he said, as May mulled whether to request a short extension to pass Brexit legislation or a long one to rethink Britain's strategy.

Without an extension, Britain will fall out of the European Union in nine days.&nbsp;

"What I can say now? ... I have no basis to speculate about length," the official said.

"I guess the 27 will have a debate on Brexit in light of the state of play of situation."

In London, a Downing Street official told the BBC <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-theresa-may-to-seek-short-brexit-delay-report-204503">May will be seeking a short delay to Brexit</a>.

"PM won't be asking for a long extension," it quoted a Downing Street official as saying on the eve of a summit with EU leaders in Brussels.

"There is a case for giving parliament a bit more time to agree a way forward, but the people of this country have been waiting nearly three years now.

"They are fed up with parliament's failure to take a decision and the PM shares their frustration."

Exasperated European leaders are demanding London to tell them clearly what it wants, warning that the risk still remains that Britain could crash out of the bloc on March 29, ending its 46-year membership without formal arrangements.

The British premier is struggling to keep control of the Brexit process after MPs last week decisively rejected the EU divorce deal for a second time.

She has reluctantly accepted that Brexit must be postponed, amid fears of an economic shock if Britain ends its membership of the EU with no new arrangements in place.

European Union leaders have not yet received a letter from British Prime Minister Theresa May requesting Brexit be postponed, an official said Wednesday, on the eve of their summit.

European Union leaders have not yet received a letter from British Prime Minister Theresa May requesting Brexit be postponed, an official said Wednesday, on the eve of their summit. "I have a problem here because, to be frank, I have no new information to offer to you," the senior European official told a briefing for reporters ahead of the two-day European Council which will consider any request. "We have not received a letter from Prime Minister May. We have not received the request from the UK on the extension of Article 50 in any other form," he said, despite reports that May plans to ask her colleagues for more time. "For the moment, there is no request from the UK. Maybe it will come, maybe it won't come," he said, as May mulled whether to request a short extension to pass Brexit legislation or a long one to rethink Britain's strategy. Without an extension, Britain will fall out of the European Union in nine days. "What I can say now? ... I have no basis to speculate about length," the official said. "I guess the 27 will have a debate on Brexit in light of the state of play of situation." In London, a Downing Street official told the BBC May will be seeking a short delay to Brexit. "PM won't be asking for a long extension," it quoted a Downing Street official as saying on the eve of a summit with EU leaders in Brussels. "There is a case for giving parliament a bit more time to agree a way forward, but the people of this country have been waiting nearly three years now. "They are fed up with parliament's failure to take a decision and the PM shares their frustration." Exasperated European leaders are demanding London to tell them clearly what it wants, warning that the risk still remains that Britain could crash out of the bloc on March 29, ending its 46-year membership without formal arrangements. The British premier is struggling to keep control of the Brexit process after MPs last week decisively rejected the EU divorce deal for a second time. She has reluctantly accepted that Brexit must be postponed, amid fears of an economic shock if Britain ends its membership of the EU with no new arrangements in place.

European Union still waiting for Brexit delay request

The British unemployment rate has struck a 44-year low, official data showed Tuesday, despite a broader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/government-cannot-resubmit-same-brexit-deal-in-uk-parliament-speaker-204152">economic slowdown as Brexit looms</a>.

The jobless rate -- or proportion of the workforce that is unemployed -- hit 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of January, the lowest level since 1975, the Office for National Statistics said.

That followed 4.0 per cent in the three months to December, the ONS added in a statement, while expectations had been for no change.

The total number of unemployed people slid by 35,000 to 1.34 million in the year to January, which was 112,000 lower than a year ago.

Economists said the labour market update painted a bright picture, despite a slowing economy with Britain scheduled to leave the European Union next week.

"A much stronger labour market report than expected -- and particularly impressive given recent slower UK economic activity, heightened Brexit uncertainties and a weaker global economy," said EY economist Howard Archer.

"The latest strong jobs data is somewhat surprising as some surveys had indicated that a growing number of employers are now adopting a 'wait-and-see' approach on employment given the current heightened uncertainties."

The ONS added that wage growth continued to outpace inflation.

Average earnings including bonuses increased by 3.4 per cent in the year to January from a year earlier.

That handed another boost to the purchasing power of workers' salaries.

The British unemployment rate has struck a 44-year low, official data showed Tuesday, despite a broader economic slowdown as Brexit looms. The jobless rate -- or proportion of the workforce that is unemployed -- hit 3.

The British unemployment rate has struck a 44-year low, official data showed Tuesday, despite a broader economic slowdown as Brexit looms. The jobless rate -- or proportion of the workforce that is unemployed -- hit 3.9 per cent in the three months to the end of January, the lowest level since 1975, the Office for National Statistics said. That followed 4.0 per cent in the three months to December, the ONS added in a statement, while expectations had been for no change. The total number of unemployed people slid by 35,000 to 1.34 million in the year to January, which was 112,000 lower than a year ago. Economists said the labour market update painted a bright picture, despite a slowing economy with Britain scheduled to leave the European Union next week. "A much stronger labour market report than expected -- and particularly impressive given recent slower UK economic activity, heightened Brexit uncertainties and a weaker global economy," said EY economist Howard Archer. "The latest strong jobs data is somewhat surprising as some surveys had indicated that a growing number of employers are now adopting a 'wait-and-see' approach on employment given the current heightened uncertainties." The ONS added that wage growth continued to outpace inflation. Average earnings including bonuses increased by 3.4 per cent in the year to January from a year earlier. That handed another boost to the purchasing power of workers' salaries.

As Brexit looms, UK unemployment rate hits 44-year low: Official data

British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to seek a delay in Britain's exit from the European Union, setting the stage for Prime Minister Theresa May to renew efforts to get her divorce deal approved by parliament next week.

Lawmakers approved by 412 votes to 202 a statement setting out the option to request a short delay if a Brexit deal can be agreed by March 20 — or a longer delay if no deal can be agreed in time.

Just 15 days before Britain is due to leave the European Union, May is using the threat of a long delay to push Brexit supporters in her Conservative Party finally to back her deal.

A new vote on her deal is likely next week, when those lawmakers will have to decide whether to back a deal they feel does not offer a clean break from the EU, or accept that Brexit could be watered down or even thwarted by a lengthy delay.

Earlier, lawmakers voted by 334 to 85 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-vote-overwhelmingly-against-2nd-brexit-referendum-203391">against a second referendum on EU membership</a>. Most opposition Labour lawmakers did not back the measure and even campaigners for a so-called People's Vote said the time was not yet right for parliament to vote on the matter.

The government narrowly survived an attempt to give lawmakers control of the parliamentary agenda on March 20 with the aim of forcing a discussion of alternative Brexit options at a later date.

May's authority hit an all-time low this week after a series of humiliating parliamentary defeats and rebellions. But she has made clear her plan is still on the agenda, despite twice being rejected by an overwhelming majority in parliament, in January and again on Tuesday.

May's spokesman said earlier on Thursday that she would put her Brexit deal, struck after two-and-a-half years of negotiations with the EU, to another vote "if it was felt that it were worthwhile".

Seeking to win over dissenters, she has given rebellious Conservative lawmakers a thinly-veiled warning that a failure to back her plan could mean no Brexit at all.

Britons voted by 52-48 percent in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU, a decision that has not only divided the main political parties but also exposed deep rifts in British society.

Sterling has swung more wildly this week than at any point since 2017, rising from below $1.30 to a nine-month high of almost $1.34 as investors bet Britain would avoid a no-deal Brexit. [GDP/]

British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to seek a delay in Britain's exit from the European Union, setting the stage for Prime Minister Theresa May to renew efforts to get her divorce deal approved by parliament next week.

British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to seek a delay in Britain's exit from the European Union, setting the stage for Prime Minister Theresa May to renew efforts to get her divorce deal approved by parliament next week. Lawmakers approved by 412 votes to 202 a statement setting out the option to request a short delay if a Brexit deal can be agreed by March 20 — or a longer delay if no deal can be agreed in time. Just 15 days before Britain is due to leave the European Union, May is using the threat of a long delay to push Brexit supporters in her Conservative Party finally to back her deal. A new vote on her deal is likely next week, when those lawmakers will have to decide whether to back a deal they feel does not offer a clean break from the EU, or accept that Brexit could be watered down or even thwarted by a lengthy delay. Earlier, lawmakers voted by 334 to 85 against a second referendum on EU membership. Most opposition Labour lawmakers did not back the measure and even campaigners for a so-called People's Vote said the time was not yet right for parliament to vote on the matter. The government narrowly survived an attempt to give lawmakers control of the parliamentary agenda on March 20 with the aim of forcing a discussion of alternative Brexit options at a later date. May's authority hit an all-time low this week after a series of humiliating parliamentary defeats and rebellions. But she has made clear her plan is still on the agenda, despite twice being rejected by an overwhelming majority in parliament, in January and again on Tuesday. May's spokesman said earlier on Thursday that she would put her Brexit deal, struck after two-and-a-half years of negotiations with the EU, to another vote "if it was felt that it were worthwhile". Seeking to win over dissenters, she has given rebellious Conservative lawmakers a thinly-veiled warning that a failure to back her plan could mean no Brexit at all. Britons voted by 52-48 percent in a 2016 referendum to leave the EU, a decision that has not only divided the main political parties but also exposed deep rifts in British society. Sterling has swung more wildly this week than at any point since 2017, rising from below $1.30 to a nine-month high of almost $1.34 as investors bet Britain would avoid a no-deal Brexit. [GDP/]

British MPs vote overwhelmingly to delay Brexit 

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/not-rushing-to-have-trade-deal-with-china-trump-203203">US President Donald Trump</a> on Thursday said he anticipated a "large scale" trade agreement with the United Kingdom, as the British government grapples with its Brexit deal with Europe and a possible delay.

