May offers 'new deal' to try to break Brexit deadlock
- 5 years ago
British Prime Minister Theresa May has set out a "new deal" for Britain's departure from the European Union.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, tell us about this new Brexit deal that May is offering to the parliament and what's "new" about it?
Well Mark, this is the British Prime Minister's fourth attempt to get her Brexit plan through Parliament and this time she offered parliament sweeteners including the chance to vote on whether to hold a second referendum, to get it across the line.
She laid out the details during a speech in London on Tuesday and despite her description of it as "significant further changes", it is not all new.
For example, the withdrawal agreement, which includes the backstop plan for the Irish border, remains exactly the same.
But this time, May has offered the prospect of a vote on holding a second referendum, pledges on workers' rights, environmental provisions, and a vote on a temporary customs union.
With the offer, May warned that anyone voting against her latest plan risks losing Brexit altogether.
"And only by voting for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at second reading can MPs provide the vehicle that parliament needs to determine how we leave the EU. So if MPs vote against the second reading of this bill they are voting to stop Brexit. If they do so the consequences could hardly be greater. Reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal anytime soon will be dead in the water. "
But even after her speech, significant opposition could be observed among lawmakers.
The SNP and Tory Brexiteers have already said they will vote against it.
Jacob-Rees Mogg, a Conservative MP and leader of a pro-Brexit bloc in the Prime Minister's party said "The Prime Minister's proposals are worse than before" and that it would leave the UK bound deeply into the EU.
May will propose the withdrawal agreement bill in the House of Commons in the first week of June and this is likely to be May's last proposal, as she faces increasing pressure to quit.
For more on this and other news around the world, let's turn to our Hong Yoo.
So Yoo, tell us about this new Brexit deal that May is offering to the parliament and what's "new" about it?
Well Mark, this is the British Prime Minister's fourth attempt to get her Brexit plan through Parliament and this time she offered parliament sweeteners including the chance to vote on whether to hold a second referendum, to get it across the line.
She laid out the details during a speech in London on Tuesday and despite her description of it as "significant further changes", it is not all new.
For example, the withdrawal agreement, which includes the backstop plan for the Irish border, remains exactly the same.
But this time, May has offered the prospect of a vote on holding a second referendum, pledges on workers' rights, environmental provisions, and a vote on a temporary customs union.
With the offer, May warned that anyone voting against her latest plan risks losing Brexit altogether.
"And only by voting for the Withdrawal Agreement Bill at second reading can MPs provide the vehicle that parliament needs to determine how we leave the EU. So if MPs vote against the second reading of this bill they are voting to stop Brexit. If they do so the consequences could hardly be greater. Reject this deal and leaving the EU with a negotiated deal anytime soon will be dead in the water. "
But even after her speech, significant opposition could be observed among lawmakers.
The SNP and Tory Brexiteers have already said they will vote against it.
Jacob-Rees Mogg, a Conservative MP and leader of a pro-Brexit bloc in the Prime Minister's party said "The Prime Minister's proposals are worse than before" and that it would leave the UK bound deeply into the EU.
May will propose the withdrawal agreement bill in the House of Commons in the first week of June and this is likely to be May's last proposal, as she faces increasing pressure to quit.