Theresa May’s Brexit deal defeated

March 12, 2019
BRUSSEL, BELGIUM - NOVEMBER 24: British Prime Minister Theresa May arrives at the European Council to meet with European Council President Donald Tusk the day before a summit of the European Council on Brexit on November 24, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. Leaders of the 27 remaining member states of the European Union are scheduled to meet tomorrow in Brussels over whether to approve the United Kingdom's withdrawal agreement for leaving the European Union and the political declaration that will set the course for the U.K.'s relationship with the E.U. once Brexit is complete. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been defeated in the Commons by 391 votes to 242, a majority of 149.

Although the 149 margin was reduced from the record 230-vote defeat of the first “meaningful vote” in January, Mrs May was left far adrift from a majority with just 17 days to go to the scheduled date of Brexit on March 29.

European Commission president Mr Juncker had already warned that if MPs turned down the package agreed in Strasbourg on Monday, there would be “no third chance” to renegotiate.

Theresa May’s Brexit deal defeated

In line with a promise set out by Mrs May last month, MPs are now due to vote on Wednesday on whether they are willing for the UK to leave the EU without a deal on March 29.

If they reject no-deal as most Westminster observers expect, a third vote will follow – probably on Thursday – on authorising Mrs May to request an extension of the two-year Article 50 negotiation process.

An extension requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 remaining member states, and Mr Juncker has warned that it cannot stretch beyond May 23 unless the UK takes part in the European Parliament elections starting on that date.