UK Parliament Narrowly Rejects Holding Second Brexit Referendum

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to lawmakers in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday March 13, 2019. In a tentative first step toward ending months of political deadlock, British lawmakers voted Wednes... Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May speaks to lawmakers in the House of Commons, London, Wednesday March 13, 2019. In a tentative first step toward ending months of political deadlock, British lawmakers voted Wednesday to block the country from leaving the European Union without a divorce agreement, triggering an attempt to delay that departure, currently due to take place on March 29. (Mark Duffy/UK Parliament via AP) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers have defeated by the narrowest of margins at attempt by Parliament to wrench control of Brexit from the Conservative government’s hands in order to break the country’s deadlock over leaving the European Union.

The House of Commons voted 314-312 against a call to postpone Britain’s departure and rearrange Parliament’s timetable so that lawmakers could try to find an alternative to Prime Minister Theresa May’s rejected Brexit divorce deal.

Lawmakers have twice thrown out the Brexit withdrawal agreement May agreed upon with the bloc.

Despite the win Thursday, the British government still faces a Brexit impasse. Brexit is currently scheduled for March 29, but Parliament is to vote later on whether to seek a delay of at least three months.

Any extension has to be approved by all 27 remaining EU countries.

Latest World News

Notable Replies

  1. There were audible ‘oohs’ when that vote tally was revealed. I hear this may come up again next week and if it does, I think this vote is a decent indication that it will pass.

  2. “First you say you do and then you don’t…
    then you say you will and then you won’t…”

  3. Well damn just damn…Comments finally working again!!!
    edited to add well just on this one post :grimacing:

  4. Avatar for tena tena says:

    Aren’t they running out of time? I thought the EU was holding elections in May and required Britain to get this settled before then.

  5. This article is weird. It says vote for new referendum was defeated in the headline, and in the body says a move to delay was defeated.

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

17 more replies

Participants

Avatar for system1 Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for globalguy Avatar for chelsea530 Avatar for sparrowhawk Avatar for drriddle Avatar for herringbone Avatar for boidster Avatar for greylady Avatar for pshah Avatar for tena Avatar for southerndem Avatar for khyber900 Avatar for pike_bishop Avatar for godwit Avatar for dicktater Avatar for n_b

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: