UK PM May suffers further Brexit defeat in parliament
- 5 years ago
British Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered yet another defeat on her Brexit strategy in parliament.
MPs voted 303 to 258 against the government's Brexit motion, which included an amendment on renegotiating the Irish backstop - a contentious part of the deal.
It also included a non-binding amendment to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Hardline Brexit supporters in May's Conservative Party decided to abstain, saying that backing the motion would have meant they would be endorsing efforts to rule out a no-deal scenario.
Though the vote is not legally binding, it does send a strong signal to both the prime minister and Brussels that parliament is not happy with how they are negotiating divorce terms.
The opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized May for not attending Thursday's debate, adding she needed to admit her Brexit strategy had failed.
Downing Street said the result would not change May's approach to talks with the EU.
That would be tough because EU leaders have repeatedly ruled out any renegotiation on their agreed terms.
MPs voted 303 to 258 against the government's Brexit motion, which included an amendment on renegotiating the Irish backstop - a contentious part of the deal.
It also included a non-binding amendment to prevent a no-deal Brexit.
Hardline Brexit supporters in May's Conservative Party decided to abstain, saying that backing the motion would have meant they would be endorsing efforts to rule out a no-deal scenario.
Though the vote is not legally binding, it does send a strong signal to both the prime minister and Brussels that parliament is not happy with how they are negotiating divorce terms.
The opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized May for not attending Thursday's debate, adding she needed to admit her Brexit strategy had failed.
Downing Street said the result would not change May's approach to talks with the EU.
That would be tough because EU leaders have repeatedly ruled out any renegotiation on their agreed terms.