Britain's break from the European Union would upend its trade relationships as it exits the bloc and is forced to go to the negotiating table to broker its own trade pacts with other countries, including the United States.

"My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited!" Trump tweeted.

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My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1106153554518130688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The US Trade Representative's office had said it would launch talks with Britain after its planned exit from the EU on March 29. Last month it laid out its objectives for a deal that included reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers for US industrial and agricultural goods.

Trump has made the US economy and trade a cornerstone of his presidency in line with his "America First" campaign and has sought to renegotiate pacts with China, Canada and Mexico as well as the EU.

With a little more than two weeks before Britain is due to leave the European Union with no firm agreement yet in place, Britain's parliament was due to vote on Thursday on seeking a last-minute Brexit delay after UK lawmakers twice rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he anticipated a "large scale" trade agreement with the United Kingdom, as the British government grapples with its Brexit deal with Europe and a possible delay.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he anticipated a "large scale" trade agreement with the United Kingdom, as the British government grapples with its Brexit deal with Europe and a possible delay. Britain's break from the European Union would upend its trade relationships as it exits the bloc and is forced to go to the negotiating table to broker its own trade pacts with other countries, including the United States. "My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited!" Trump tweeted. My Administration looks forward to negotiating a large scale Trade Deal with the United Kingdom. The potential is unlimited! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 14, 2019 × The US Trade Representative's office had said it would launch talks with Britain after its planned exit from the EU on March 29. Last month it laid out its objectives for a deal that included reduced tariff and non-tariff barriers for US industrial and agricultural goods. Trump has made the US economy and trade a cornerstone of his presidency in line with his "America First" campaign and has sought to renegotiate pacts with China, Canada and Mexico as well as the EU. With a little more than two weeks before Britain is due to leave the European Union with no firm agreement yet in place, Britain's parliament was due to vote on Thursday on seeking a last-minute Brexit delay after UK lawmakers twice rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's EU divorce deal.

As Britain grapples with Brexit, Trump eyes 'large scale' trade deal

How London reacted to defeat for Theresa May's Brexit deal

Theresa May's Brexit Deal rejected

By Chris Stafford

With just over two weeks to go until Brexit, Theresa May has once again failed to get her Brexit deal through parliament, leaving complete uncertainty about where the nation goes next. May lost the vote on her deal 391 to 242, a slightly higher level of support than in January but still a resounding defeat for a prime minister who increasingly appears to have lost control.

Following the defeat, the Prime Minister confirmed that MPs will now be able to vote on whether to oppose a no-deal Brexit. But she warned that the government would press ahead with planning for a no deal and that MPs would have to acknowledge that their vote does not change EU or UK law. If they fail to make a decision on what to do, no deal remains the default on March 29.

May said this will be a free vote, meaning she will not whip her party into voting to support her. In announcing this, she noted that “just like the referendum there are strongly held and equally legitimate views on both sides”, suggesting that this is another attempt to keep her fragile party together and prevent any more resignations, at least in the short term.

There will then be a vote on March 14 on whether to extend the Brexit process beyond March 29. But in another warning, May said “this does not solve the problems we face”. If MPs vote to extend, she said, the EU will want to know what they intend to do with that time. Do they want to revoke Article 50 entirely? Do they want to hold a second referendum? At the latter question, a large number of MPs cheered – while others shouted “no!”.

May added that she also believes there is still a majority for a deal. No one can doubt her tenacity and staying power. While other ministers have been scrambling to save their own careers and distance themselves from the ongoing mess, the prime minister has been nothing but persistent. Once again, pressure has been mounting on her to resign and although it is doubtful that such an action would really solve anything after her Brexit deal was once again rejected by parliament, even May must be asking herself whether it is worth staying on.

Time to go? 
 
May’s run as prime minister cannot go into the history books as anything other than a failure. To be fair, her inheritance from David Cameron was pretty lousy – a divided party tasked with delivering a major political action that had barely been planned for at all. But the difficulty of this task was compounded by weak leadership, a lack of party discipline and numerous bad decisions. Her latest was to try to sell a minor concession from the EU as a last-minute victory to try and convince MPs to support her deal. Once again, they weren’t buying what she was selling.

Backbench MPs continue to stir up trouble from the sidelines, refusing to follow the party line and facing minimal repercussions for their disloyalty. May’s loss on this latest vote came after the European Research Group of backbenchers held a meeting in their so-called “star chamber”, agreeing to rebel en masse and further suggesting that May has lost control of her party.

The fact that May has managed to make her time as PM last nearly three years with all of this going on is pretty impressive. And there are no clear mechanisms to force her to step down if she decides not to. She has shown she can weather votes of no confidence and she is safe from another party leadership challenge until the end of the year. But following this latest rejection of her Brexit deal, it is hard to see what she can do next or why she would even want to go to all the effort.

Many suspect that May will simply get parliament to vote again, hoping that enough MPs will flinch at the last minute and vote for it to avoid a no deal Brexit. But while not as large as her first defeat, this loss was significant. And with her rivals once again sensing blood in the water, many people probably wouldn’t hold it against her if she just decided to abandon ship like so many before her and get a head start on the lucrative lecturing circuit that has served some of her predecessors so well.

Now what? 
 
We know that the majority of MPs don’t want a no deal, but in voting against May’s deal they have made that much more likely. A vote in parliament against a no deal Brexit has no direct effect on the EU and Jean-Claude Juncker has already warned that there will be no third negotiation. It would be foolish to assume that this is not sincere. That all just makes a no deal more, not less, likely.

Taking this into account, it, therefore, isn’t clear if extending Article 50 will achieve much more than delaying the inevitable. Despite constant assurances from prominent Leavers that the EU will see sense at the last minute and give Britain what it wants, the remarkable outward unity of the EU has not wavered in the nearly three years since the referendum.

The fact is that the EU isn’t prepared to give into unrealistic demands from the UK to the detriment of itself. Given that the EU hasn’t seen fit to amend the terms of the deal by now, it is hard to see that this will change. The EU will likely grant an extension because it won’t want to be seen as forcing a no deal situation, but the fact that an extension into May would likely see Britain having to participate in the next European Parliament elections raises issues for both sides.

Regardless of how well you think she has done in the job, there is little doubting that May has done more or less all she can as prime minister. Delivering Brexit was never going to be an easy task and it has proved all consuming. With other policies failing as a result and her party even more divided, it may now be time for her to her to retire from Number 10 and let her critics in the party make good on their claims that they could do it better.

 
&nbsp;(Chris Stafford is Doctoral Researcher, University of Nottingham)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theresa-may-loses-another-brexit-vote-is-it-time-she-just-gave-up-113294">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

 
&nbsp;

By Chris Stafford With just over two weeks to go until Brexit, Theresa May has once again failed to get her Brexit deal through parliament, leaving complete uncertainty about where the nation goes next.

