British Prime Minister Theresa May (Front) speaks during the no-deal Brexit vote in the House of Commons in London, Britain, on March 13, 2019. British MPs on Wednesday voted to reject no-deal Brexit at any time in the wake of Tuesday night's shattering defeat of the Brexit deal of British Prime Minister Theresa May. (Xinhua/UK Parliament/Mark Duffy) HOC MANDATORY CREDIT: UK Parliament/Mark Duffy
LONDON, March 13 (Xinhua) -- MPs on Wednesday voted to prevent Britain from leaving the European Union (EU) unless a Brexit deal has been agreed with Brussels. The no-deal option, rejected by a vote of 321 to 278, was a crushing defeat for British Prime Minister Theresa May. The result could also lead to a number of resignations among May's ministerial team, after Conservative Party managers ordered its MPs to oppose the measure. MPs began the non-binding vote at 1900 GMT on Wednesday, and voted by a margin of 43 to completely rule out no-deal Brexit, which led to a second government defeat in some 30 minutes. Also on Wednesday, MPs voted by a margin of 210 to reject an amendment which calls on the British government to pursue a managed no-deal Brexit on May 22. The result came just minutes after MPs voted by 312 to 308 to reject a no-deal Brexit at any time in the wake of Tuesday night's shattering defeat of May's Brexit deal. The British government has lost by four votes on Wednesday night as MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit in the non-binding vote, which does not rule out Britain leaving the European Union. The vote outcomes further weakened the authority of the prime minister, who has been fighting with a hoarse voice in the parliament to save her Brexit deal, which was rejected by the parliament by a margin of 230 in January. But it means MPs could have another vote on Thursday to decide whether they want to ask Brussels for an extension to the March 29 departure date. |