May is said to withdraw parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal

[snoop1130]

May is said to withdraw parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal

by Costas Pitas, William James

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May returns to Downing Street in London, Britain, December 10, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May abruptly decided on Monday to pull a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal, throwing Britain’s plan to leave the European Union up in the air on the eve of the vote, after repeated warnings from members of parliament she faced a rout.

 

While there was no immediate official announcement, the decision to halt the vote set for Tuesday was widely reported and not denied. Two sources told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg the vote was being pulled. A Financial Times reporter said an official close to the cabinet had confirmed it.

 

The move thrusts the United Kingdom’s divorce from the European Union into chaos, with possible options including a disorderly Brexit with no deal, another referendum on EU membership or a last minute renegotiation of May’s deal.

 

The decision to halt the vote came just hours after the EU’s top court ruled that Britain could unilaterally withdraw its decision to leave the bloc on March, 29.

 

May’s government called that ruling meaningless because Britain has no intention to halt Brexit. But critics of her plans said it opens options, including delaying the exit for more talks, or calling it off if voters change their minds.

 

After repeated warnings that the Dec. 11 vote in parliament would humiliate her government as opponents and supporters of Brexit joined in opposition to her deal, May convened a conference call with senior ministers on Monday.

 

She was due to give a statement to parliament at 1500 GMT on “Exiting the EU.” Afterwards, the leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, who organises business in parliament on the government’s behalf, was due to speak.

 

May’s apparent inability to win support for her agreement creates doubt over her own future. If she stays in power, she could seek to get a better deal from the EU at a summit on Dec. 13-14, in the hope of putting it before parliament at a later date. But her enemies were already pouncing on a fiasco.

 

“We don’t have a functioning government,” opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said. “The government has decided Theresa May’s Brexit deal is so disastrous that it has taken the desperate step of delaying its own vote at the eleventh hour.”

 

Sterling GBP=D3 skidded to its weakest level since June, 2017.

 

Brexit is seen as Britain’s most significant decision since World War Two. Supporters say it frees Britain to trade more widely with the rest of the world; opponents fear it will divide the West as it grapples with the unconventional presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China.

 

The ultimate outcome will shape Britain’s $2.8 trillion economy, have far reaching consequences for the unity of the United Kingdom and determine whether London can keep its place as one of the top two global financial centres.

 

BREXIT REVERSED?

 

Just hours before the reports of a cancelled vote, the EU court ruled that Britain could cancel its official Article 50 notice to leave the bloc without permission from the other EU members and without losing any special privileges.

 

That went against the position of the EU’s own executive Commission, which said Britain would need permission from other members, and European leaders who said London should lose perks agreed over the years, such as a valuable rebate on its dues.

 

May’s Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt called the ruling “irrelevant” because Britain will leave no matter what, when scheduled on March 29. To do otherwise would disrespect the majority that voted to leave, he said. In the June 23, 2016 referendum, 17.4 million voters, or 52 percent, backed Brexit while 16.1 million, or 48 percent, backed staying.

 

More than two years since the 2016 vote, the United Kingdom remains divided on how or even whether it should leave the club it first joined in 1973. Polls show few voters have changed their minds, despite warnings of economic turmoil.

 

Both May’s ruling Conservatives and the main opposition Labour Party are publicly committed to carrying out Brexit. A no-deal Brexit, though, is seen as so disruptive that parliament would be under strong pressure to block it.

 

A growing number of backbench members of parliament say the only solution would be a new referendum, an option backed by three of the four living former prime ministers, but strongly opposed by the government.

 

Michael Gove, the most prominent Brexit campaigner in the British government, said the court ruling “doesn’t alter either the referendum vote or the clear intention of the government to leave on March 29”. “We don’t want to stay in the EU,” Gove, who serves as environment minister, told BBC radio.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-10

[darksidedog]

What an absolute shambles. What is obviously apparent is that the Government of the day were so convinced that people would vote to remain, that they put absolutely zero thought into the consequences of what would happen if the country actually chose to leave. Two years down the track, and it still seems there is no consensus on what is a good deal, or a bad deal, while our currency has gone through the floor around the world.

I don't think even the Russians could have buggered up our country this much, had they intentionally decided to set out and try.