By Chris Stafford With just over two weeks to go until Brexit, Theresa May has once again failed to get her Brexit deal through parliament, leaving complete uncertainty about where the nation goes next. May lost the vote on her deal 391 to 242, a slightly higher level of support than in January but still a resounding defeat for a prime minister who increasingly appears to have lost control. Following the defeat, the Prime Minister confirmed that MPs will now be able to vote on whether to oppose a no-deal Brexit. But she warned that the government would press ahead with planning for a no deal and that MPs would have to acknowledge that their vote does not change EU or UK law. If they fail to make a decision on what to do, no deal remains the default on March 29. May said this will be a free vote, meaning she will not whip her party into voting to support her. In announcing this, she noted that “just like the referendum there are strongly held and equally legitimate views on both sides”, suggesting that this is another attempt to keep her fragile party together and prevent any more resignations, at least in the short term. There will then be a vote on March 14 on whether to extend the Brexit process beyond March 29. But in another warning, May said “this does not solve the problems we face”. If MPs vote to extend, she said, the EU will want to know what they intend to do with that time. Do they want to revoke Article 50 entirely? Do they want to hold a second referendum? At the latter question, a large number of MPs cheered – while others shouted “no!”. May added that she also believes there is still a majority for a deal. No one can doubt her tenacity and staying power. While other ministers have been scrambling to save their own careers and distance themselves from the ongoing mess, the prime minister has been nothing but persistent. Once again, pressure has been mounting on her to resign and although it is doubtful that such an action would really solve anything after her Brexit deal was once again rejected by parliament, even May must be asking herself whether it is worth staying on. Time to go? May’s run as prime minister cannot go into the history books as anything other than a failure. To be fair, her inheritance from David Cameron was pretty lousy – a divided party tasked with delivering a major political action that had barely been planned for at all. But the difficulty of this task was compounded by weak leadership, a lack of party discipline and numerous bad decisions. Her latest was to try to sell a minor concession from the EU as a last-minute victory to try and convince MPs to support her deal. Once again, they weren’t buying what she was selling. Backbench MPs continue to stir up trouble from the sidelines, refusing to follow the party line and facing minimal repercussions for their disloyalty. May’s loss on this latest vote came after the European Research Group of backbenchers held a meeting in their so-called “star chamber”, agreeing to rebel en masse and further suggesting that May has lost control of her party. The fact that May has managed to make her time as PM last nearly three years with all of this going on is pretty impressive. And there are no clear mechanisms to force her to step down if she decides not to. She has shown she can weather votes of no confidence and she is safe from another party leadership challenge until the end of the year. But following this latest rejection of her Brexit deal, it is hard to see what she can do next or why she would even want to go to all the effort. Many suspect that May will simply get parliament to vote again, hoping that enough MPs will flinch at the last minute and vote for it to avoid a no deal Brexit. But while not as large as her first defeat, this loss was significant. And with her rivals once again sensing blood in the water, many people probably wouldn’t hold it against her if she just decided to abandon ship like so many before her and get a head start on the lucrative lecturing circuit that has served some of her predecessors so well. Now what? We know that the majority of MPs don’t want a no deal, but in voting against May’s deal they have made that much more likely. A vote in parliament against a no deal Brexit has no direct effect on the EU and Jean-Claude Juncker has already warned that there will be no third negotiation. It would be foolish to assume that this is not sincere. That all just makes a no deal more, not less, likely. Taking this into account, it, therefore, isn’t clear if extending Article 50 will achieve much more than delaying the inevitable. Despite constant assurances from prominent Leavers that the EU will see sense at the last minute and give Britain what it wants, the remarkable outward unity of the EU has not wavered in the nearly three years since the referendum. The fact is that the EU isn’t prepared to give into unrealistic demands from the UK to the detriment of itself. Given that the EU hasn’t seen fit to amend the terms of the deal by now, it is hard to see that this will change. The EU will likely grant an extension because it won’t want to be seen as forcing a no deal situation, but the fact that an extension into May would likely see Britain having to participate in the next European Parliament elections raises issues for both sides. Regardless of how well you think she has done in the job, there is little doubting that May has done more or less all she can as prime minister. Delivering Brexit was never going to be an easy task and it has proved all consuming. With other policies failing as a result and her party even more divided, it may now be time for her to her to retire from Number 10 and let her critics in the party make good on their claims that they could do it better. (Chris Stafford is Doctoral Researcher, University of Nottingham) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Theresa May's Brexit deal defeat plunges UK into complete uncertainty

UK Parliament rejects Theresa May's Brexit deal for second time

British lawmakers crushingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's deal to quit the European Union on Tuesday, thrusting Brexit into turmoil just 17 days before the planned departure date.

Lawmakers voted against May's amended Brexit deal by 391 to 242 as her last-minute talks with EU chiefs on Monday to assuage her critics' concerns ultimately proved fruitless.

The vote puts the world's fifth largest economy in uncharted territory with no obvious way forward; exiting the EU without a deal, delaying the March 29 divorce date, a snap election or even another referendum are all now possible.

May might even try a third time to get parliamentary support in the hope that hardline eurosceptic lawmakers in her Conservative Party, the most vocal critics of her withdrawal treaty, might change their minds if it becomes more likely that Britain might stay in the EU after all.

While she lost, the margin of defeat was smaller than the record 230-vote loss her deal suffered in January.

Lawmakers will now vote on Wednesday on whether Britain should quit the world's biggest trading bloc without a deal, a scenario that business leaders warn would bring chaos to markets and supply chains, and other critics say could cause shortages of food and medicines.

May said the government would not instruct her own party's lawmakers how to vote. An opposition Labour Party spokesman said this meant she had "given up any pretence of leading the country".

Impasse

The prime minister, hoarse after Monday's late-night talks, told lawmakers: "Let me be clear. Voting against leaving without a deal and for an extension does not solve the problems we face."

She said parliament was now at an impasse: "Does it wish to revoke Article 50 (announcing an intention to leave the EU)? Does it want to hold a second referendum? Or does it want to leave with a deal, but not this deal?"

Sterling, which had earlier in the day fallen by 2 per cent to $1.3005, was trading at around $1.3086 shortly after the vote. [GBP/]

Supporters of Brexit argue that, while a "no-deal" divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it would allow the United Kingdom to thrive and forge beneficial trade deals across the world.

However, parliament is expected firmly to reject a "no-deal" Brexit as well, so lawmakers would then vote again on Thursday - on whether the government should request a delay to the leaving date to allow further talks.

Both May and the EU have already ruled out any other changes to the deal, struck after two-and-a-half years of tortuous negotiations.

'No third chance'

"There will be no third chance," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday. "There will be no further interpretations of the interpretations, no further assurances of the reassurances if the 'meaningful vote' tomorrow fails."

A spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk said he regretted the outcome of the vote, which had "significantly increased the likelihood of a 'no-deal' Brexit".

He said the EU would expect a credible justification for any request to delay Brexit.

Britons voted by 52-48 per cent in 2016 to leave the EU but the decision has not only divided the main parties but also exposed deep rifts in British society, bringing concerns about immigration and globalisation to the fore.

Many fear that Brexit will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China, leaving Britain economically weaker and with its security capabilities depleted.

Supporters say it allows Britain to control immigration and take advantage of global opportunities, striking new trade deals with the United States and others while still keeping close links to the EU, which, even without Britain, would be a single market of 440 million people.

British lawmakers crushingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's deal to quit the European Union on Tuesday, thrusting Brexit into turmoil just 17 days before the planned departure date.

British lawmakers crushingly rejected Prime Minister Theresa May's deal to quit the European Union on Tuesday, thrusting Brexit into turmoil just 17 days before the planned departure date. Lawmakers voted against May's amended Brexit deal by 391 to 242 as her last-minute talks with EU chiefs on Monday to assuage her critics' concerns ultimately proved fruitless. The vote puts the world's fifth largest economy in uncharted territory with no obvious way forward; exiting the EU without a deal, delaying the March 29 divorce date, a snap election or even another referendum are all now possible. May might even try a third time to get parliamentary support in the hope that hardline eurosceptic lawmakers in her Conservative Party, the most vocal critics of her withdrawal treaty, might change their minds if it becomes more likely that Britain might stay in the EU after all. While she lost, the margin of defeat was smaller than the record 230-vote loss her deal suffered in January. Lawmakers will now vote on Wednesday on whether Britain should quit the world's biggest trading bloc without a deal, a scenario that business leaders warn would bring chaos to markets and supply chains, and other critics say could cause shortages of food and medicines. May said the government would not instruct her own party's lawmakers how to vote. An opposition Labour Party spokesman said this meant she had "given up any pretence of leading the country". Impasse The prime minister, hoarse after Monday's late-night talks, told lawmakers: "Let me be clear. Voting against leaving without a deal and for an extension does not solve the problems we face." She said parliament was now at an impasse: "Does it wish to revoke Article 50 (announcing an intention to leave the EU)? Does it want to hold a second referendum? Or does it want to leave with a deal, but not this deal?" Sterling, which had earlier in the day fallen by 2 per cent to $1.3005, was trading at around $1.3086 shortly after the vote. [GBP/] Supporters of Brexit argue that, while a "no-deal" divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it would allow the United Kingdom to thrive and forge beneficial trade deals across the world. However, parliament is expected firmly to reject a "no-deal" Brexit as well, so lawmakers would then vote again on Thursday - on whether the government should request a delay to the leaving date to allow further talks. Both May and the EU have already ruled out any other changes to the deal, struck after two-and-a-half years of tortuous negotiations. 'No third chance' "There will be no third chance," European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Monday. "There will be no further interpretations of the interpretations, no further assurances of the reassurances if the 'meaningful vote' tomorrow fails." A spokesman for European Council President Donald Tusk said he regretted the outcome of the vote, which had "significantly increased the likelihood of a 'no-deal' Brexit". He said the EU would expect a credible justification for any request to delay Brexit. Britons voted by 52-48 per cent in 2016 to leave the EU but the decision has not only divided the main parties but also exposed deep rifts in British society, bringing concerns about immigration and globalisation to the fore. Many fear that Brexit will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China, leaving Britain economically weaker and with its security capabilities depleted. Supporters say it allows Britain to control immigration and take advantage of global opportunities, striking new trade deals with the United States and others while still keeping close links to the EU, which, even without Britain, would be a single market of 440 million people.

