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British PM forced to delay Brexit to avoid no-deal as MPs pass law
en.hangzhou.com.cn   2019-04-09 10:35   Source:Xinhua

LONDON, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Proposals to force British Prime Minister Theresa May to delay the date of Brexit -- again -- on Monday were approved by both the House of Lords and House of Commons.

With just days to go before the Brexit deadline, April 12, the prime minister will now have to ask the European Union (EU) to extend Article 50 in order to avoid a no-deal Brexit.

The cross-party proposal was raced through the House of Commons in a single day last week and completed its journey through the House of Lords on Monday night.

The passage of the bill means the authority of May's government was further weakened as it would give MPs a chance to make legally binding changes to her requested departure date during a debate in the parliament on Tuesday.

The House of Lords made two changes to it that removed a significant sting for the prime minister, which was signed off by the lower house on Monday.

All the parliamentary stages have now been completed and it will be sent to the Queen for "Royal Assent."

Under the new terms, British lawmakers will still be able to tell the prime minister how long she should ask the EU to delay Brexit, but they will not be able to dispute whatever new date Brussels sets and send the prime minister back to ask again.

Britain is on track to leave the EU on Friday but the prime minister has chosen not to pursue a no-deal divorce.

The prime minister wants to move the Brexit date from April 12 to June 30, but EU leaders will give her a longer extension, which she does not prefer.

British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Monday that May was leaving "no stone unturned" to try to resolve the Brexit problem.

Author:  Editor:Xiao Yimin
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