‘Only one option left’: Brexit meltdown

Theresa May’s latest Brexit plan has been rejected by the British Parliament — leaving the future of the divorce from the European Union and her own position in jeopardy.

The failure of the proposed plan is a second humiliation for Mrs May after the first attempt in January saw a historic 230 votes against it.

The defeat today (Tuesday in the UK) was not as bad, but still significant with 149 votes against it (391-242).

So, this is what it means. There will be a vote tomorrow morning (AEST) on whether Britain should leave the EU without a trade deal.

If the House of Commons supports this, Britain will leave on March 29 without a deal — an outcome tipped to wreak widespread economic havoc.

If “no deal” is not supported, a third vote will be held on Friday to extend the Brexit negotiation period beyond March 29 — however the EU would also have to approve this separately.

#BrexitVote: MPs reject Theresa May's deal by 149 votes https://t.co/pTpnNjusMX

This is how they voted ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/634upZNOQS

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) March 12, 2019

The vote tomorrow would be a free vote for government members, Ms May said, something she had “personally struggled with” but the decisions were “an issue of grave importance for the country”.

She said if the parliament voted to leave without a deal it would “become government policy”.

Critics have hit out at the last-minute chaos, saying there is only one option left for Ms May — to resign.

“Another absolute drubbing for Theresa May,” wrote commentator Piers Morgan, on Twitter. “Her Brexit plan is obviously dead as a dodo. But how in good conscience can she carry on as Prime Minister? She’s lost her vote, her authority, even her voice. Surely the only option left to her now is to resign?”

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