Britain in Brexit chaos: Parliament rejects Theresa May's European Union deal again

The pound tumbled Tuesday after the UK government's top legal advisor cast doubt on Prime Minister Theresa May's last-gasp changes to her Brexit deal hours before a vital vote that few think May can win.

Sterling, which had been rising after May secured revisions to the Brexit withdrawal agreement, hit reverse after legal advice from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox.

"It looks like any hopes of an unlikely victory for the PM's deal later have just been extinguished," said XTB analyst David Cheetham.

Cox said last-minute new agreements "reduce the risk" of Britain being "indefinitely and involuntarily" held in the so-called Irish border backstop.

However, he also warned that "the legal risk remains unchanged" that Britain would have no legal means of ending the controversial backstop without the European Union's agreement.

In reaction, the pound slid to as low as $1.3005 from $1.3143 just before Cox published his advice. The euro jumped to 86.55 pence from 85.75 pence.&nbsp;

Overnight, following news of May's hard-won EU concessions, sterling had struck a three-week peak at $1.3289 and to 84.76 pence per euro -- a level last seen in May 2017.

Nose dive

"Sterling took a nose dive on the back of the Cox statement," said ThinkMarkets analyst Naeem Aslam.

"It was his opinion which matters the most; now that he has made it clear that the recent deal has no weight, the door is wide open for sterling to move lower."

Rabobank analyst Jane Foley said the despite the volatility, the pound remains the best performing G10 currency so far this year.

"Even if May’s deal is not passed today, the market consensus remains of the view that a hard Brexit will be avoided and this view continues to provide underlying support for the pound."

If the deal is voted down, MPs will Wednesday vote on whether Britain should simply leave on March 29 without any deal at all.

London's stock market, meanwhile, did well on Tuesday, as is often the case when sterling is weak.

Frankfurt closed lower and Paris slightly up.

On Wall Street the DJIA index was lower in the early New York afternoon, but the S&amp;P 500 and Nasdaq both rose.

Boeing shares lost more than six per cent on the second day of a rout for the airline's stock as several governments closed their countries' airspace to 737 MAX planes and airlines grounded the aircraft following a crash in Ethiopia.

The pound tumbled Tuesday after the UK government's top legal advisor cast doubt on Prime Minister Theresa May's last-gasp changes to her Brexit deal hours before a vital vote that few think May can win.

The pound tumbled Tuesday after the UK government's top legal advisor cast doubt on Prime Minister Theresa May's last-gasp changes to her Brexit deal hours before a vital vote that few think May can win. Sterling, which had been rising after May secured revisions to the Brexit withdrawal agreement, hit reverse after legal advice from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox. "It looks like any hopes of an unlikely victory for the PM's deal later have just been extinguished," said XTB analyst David Cheetham. Cox said last-minute new agreements "reduce the risk" of Britain being "indefinitely and involuntarily" held in the so-called Irish border backstop. However, he also warned that "the legal risk remains unchanged" that Britain would have no legal means of ending the controversial backstop without the European Union's agreement. In reaction, the pound slid to as low as $1.3005 from $1.3143 just before Cox published his advice. The euro jumped to 86.55 pence from 85.75 pence. Overnight, following news of May's hard-won EU concessions, sterling had struck a three-week peak at $1.3289 and to 84.76 pence per euro -- a level last seen in May 2017. Nose dive "Sterling took a nose dive on the back of the Cox statement," said ThinkMarkets analyst Naeem Aslam. "It was his opinion which matters the most; now that he has made it clear that the recent deal has no weight, the door is wide open for sterling to move lower." Rabobank analyst Jane Foley said the despite the volatility, the pound remains the best performing G10 currency so far this year. "Even if May’s deal is not passed today, the market consensus remains of the view that a hard Brexit will be avoided and this view continues to provide underlying support for the pound." If the deal is voted down, MPs will Wednesday vote on whether Britain should simply leave on March 29 without any deal at all. London's stock market, meanwhile, did well on Tuesday, as is often the case when sterling is weak. Frankfurt closed lower and Paris slightly up. On Wall Street the DJIA index was lower in the early New York afternoon, but the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both rose. Boeing shares lost more than six per cent on the second day of a rout for the airline's stock as several governments closed their countries' airspace to 737 MAX planes and airlines grounded the aircraft following a crash in Ethiopia.

Brexit tension sends pound tumbling

Key Brexit vote at Westminster today

Prime Minister Theresa May warned MPs that Britain may end up not leaving the European Union if they vote against the deal she has agreed with Brussels later on Tuesday.

"<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-parliament-to-vote-tonight-on-prime-minister-mays-tweaked-brexit-deal-202873">If this vote is not passed tonight</a>, if this deal is not passed, then Brexit could be lost," she told parliament, sounding extremely hoarse.

Prime Minister Theresa May warned MPs that Britain may end up not leaving the European Union if they vote against the deal she has agreed with Brussels later on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Theresa May warned MPs that Britain may end up not leaving the European Union if they vote against the deal she has agreed with Brussels later on Tuesday. "If this vote is not passed tonight, if this deal is not passed, then Brexit could be lost," she told parliament, sounding extremely hoarse.

British PM May warns MPs 'Brexit could be lost' if they vote down deal

The United Kingdom's attorney general has said the government's last-ditch legal changes to the Brexit agreement reduced but did not rule out the risk that the country could be indefinitely bound to the Irish backstop clause, jeopardizing the prime minister's ambitions to assuage rebellious party members as she puts the agreement to a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.&nbsp;

Geoffrey Cox, whose job it is to present the House of Commons with independent legal advice on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union before the so-called meaningful vote on Theresa May's deal, said in a statement, his opinion had not changed since he first brought it to the lower chamber of lawmaking last year.&nbsp;

"In my letter of 13 November 2018, I advised that the protocol [ie, the backstop] would endure indefinitely in international law and could not be brought to an end in the absence of a subsequent agreement," he said.

"This would remain the case even if parties were still negotiating many years later, and even if the parties believed that talks have clearly broken down and there was no prospect of a future relationship agreement."&nbsp;

The backstop, which looks to safeguard the soft border on the island of Ireland should Brexit talks collapse, proved hugely unpopular with pro-Brexit MPs in May's Conservative Party, who thought its potentially indefinite nature and the UK's inability to withdraw from it unilaterally, as per Cox's previous legal statement, eroded the UK's sovereignty and did not deliver a true withdrawal from the EU.&nbsp;

The Democratic Unionist Party, a right-wing outfit from Northern Ireland, also protested the backstop, saying it could keep the UK territory in Ireland bound to EU customs regulations to preserve the free-flowing border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.&nbsp;

In a previous meaningful vote on Jan. 15, hardline Tories including Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline pro-Brexit European Research Group, spearheaded a rebellion against May's deal and helped shoot it down by a House majority of 230; this historic defeat for a sitting UK PM was bellowed by a large number of MPs voting against Brexit altogether.&nbsp;

Soon after the defeat, the Commons passed an amendment requiring May to return to Brussels in search of legally-binding changes to the withdrawal agreement.&nbsp;

Speaking in Strasbourg following a meeting with EU leaders, May assured reporters she had secured the necessary legally-binding tweaks to ensure the UK would not be indefinitely tied to the backstop protocol, adding the government would also set out a mechanism which would "ultimately" allow the UK to unliterary "dis-apply" the measure should it see fit.&nbsp;

May was unable to reopen the withdrawal agreement itself, but revealed the changes as part of a "joint instrument with comparable legal weight."&nbsp;

In his statement, Cox said the legal add-ons could reduce the possibility the UK was indefinitely bound to the backstop.

