May loses symbolic Brexit vote in parliament
UK Prime Minister Theresa May was defeated in a symbolic vote in parliament on her Brexit strategy on Thursday, undermining her negotiating strength in talks with the European Union to secure changes to the agreement.
MPs voted by 303 to 258 to reject a motion asking them to reaffirm support for May’s plan to seek changes to her Brexit deal.
Many pro-Brexit members of her Conservative Party planned to abstain on the vote as they feared she was softening her position on a no-deal departure.
A spokesman for her office said will continue to seek changes to her Brexit deal.
"The government will continue to pursue this with the EU to ensure we leave on time on 29th March," the spokesman said.
He added that May believed her Conservative lawmakers still wanted her to renegotiate the deal but had voted against her on Thursday because they were concerned about the prospect of taking a 'no deal' off the table at this stage.
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn said the defeat "shows there is no majority for the PM's course of action in dealing with Brexit."
"She cannot keep on just running down the clock and hoping that something will turn up that will save her day and save her face," he said of May, who was not in parliament for the defeat.
British MPs roundly rejected May's initial deal last month, but later parliamentary votes suggested a slim majority for her deal if she could get rid of the so-called "backstop" clause intended to keep the border with Ireland free-flowing.
Some fear the measure could leave Britain trapped in EU trade rules indefinitely with no withdrawal mechanism.
British officials have since held a series of meetings with EU counterparts, who have ruled out reopening negotiations.
(Source: Agencies)
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