 

[thequietman]

 

[bkkcanuck8]

30 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

What an absolute shambles. What is obviously apparent is that the Government of the day were so convinced that people would vote to remain, that they put absolutely zero thought into the consequences of what would happen if the country actually chose to leave. Two years down the track, and it still seems there is no consensus on what is a good deal, or a bad deal, while our currency has gone through the floor around the world.

I don't think even the Russians could have buggered up our country this much, had they intentionally decided to set out and try.

 

Not a surprise, the "government of the day" ran AGAINST brexit.  The campaigners for brexit -- ran for the hills after "winning" (Johnson came back for a bit, but he is just your average opportunist - not someone that you can rely on).  That very fact made the likelihood of a "successful" brexit pretty much unlikely.  The campaigners for brexit should have had a blueprint in place for what brexit was going to be -- but they did not because actual plans (realistic ones) would likely have resulted in some people that voted for -- voting against.

 

It would be interesting to find out how it has affected many on here that are pro-brexit -- that indicated the impact to the currency would be minimal and short lived -- have been affected by the weaker currency.

[Basil B]

She has called tomorrows vote off.

 

This Lady is starting to turn...

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

What a nut house. They have not only one option to leave now but two; how many do they need? I just hope the EU ignores this further attempt to playing games and wasting resources that could be used for other things. 

[Basil B]

May was a lukewarm remainer, she has done her best, she gave the job of negotiations to brexiteers.

 

And look where it has got us...

 

She needs to put the boot in, take the bull buy the horns, kick the last bastions of brexit out of the cabinet, pack it with remainers, and put it to parliament, cancel article 50 or let the people decide. 

[tebee]

Brexit seems to put a curse on everything it touches.....

[vinny41]

1 hour ago, Basil B said:

May was a lukewarm remainer, she has done her best, she gave the job of negotiations to brexiteers.

 

And look where it has got us...

 

She needs to put the boot in, take the bull buy the horns, kick the last bastions of brexit out of the cabinet, pack it with remainers, and put it to parliament, cancel article 50 or let the people decide. 

Only 20% Back Second Referendum if Deal Voted Down

Even the great Peoplevote spin doctor Alastair Campbell tells of remain voters now want leave

Brexit bust-up, things get heated in the studio - BBC Newsnight

 

[lamyai3]

21 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

Even the great Peoplevote spin doctor Alastair Campbell tells of remain voters now want leave

You did realise he was saying this to emphasise the extent of shift in public opinion, in making the case for a second vote? 

[vinny41]

29 minutes ago, lamyai3 said:

You did realise he was saying this to emphasise the extent of shift in public opinion, in making the case for a second vote? 

and if you listen to the full 11 minutes the people that he was trying to talk over completely disagreed with him

[lamyai3]

48 minutes ago, vinny41 said:

and if you listen to the full 11 minutes the people that he was trying to talk over completely disagreed with him

I saw the interview, just not sure why you cherry picked a quote to imply he was saying completely the opposite thing. 

[mommysboy]

A vote on the deal isn't the same as a second referendum. It seems quite sensible to me. Two options: the deal proposed, or stay as we are.  Knocks the thing on the head all ways up.

 

But I certainly wouldn't be leading with May's deal.

 

I think our Government is so useless- pass a Brexit deal- it couldn't pass wind!

[mommysboy]

May's strategy is to 'park the bus'.  Due to a loophole I think she could wait until the last days of March to give Parliament a meaningful vote, leaving MP's with the invidious task of voting for her deal or a chaotic exit under 'no deal' scenario.  probably MP's would feel obliged to vote for her deal.

[webfact]

Theresa May calls off MPs' vote on her Brexit deal

 

Prime Minister Theresa May has called off Tuesday's crucial vote on her Brexit deal so she can go back to Brussels and ask for changes to it.

 

As it stands the deal "would be rejected by a significant margin" if MPs voted on it, she admitted.

 

But she said she was confident of getting "reassurances" from the EU on the Northern Ireland border plan.

 

Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46509288

 

-- © Copyright BBC 2018-12-11

[John1012]

5 hours ago, Basil B said:

May was a lukewarm remainer, she has done her best, she gave the job of negotiations to brexiteers.

 

And look where it has got us...