The European Research Group, an affiliation of Tories who campaign for a harder Brexit, demanded the PM secure an ability to unilaterally abandon the backstop as part of her haul of legal alterations to the text.&nbsp;

But Cox contradicted that, too.&nbsp;

He said that, while in his political judgment that the EU and the UK would draw up a comprehensive plan to replace the backstop, the UK would nonetheless be unable to abandon the accord unilaterally.&nbsp;

"However, the legal risk remains unchanged that if through no such demonstrable failure of either party, but simply because of intractable differences, that situation does arise, the United Kingdom would have, at least while the fundamental circumstances remained the same, no internationally lawful means of exiting the Protocol’s arrangements, save by agreement," he said.&nbsp;

Cox delivered his legal advice to a full house at the Commons.&nbsp;

He earlier dismissed rumours that he had refused to change his legal advice following May's meetings with EU heads.&nbsp;

Responding to a suggestion to that end from prominent UK journalist Jon Snow, Cox replied on Twitter with a simple and quintessentially British message: "Bollocks."

His legal advice will likely dictate how the ERG decides to vote following Tuesday's debate.&nbsp;

If May loses once again, the Commons is scheduled to vote on two further motions: one on whether to embrace a no-deal Brexit and another on whether to extend the negotiations period, which had been set at two years, ending on Mar. 31.&nbsp;

Some 52 per cent of voters chose to leave the bloc in a referendum in June 2016.

The United Kingdom's attorney general has said the government's last-ditch legal changes to the Brexit agreement reduced but did not rule out the risk that the country could be indefinitely bound to the Irish backstop clause, jeopardizing the prime minister's ambitions to assuage rebellious party members as she puts the agreement to a parliamentary vote on Tuesday.

The United Kingdom's attorney general has said the government's last-ditch legal changes to the Brexit agreement reduced but did not rule out the risk that the country could be indefinitely bound to the Irish backstop clause, jeopardizing the prime minister's ambitions to assuage rebellious party members as she puts the agreement to a parliamentary vote on Tuesday. Geoffrey Cox, whose job it is to present the House of Commons with independent legal advice on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union before the so-called meaningful vote on Theresa May's deal, said in a statement, his opinion had not changed since he first brought it to the lower chamber of lawmaking last year. "In my letter of 13 November 2018, I advised that the protocol [ie, the backstop] would endure indefinitely in international law and could not be brought to an end in the absence of a subsequent agreement," he said. "This would remain the case even if parties were still negotiating many years later, and even if the parties believed that talks have clearly broken down and there was no prospect of a future relationship agreement." The backstop, which looks to safeguard the soft border on the island of Ireland should Brexit talks collapse, proved hugely unpopular with pro-Brexit MPs in May's Conservative Party, who thought its potentially indefinite nature and the UK's inability to withdraw from it unilaterally, as per Cox's previous legal statement, eroded the UK's sovereignty and did not deliver a true withdrawal from the EU. The Democratic Unionist Party, a right-wing outfit from Northern Ireland, also protested the backstop, saying it could keep the UK territory in Ireland bound to EU customs regulations to preserve the free-flowing border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state. In a previous meaningful vote on Jan. 15, hardline Tories including Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the hardline pro-Brexit European Research Group, spearheaded a rebellion against May's deal and helped shoot it down by a House majority of 230; this historic defeat for a sitting UK PM was bellowed by a large number of MPs voting against Brexit altogether. Soon after the defeat, the Commons passed an amendment requiring May to return to Brussels in search of legally-binding changes to the withdrawal agreement. Speaking in Strasbourg following a meeting with EU leaders, May assured reporters she had secured the necessary legally-binding tweaks to ensure the UK would not be indefinitely tied to the backstop protocol, adding the government would also set out a mechanism which would "ultimately" allow the UK to unliterary "dis-apply" the measure should it see fit. May was unable to reopen the withdrawal agreement itself, but revealed the changes as part of a "joint instrument with comparable legal weight." In his statement, Cox said the legal add-ons could reduce the possibility the UK was indefinitely bound to the backstop. The European Research Group, an affiliation of Tories who campaign for a harder Brexit, demanded the PM secure an ability to unilaterally abandon the backstop as part of her haul of legal alterations to the text. But Cox contradicted that, too. He said that, while in his political judgment that the EU and the UK would draw up a comprehensive plan to replace the backstop, the UK would nonetheless be unable to abandon the accord unilaterally. "However, the legal risk remains unchanged that if through no such demonstrable failure of either party, but simply because of intractable differences, that situation does arise, the United Kingdom would have, at least while the fundamental circumstances remained the same, no internationally lawful means of exiting the Protocol’s arrangements, save by agreement," he said. Cox delivered his legal advice to a full house at the Commons. He earlier dismissed rumours that he had refused to change his legal advice following May's meetings with EU heads. Responding to a suggestion to that end from prominent UK journalist Jon Snow, Cox replied on Twitter with a simple and quintessentially British message: "Bollocks." His legal advice will likely dictate how the ERG decides to vote following Tuesday's debate. If May loses once again, the Commons is scheduled to vote on two further motions: one on whether to embrace a no-deal Brexit and another on whether to extend the negotiations period, which had been set at two years, ending on Mar. 31. Some 52 per cent of voters chose to leave the bloc in a referendum in June 2016.

May's legal changes do not rule out indefinite backstop: UK Attorney General

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday secured a three-part package of changes from the EU to the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/in-case-of-no-deal-brexit-eu-to-ask-britain-to-pay-close-to-50-billion-euros-202675">terms of its withdrawal deal</a>, hoping to win over <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-in-peril-as-pm-may-faces-heavy-defeat-202425">sceptical MPs</a>.

As May sealed the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theresa-may-rushes-to-strasbourg-to-find-a-deal-as-brexit-crunch-looms-202707">deal in Strasbourg </a>with EU leaders, her de facto deputy, David Lidington, updated parliament in London on the plans.

"This evening in Strasbourg the prime minister... (has) secured legally binding changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration," he said.

He said this should be enough to persuade MPs to vote for the agreement on Tuesday, just 17 days before Britain is scheduled to leave the EU.

"Tomorrow there will be a fundamental choice -- to vote for the improved deal or to plunge this country into a political crisis," he said.

Three new documents have been agreed to run alongside the withdrawal agreement, which governs Britain's exit terms, and the political declaration on future trade terms.

First is a "joint legally binding instrument" on the withdrawal text, which addresses the deal's controversial "backstop" plan to keep open the border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

This "provides confirmation that the EU cannot try to trap the UK in the backstop indefinitely, and that doing so would be an explicit breach" of commitments on both sides, Lidington said.

The backstop would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU if and until another way -- such as a new trade deal -- could be found to avoid checks on the Irish border.

If the EU failed to try to find an alternative to the backstop, Lidington said Britain could use this joint instrument "as the basis for a formal dispute through independent arbitration", and ultimately get the backstop suspended.

The document also emphasises that both Britain and the EU want to find an alternative to the backstop by December 2020.

Finally, the document would put assurances EU leaders about the temporary nature of the backstop "onto a legally binding footing", Lidington said.

A second document would supplement the political declaration, and outline commitments from both sides on moving swiftly to this new relationship.

Thirdly, Britain has put forward a "unilateral declaration" with legal status in international law emphasising the temporary nature of the backstop, Lidington said.

This would clarify that Britain believes there is nothing in the Brexit deal to stop it seeking to exit the backstop if the EU fails to live up to its commitments to find a replacement.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday secured a three-part package of changes from the EU to the terms of its withdrawal deal, hoping to win over sceptical MPs.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government on Monday secured a three-part package of changes from the EU to the terms of its withdrawal deal, hoping to win over sceptical MPs. As May sealed the deal in Strasbourg with EU leaders, her de facto deputy, David Lidington, updated parliament in London on the plans. "This evening in Strasbourg the prime minister... (has) secured legally binding changes that strengthen and improve the withdrawal agreement and the political declaration," he said. He said this should be enough to persuade MPs to vote for the agreement on Tuesday, just 17 days before Britain is scheduled to leave the EU. "Tomorrow there will be a fundamental choice -- to vote for the improved deal or to plunge this country into a political crisis," he said. Three new documents have been agreed to run alongside the withdrawal agreement, which governs Britain's exit terms, and the political declaration on future trade terms. First is a "joint legally binding instrument" on the withdrawal text, which addresses the deal's controversial "backstop" plan to keep open the border between EU member Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland. This "provides confirmation that the EU cannot try to trap the UK in the backstop indefinitely, and that doing so would be an explicit breach" of commitments on both sides, Lidington said. The backstop would keep Britain in a customs union with the EU if and until another way -- such as a new trade deal -- could be found to avoid checks on the Irish border. If the EU failed to try to find an alternative to the backstop, Lidington said Britain could use this joint instrument "as the basis for a formal dispute through independent arbitration", and ultimately get the backstop suspended. The document also emphasises that both Britain and the EU want to find an alternative to the backstop by December 2020. Finally, the document would put assurances EU leaders about the temporary nature of the backstop "onto a legally binding footing", Lidington said. A second document would supplement the political declaration, and outline commitments from both sides on moving swiftly to this new relationship. Thirdly, Britain has put forward a "unilateral declaration" with legal status in international law emphasising the temporary nature of the backstop, Lidington said. This would clarify that Britain believes there is nothing in the Brexit deal to stop it seeking to exit the backstop if the EU fails to live up to its commitments to find a replacement.

UK, EU agree three-part deal on Brexit deal

The future of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-in-peril-as-pm-may-faces-heavy-defeat-202425">Britain's exit from the European Union</a> hung in the balance on Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a divorce deal after Prime Minister Theresa May won last-minute assurances from the European Union.

Scrambling to plot an orderly path out of the Brexit maze just days before the United Kingdom is due to leave, May rushed to Strasbourg on Monday to agree 'legally binding' assurances with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

British lawmakers, who on January 15 voted 432-202 against her deal, were on Tuesday studying the assurances with lawyers. The government's top lawyer, Geoffrey Cox, is due to give his opinion on Tuesday ahead of the vote due around 1900 GMT.

"We have secured legal changes," May said in a late night news conference in Strasbourg beside Juncker, 17 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29.

May said the assurances created an arbitration channel for any disputes on the backstop, "entrenches in legally-binding form" existing commitments that it will be temporary and binds the UK and EU to starting work on replacing the backstop with other arrangements by December 2020.

After two-and-a-half years of haggling since the 2016 Brexit referendum, Juncker cautioned this was the last chance for Britain. "It is this deal or Brexit might not happen at all," he said.

Sterling rose 1.5 percent against the dollar and to a near two-year high against the euro.

If lawmakers vote down May's deal, she has promised a vote on Wednesday on whether to leave without a deal and, if they reject that, then a vote on whether to ask for a limited delay to Brexit.

The United Kingdom's labyrinthine crisis over EU membership is approaching its finale with an array of possible outcomes, including a delay, a last-minute deal, a no-deal Brexit, a snap election or even another referendum.

Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown and many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China.

BREXIT VOTE

Supporters of Brexit say while the divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and also enable deeper EU integration without such a powerful reluctant member.

Brexit-supporting lawmakers in May's party had accused her of botching the negotiations with Brussels. Many Brexiteers fear the backstop, aimed at avoiding controls on the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland, could trap the United Kingdom in the EU's orbit indefinitely.

May announced three documents - a joint instrument, a joint statement and a unilateral declaration - which she said were aimed at addressing the Irish backstop, the most contentious part of the divorce deal she agreed with the EU in November.

Former Brexit Secretary David Davis welcomed the requirement to make alternative arrangements for the backstop, the date and the international arbitration.

"All those things together, make this just about, just about acceptable to me but it depends very, very heavily on a robust, clear response from (Attorney General Geoffrey) Cox," Davis told Talk Radio. "If Geoffrey Cox is at all equivocal about it then I think it will fall again."

The immediate reaction was cautious from Brexit-supporting lawmakers and from the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's minority government.

"We will be taking appropriate advice, scrutinising the text line by line and forming our own judgement," a DUP spokesman said.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a faction in May’s Conservative Party demanding a clean break from the EU, also said he was waiting for legal advice. "This has been desperately rushed," he told the BBC. "I think it would be better to have the vote tomorrow when people had more mature consideration."

The motion put forward by the government said the joint instrument "reduces the risk" that the United Kingdom would be trapped in the backstop.

If the backstop comes into force and talks on the future relationship break down, May said the unilateral declaration she announced would make clear there was nothing to stop London from moving to leave the backstop.

Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, an opponent of Brexit, said the changes to May's deal did not make a material difference.

The future of Britain's exit from the European Union hung in the balance on Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a divorce deal after Prime Minister Theresa May won last-minute assurances from the European Union.

The future of Britain's exit from the European Union hung in the balance on Tuesday as lawmakers prepared to vote on a divorce deal after Prime Minister Theresa May won last-minute assurances from the European Union. Scrambling to plot an orderly path out of the Brexit maze just days before the United Kingdom is due to leave, May rushed to Strasbourg on Monday to agree 'legally binding' assurances with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. British lawmakers, who on January 15 voted 432-202 against her deal, were on Tuesday studying the assurances with lawyers. The government's top lawyer, Geoffrey Cox, is due to give his opinion on Tuesday ahead of the vote due around 1900 GMT. "We have secured legal changes," May said in a late night news conference in Strasbourg beside Juncker, 17 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU on March 29. May said the assurances created an arbitration channel for any disputes on the backstop, "entrenches in legally-binding form" existing commitments that it will be temporary and binds the UK and EU to starting work on replacing the backstop with other arrangements by December 2020. After two-and-a-half years of haggling since the 2016 Brexit referendum, Juncker cautioned this was the last chance for Britain. "It is this deal or Brexit might not happen at all," he said. Sterling rose 1.5 percent against the dollar and to a near two-year high against the euro. If lawmakers vote down May's deal, she has promised a vote on Wednesday on whether to leave without a deal and, if they reject that, then a vote on whether to ask for a limited delay to Brexit. The United Kingdom's labyrinthine crisis over EU membership is approaching its finale with an array of possible outcomes, including a delay, a last-minute deal, a no-deal Brexit, a snap election or even another referendum. Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown and many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. BREXIT VOTE Supporters of Brexit say while the divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and also enable deeper EU integration without such a powerful reluctant member. Brexit-supporting lawmakers in May's party had accused her of botching the negotiations with Brussels. Many Brexiteers fear the backstop, aimed at avoiding controls on the border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland, could trap the United Kingdom in the EU's orbit indefinitely. May announced three documents - a joint instrument, a joint statement and a unilateral declaration - which she said were aimed at addressing the Irish backstop, the most contentious part of the divorce deal she agreed with the EU in November. Former Brexit Secretary David Davis welcomed the requirement to make alternative arrangements for the backstop, the date and the international arbitration. "All those things together, make this just about, just about acceptable to me but it depends very, very heavily on a robust, clear response from (Attorney General Geoffrey) Cox," Davis told Talk Radio. "If Geoffrey Cox is at all equivocal about it then I think it will fall again." The immediate reaction was cautious from Brexit-supporting lawmakers and from the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's minority government. "We will be taking appropriate advice, scrutinising the text line by line and forming our own judgement," a DUP spokesman said. Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of a faction in May’s Conservative Party demanding a clean break from the EU, also said he was waiting for legal advice. "This has been desperately rushed," he told the BBC. "I think it would be better to have the vote tomorrow when people had more mature consideration." The motion put forward by the government said the joint instrument "reduces the risk" that the United Kingdom would be trapped in the backstop. If the backstop comes into force and talks on the future relationship break down, May said the unilateral declaration she announced would make clear there was nothing to stop London from moving to leave the backstop. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, an opponent of Brexit, said the changes to May's deal did not make a material difference.

UK parliament to vote tonight on Prime Minister May's tweaked Brexit deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May rushed to Strasbourg on Monday to seek concessions from the European Union in a last-ditch attempt to avoid another humiliating defeat in the parliament of her deal to exit the bloc.

Just 18 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, there is still no ratified divorce deal and talks with the bloc stalled over the weekend as May felt she was unable to break the political deadlock in London.

In a day of frenetic diplomacy ahead of a Tuesday parliamentary vote on her deal, May spoke to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in an effort to find a way through the Brexit maze.

May, who rejected a Brexit compromise hashed out in Brussels on Saturday, left for Strasbourg on Monday.

"Please don’t assume this points to a deal," a British official said. "It means there is the basis for a further face to face discussion as part of the talks."

May's spokesman said a "meaningful" parliamentary vote on her deal would go ahead, even though talks with the EU are deadlocked, and the motion to be voted on would be published later on Monday.

European officials expressed frustration with May's attempts to secure concessions with so little time left before Britain is due to leave on March 29.

The British parliament voted to reject May's deal in January by 230 votes, the biggest margin of defeat in modern British history. She has promised a new vote on Tuesday, hoping to deliver last-minute changes that would win over lawmakers.

If she loses that vote, she has promised to allow lawmakers further votes on whether to leave with no deal at all, or whether to ask for a delay in the deadline.

EU ambassadors were told by the bloc's Brexit negotiators that a possible compromise was on the table but May was unable to convince her ministers so she turned it down.

Sterling see-sawed on Brexit news, falling in early trade on speculation that May could cancel the vote in parliament, but later surged on news that May would travel to Strasbourg and could have a deal. It was trading at $1.3140 at 1500 GMT.

The United Kingdom’s tortuous crisis over EU membership is approaching its finale with an extraordinary array of outcomes still possible, including a delay, a last-minute deal, a no-deal Brexit, a snap election or even another referendum. The country voted to leave the EU in a 2016 plebiscite.

The ultimate outcome remains unclear, though Brexit will define the United Kingdom's prosperity for generations to come.

Brexit in peril?