 

She needs to put the boot in, take the bull buy the horns, kick the last bastions of brexit out of the cabinet, pack it with remainers, and put it to parliament, cancel article 50 or let the people decide. 

So the democratic vote from the referendum is to be ignored? Theresa the Appeaser needs to be binned should never have been elected, probably would not have been if Gove had not stabbed Boris in the back.Exit on WTO terms and negotiate from there.

 

[Kadilo]

Totally disrespected Parliamnent and the democratic process and unilaterally called off the vote to save face. She could almost be a thai......and not one ounce of humility shown. 

 

She has become an absolute embarrassment and now will go on another tour of Europe to beg for the changes she should of got in the first place. She will then return with her “assurances” which will mean nothing and in the meantime the pound and the economy continue to plummet. 

 

 

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

4 minutes ago, John1012 said:

So the democratic vote from the referendum is to be ignored? Theresa the Appeaser needs to be binned should never have been elected, probably would not have been if Gove had not stabbed Boris in the back.Exit on WTO terms and negotiate from there.

 

There was no democratic vote. There was a manipulated referendum. 

[sammieuk1]

And a partridge in a pear tree????

[vogie]

4 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

You did realise he was saying this to emphasise the extent of shift in public opinion, in making the case for a second vote? 

There is no shift in public opinion for a second referendum.

[Chomper Higgot]

Interesting to note which of the hardline Brexieers are grasping this opportunity to get rid of Theresa May, take the helm and steer the UK to the glorious Brexit they’ve been so stridently campaigning for.

 

Their moment has come. - carpe diem!

 

[Chomper Higgot]

10 minutes ago, vogie said:

There is no shift in public opinion for a second referendum.

 

You assume a second referendum is needed.

 

 

[vogie]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You assume a second referendum is needed.

 

 

I don't assume anything, brexit still has more twist and turns left in it than a cheap garden hose.

[bristolboy]

33 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

She has become an absolute embarrassment and now will go on another tour of Europe to beg for the changes she should of got in the first place. 

So someone who still believes that the EU was bluffing about the consequences of Brexit.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, vogie said:

I don't assume anything, brexit still has more twist and turns left in it than a cheap garden hose.

We agree on that.

 

The sharp U-Turn approaching.

[the guest]

UK is becoming a laughing stock, no matter who is in power, the EU have already said that no other deal can be offered. So the fiasco of trying to re-negotiate has no value. I can see a second referendum just around the corner.

[welovesundaysatspace]

I don’t think there will be a referendum. May, the Brexit accomplice, will wait until the last minute to force parliament into a choice between a no deal Brexit and her deal Brexit. As prime minister, it would have been her job to declare the manipulated vote that happened two years ago void and restore democracy by making the manipulators face consequence for their actions. Instead, she is acting as an accomplice for the Brexit gangsters and betraying the people who are were lied to. 

[vogie]

11 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

We agree on that.

 

The sharp U-Turn approaching.

Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting that Corbyns new moderate Marxist militant free Labour party is the answer. ????????????

[flossie35]

3 hours ago, mommysboy said:

May's strategy is to 'park the bus'.  Due to a loophole I think she could wait until the last days of March to give Parliament a meaningful vote, leaving MP's with the invidious task of voting for her deal or a chaotic exit under 'no deal' scenario.  probably MP's would feel obliged to vote for her deal.

No. MPs could cancel art. 50 letter, leading to best possible out come, ie remain.

[dick dasterdly]

3 hours ago, mommysboy said:

A vote on the deal isn't the same as a second referendum. It seems quite sensible to me. Two options: the deal proposed, or stay as we are.  Knocks the thing on the head all ways up.

 

But I certainly wouldn't be leading with May's deal.

 

I think our Government is so useless- pass a Brexit deal- it couldn't pass wind!

"A vote on the deal isn't the same as a second referendum. It seems quite sensible to me. Two options: the deal proposed, or stay as we are.  Knocks the thing on the head all ways up.

But I certainly wouldn't be leading with May's deal."

 

I agree, except the options should be: the deal proposed, or leave without a deal.

 

We've already had a referendum on whether to "stay as we are" (i.e. remain or leave), and the result was to leave.  Edit - Therefore I now think that the question has to be whether the electorate prefers to accept May's 'deal' as leaving, or whether they think it is nothing of the sort and would prefer to genuinely leave.