May hopes to secure changes to the so-called Irish backstop, an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Many British lawmakers object to the backstop on the grounds that it could leave Britain subject to EU rules indefinitely or cleave Northern Ireland away from the rest of the United Kingdom.

The EU has repeatedly said it does not want to reopen the divorce deal, and the British government's top lawyer has failed to find a legal fix.

"We're very clear that the Withdrawal Agreement can't change but we want to try to be helpful in terms of providing the clarity and reassurance that's needed in Westminster that the backstop is intended to be temporary," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said. "No one is looking to trap anyone anywhere."

In Brussels, diplomats and officials said Britain would face EU demands for billions of euros in cash if it fails to strike a Brexit deal.

With no major changes yet secured, Brexit-supporting lawmakers said May's deal would be defeated again on Tuesday.

"We will essentially be voting on exactly the same Withdrawal Agreement that we voted on last time and in very simple terms: if you ask the same question you are likely to get pretty much the same answer," said Mark Francois, a pro-Brexit lawmaker in May's Conservative Party.

Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, a Northern Irish group that props up May's minority government, and Steve Baker, a leading figure in the eurosceptic faction of her Conservative Party, said she was heading for defeat.

Yvette Cooper, an opposition Labour Party lawmaker who has led efforts to hand parliament more control over Brexit, said parliament would try to take control of the exit process if May was unable to build a consensus.

British Prime Minister Theresa May rushed to Strasbourg on Monday to seek concessions from the European Union in a last-ditch attempt to avoid another humiliating defeat in the parliament of her deal to exit the bloc.

British Prime Minister Theresa May rushed to Strasbourg on Monday to seek concessions from the European Union in a last-ditch attempt to avoid another humiliating defeat in the parliament of her deal to exit the bloc. Just 18 days before the United Kingdom is due to leave the EU, there is still no ratified divorce deal and talks with the bloc stalled over the weekend as May felt she was unable to break the political deadlock in London. In a day of frenetic diplomacy ahead of a Tuesday parliamentary vote on her deal, May spoke to European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker in an effort to find a way through the Brexit maze. May, who rejected a Brexit compromise hashed out in Brussels on Saturday, left for Strasbourg on Monday. "Please don’t assume this points to a deal," a British official said. "It means there is the basis for a further face to face discussion as part of the talks." May's spokesman said a "meaningful" parliamentary vote on her deal would go ahead, even though talks with the EU are deadlocked, and the motion to be voted on would be published later on Monday. European officials expressed frustration with May's attempts to secure concessions with so little time left before Britain is due to leave on March 29. The British parliament voted to reject May's deal in January by 230 votes, the biggest margin of defeat in modern British history. She has promised a new vote on Tuesday, hoping to deliver last-minute changes that would win over lawmakers. If she loses that vote, she has promised to allow lawmakers further votes on whether to leave with no deal at all, or whether to ask for a delay in the deadline. EU ambassadors were told by the bloc's Brexit negotiators that a possible compromise was on the table but May was unable to convince her ministers so she turned it down. Sterling see-sawed on Brexit news, falling in early trade on speculation that May could cancel the vote in parliament, but later surged on news that May would travel to Strasbourg and could have a deal. It was trading at $1.3140 at 1500 GMT. The United Kingdom’s tortuous crisis over EU membership is approaching its finale with an extraordinary array of outcomes still possible, including a delay, a last-minute deal, a no-deal Brexit, a snap election or even another referendum. The country voted to leave the EU in a 2016 plebiscite. The ultimate outcome remains unclear, though Brexit will define the United Kingdom's prosperity for generations to come. Brexit in peril? May hopes to secure changes to the so-called Irish backstop, an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Many British lawmakers object to the backstop on the grounds that it could leave Britain subject to EU rules indefinitely or cleave Northern Ireland away from the rest of the United Kingdom. The EU has repeatedly said it does not want to reopen the divorce deal, and the British government's top lawyer has failed to find a legal fix. "We're very clear that the Withdrawal Agreement can't change but we want to try to be helpful in terms of providing the clarity and reassurance that's needed in Westminster that the backstop is intended to be temporary," Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said. "No one is looking to trap anyone anywhere." In Brussels, diplomats and officials said Britain would face EU demands for billions of euros in cash if it fails to strike a Brexit deal. With no major changes yet secured, Brexit-supporting lawmakers said May's deal would be defeated again on Tuesday. "We will essentially be voting on exactly the same Withdrawal Agreement that we voted on last time and in very simple terms: if you ask the same question you are likely to get pretty much the same answer," said Mark Francois, a pro-Brexit lawmaker in May's Conservative Party. Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, a Northern Irish group that props up May's minority government, and Steve Baker, a leading figure in the eurosceptic faction of her Conservative Party, said she was heading for defeat. Yvette Cooper, an opposition Labour Party lawmaker who has led efforts to hand parliament more control over Brexit, said parliament would try to take control of the exit process if May was unable to build a consensus.

Theresa May rushes to Strasbourg to find a deal as Brexit crunch looms

Whether her Brexit deal passes parliament or not this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May's days are numbered, experts have said.

The Conservative leader has in the past won praise for her determination and ability to survive what has often felt like one long political crisis since the 2016 EU referendum.

But her approach to the Brexit endgame, seeking changes to the deal she herself negotiated with under three weeks to go until exit day, has prompted frustration and anger on all sides.

Pro-European ministers are in revolt over the risk of a "no deal" exit, while Brexit hardliners are livid that her promise of a decisive divorce appears to be receding.

At the same time, criticism of May's legacy from six years as interior minister is growing following a surge in knife crime and an ongoing row over the treatment of migrants.

"At first she appeared to be a unifier, but she turned out to have too little courage, imagination or skill to lead the Brexit negotiations," said an editorial in the Conservative-backing Spectator magazine.&nbsp;

It reluctantly urged MPs to back May's divorce deal on Tuesday, but only so that Britain could "turn the page on this unhappy chapter of our political history".&nbsp;

'Closed door' 
May took office after the 2016 referendum, and despite having campaigned to stay in the EU, embraced the cause with the mantra "Brexit means Brexit".

Her promise to leave the EU's institutions and end free movement of workers delighted eurosceptic MPs, but caused dismay among many pro-Europeans.

The splits in her Conservative party became a serious problem after a disastrous snap election in June 2017, when May lost her parliamentary majority.

She was forced to strike a deal with Northern Ireland's pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and since then has struggled to keep her party and its allies together.

Naturally reserved and reliant on her husband Philip and a few close aides, May often says she is just quietly "getting on with the job".

But in the last election, she struggled to engage with voters and was dubbed the "Maybot" after churning out the same answers and speeches over and over again.

Critics complain of similar difficulties in communicating during the Brexit talks, and even her own ministers are reportedly unsure what she will do if her deal is voted down.

Matthew Parris, an anti-Brexit former Conservative MP who now writes for The Times, said he once thought May was a merely an "unremarkable" politician dealing with a tough situation.

But he said her inability to engage with colleagues had exacerbated divisions over Brexit, describing her as "the living embodiment of the closed door".

Seemingly impossible 
May survived a confidence vote in December among her own MPs over her Brexit deal and is immune from a similar challenge within a year.

She was forced to promise to quit before the next scheduled election in 2022, however, and even then, one-third of her MPs voted to unseat her.

Reports this weekend suggest senior members of the government are considering whether she should offer to quit to persuade lawmakers to support her deal.

But May has been written off before.

She survived the resignations of a string of high-profile Brexit supporters, notably former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, and has endured constant sniping from MPs on the sidelines.

Her supporters note that getting a deal at all with the EU, after Britain's biggest peacetime negotiations, was a huge feat in itself.

If she gets it approved next week, she will rightly claim a major success.

"She will bask in a bump in the polls and adulation from a couple of the red tops for having achieved the seemingly impossible," said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King's College London.

"That might make it hard to remove her straight away," he told AFP, but added: "I can't see her being there a year after we've left (the EU)."

Whether her Brexit deal passes parliament or not this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May's days are numbered, experts have said. The Conservative leader has in the past won praise for her determination and ability to survive what has often felt like one long political crisis since the 2016 EU referendum.

Whether her Brexit deal passes parliament or not this week, British Prime Minister Theresa May's days are numbered, experts have said. The Conservative leader has in the past won praise for her determination and ability to survive what has often felt like one long political crisis since the 2016 EU referendum. But her approach to the Brexit endgame, seeking changes to the deal she herself negotiated with under three weeks to go until exit day, has prompted frustration and anger on all sides. Pro-European ministers are in revolt over the risk of a "no deal" exit, while Brexit hardliners are livid that her promise of a decisive divorce appears to be receding. At the same time, criticism of May's legacy from six years as interior minister is growing following a surge in knife crime and an ongoing row over the treatment of migrants. "At first she appeared to be a unifier, but she turned out to have too little courage, imagination or skill to lead the Brexit negotiations," said an editorial in the Conservative-backing Spectator magazine. It reluctantly urged MPs to back May's divorce deal on Tuesday, but only so that Britain could "turn the page on this unhappy chapter of our political history". 'Closed door' May took office after the 2016 referendum, and despite having campaigned to stay in the EU, embraced the cause with the mantra "Brexit means Brexit". Her promise to leave the EU's institutions and end free movement of workers delighted eurosceptic MPs, but caused dismay among many pro-Europeans. The splits in her Conservative party became a serious problem after a disastrous snap election in June 2017, when May lost her parliamentary majority. She was forced to strike a deal with Northern Ireland's pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), and since then has struggled to keep her party and its allies together. Naturally reserved and reliant on her husband Philip and a few close aides, May often says she is just quietly "getting on with the job". But in the last election, she struggled to engage with voters and was dubbed the "Maybot" after churning out the same answers and speeches over and over again. Critics complain of similar difficulties in communicating during the Brexit talks, and even her own ministers are reportedly unsure what she will do if her deal is voted down. Matthew Parris, an anti-Brexit former Conservative MP who now writes for The Times, said he once thought May was a merely an "unremarkable" politician dealing with a tough situation. But he said her inability to engage with colleagues had exacerbated divisions over Brexit, describing her as "the living embodiment of the closed door". Seemingly impossible May survived a confidence vote in December among her own MPs over her Brexit deal and is immune from a similar challenge within a year. She was forced to promise to quit before the next scheduled election in 2022, however, and even then, one-third of her MPs voted to unseat her. Reports this weekend suggest senior members of the government are considering whether she should offer to quit to persuade lawmakers to support her deal. But May has been written off before. She survived the resignations of a string of high-profile Brexit supporters, notably former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, and has endured constant sniping from MPs on the sidelines. Her supporters note that getting a deal at all with the EU, after Britain's biggest peacetime negotiations, was a huge feat in itself. If she gets it approved next week, she will rightly claim a major success. "She will bask in a bump in the polls and adulation from a couple of the red tops for having achieved the seemingly impossible," said Anand Menon, professor of European politics at King's College London. "That might make it hard to remove her straight away," he told AFP, but added: "I can't see her being there a year after we've left (the EU)."

UK's May staggers on amid predictions of her political demise

Britain cannot accept an EU proposal to break <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-economy-near-standstill-as-brexit-approaches-survey-201345">the deadlock in the Brexit talks</a> because it would threaten the unity of the United Kingdom by treating Northern Ireland differently, the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party said.

The issue of how to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland is at the heart of the dispute between London and Brussels after British lawmakers objected to the so-called backstop insurance policy which they believe would keep the whole of the UK trapped in an EU customs union.

Less than three weeks before Britain leaves the European Union, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday Britain could have the unilateral right to leave their customs union after Brexit.

However, Northern Ireland would have to remain in the EU's trade orbit to prevent the need for any customs checks on the border with EU-member Ireland.

"We are not going to have an agreement that compromises the unity of the United Kingdom," Brandon Lewis told BBC radio. "The proposal that Michel Barnier put out yesterday would compromise the strength of the union."

Lawmakers will vote again on Tuesday on whether to accept the deal struck by Prime Minister Theresa May. The government has so far failed to secure changes to the divorce deal that could gain the backing of lawmakers, after they roundly rejected it in January.

Lewis said talks would continue over the weekend.

Britain cannot accept an EU proposal to break the deadlock in the Brexit talks because it would threaten the unity of the United Kingdom by treating Northern Ireland differently, the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party said.

Britain cannot accept an EU proposal to break the deadlock in the Brexit talks because it would threaten the unity of the United Kingdom by treating Northern Ireland differently, the chairman of the ruling Conservative Party said. The issue of how to maintain an open border on the island of Ireland is at the heart of the dispute between London and Brussels after British lawmakers objected to the so-called backstop insurance policy which they believe would keep the whole of the UK trapped in an EU customs union. Less than three weeks before Britain leaves the European Union, the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier said on Friday Britain could have the unilateral right to leave their customs union after Brexit. However, Northern Ireland would have to remain in the EU's trade orbit to prevent the need for any customs checks on the border with EU-member Ireland. "We are not going to have an agreement that compromises the unity of the United Kingdom," Brandon Lewis told BBC radio. "The proposal that Michel Barnier put out yesterday would compromise the strength of the union." Lawmakers will vote again on Tuesday on whether to accept the deal struck by Prime Minister Theresa May. The government has so far failed to secure changes to the divorce deal that could gain the backing of lawmakers, after they roundly rejected it in January. Lewis said talks would continue over the weekend.

UK will not accept Brexit deal that puts union at risk: Conservative Party chairman

WION Fineprint: Theresa May speaks ahead of next week's vote on Brexit

Britain would scrap 80-90 per cent of tariffs on imported goods if it leaves the European Union without a deal but would keep them for sensitive sectors such as cars and some agricultural products, broadcaster Sky News reported on Tuesday.

Sky News said the government intended to publish details on the tariff cuts if lawmakers reject Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal in a vote due next week.

Britain's Department for International Trade said in response to the report that no final decision had been made on tariffs, but there had been discussion across government about the right level of tariffs following a no-deal Brexit.

Britain currently has tariff-free access to European Union markets and it benefits from EU trade deals with other countries. But its exports will automatically face tariffs if it leaves on March 29 without a transition deal.

The country will then have to decide if it wishes to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from the EU.

Without tariffs, some British factories and farms would struggle to compete with imports, and Britain would lose leverage to persuade other countries to reduce tariffs on goods they import from Britain.

However, freedom to set an independent trade policy - including cutting tariffs - was a key reason for leaving the EU given by Brexit supporters, including trade minister Liam Fox.

Sky said May's cabinet of senior ministers had approved the tariff plan after the environment and farming minister Michael Gove argued to keep food tariffs and business minister Greg Clark insisted car imports should still face a 10 per cent tariff.

"According to government sources the 10-20 per cent of more sensitive items which will retain their protection includes cars, beef, lamb, dairy and some lines of textiles," it said.

Car parts, cereals and some finished food products would be among the areas where tariffs would be scrapped, it added.

The Department for International Trade said the government's priority remained to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

"If we leave the European Union without an agreement, our tariffs will need to strike a balance between protecting consumers and businesses from possible price rises and avoiding the exposure of sensitive industries to competition," a spokeswoman said.

Britain's government is due to hold a series of parliamentary votes next week asking lawmakers to approve a modified version of a Brexit plan they previously rejected, and if not, to vote on a no-deal or a delay to Brexit.

Britain would scrap 80-90 per cent of tariffs on imported goods if it leaves the European Union without a deal but would keep them for sensitive sectors such as cars and some agricultural products, broadcaster Sky News reported on Tuesday.

Britain would scrap 80-90 per cent of tariffs on imported goods if it leaves the European Union without a deal but would keep them for sensitive sectors such as cars and some agricultural products, broadcaster Sky News reported on Tuesday. Sky News said the government intended to publish details on the tariff cuts if lawmakers reject Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal in a vote due next week. Britain's Department for International Trade said in response to the report that no final decision had been made on tariffs, but there had been discussion across government about the right level of tariffs following a no-deal Brexit. Britain currently has tariff-free access to European Union markets and it benefits from EU trade deals with other countries. But its exports will automatically face tariffs if it leaves on March 29 without a transition deal. The country will then have to decide if it wishes to impose reciprocal tariffs on imports from the EU. Without tariffs, some British factories and farms would struggle to compete with imports, and Britain would lose leverage to persuade other countries to reduce tariffs on goods they import from Britain. However, freedom to set an independent trade policy - including cutting tariffs - was a key reason for leaving the EU given by Brexit supporters, including trade minister Liam Fox. Sky said May's cabinet of senior ministers had approved the tariff plan after the environment and farming minister Michael Gove argued to keep food tariffs and business minister Greg Clark insisted car imports should still face a 10 per cent tariff. "According to government sources the 10-20 per cent of more sensitive items which will retain their protection includes cars, beef, lamb, dairy and some lines of textiles," it said. Car parts, cereals and some finished food products would be among the areas where tariffs would be scrapped, it added. The Department for International Trade said the government's priority remained to avoid a no-deal Brexit. "If we leave the European Union without an agreement, our tariffs will need to strike a balance between protecting consumers and businesses from possible price rises and avoiding the exposure of sensitive industries to competition," a spokeswoman said. Britain's government is due to hold a series of parliamentary votes next week asking lawmakers to approve a modified version of a Brexit plan they previously rejected, and if not, to vote on a no-deal or a delay to Brexit.

UK would scrap 80-90%  of tariffs after no-deal Brexit: Report

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