British MPs Vote To Delay Brexit for 3 More Months

By Staff, Agencies

British lawmakers voted to delay the Brexit deal beyond the deadline day set for March 29, and seek a short extension from Brussels, on the condition MPs support Prime Minister Theresa May's twice defeated deal.

MPs in the House of Commons voted in favor of the government motion by 412 votes to 202. Now Tory administration should request from the EU an extension to Article 50 and delay Brexit until June 30 to secure a deal.

The adoption of the government motion, which came after a string of House defeats to the Brexit plan, has apparently reinvigorated May and her cabinet.

“The cabinet collectively agreed to redouble their resolve in working to deliver on the result of the referendum to leave the European Union by securing support for a deal,” the spokesman said.

However the voting saw another ministerial rebellion, as a number of ministers voted against the government-tabled motion.

Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay’s vote has particularly raised many eyebrows, given his position alone. The statements he made just ahead of voting against the government’s motion however left the public even more astounded by the move.

The vote has been met with quite a reserved reaction in the EU, which reminded the UK that any extension of the Brexit process must be approved by all the other nations of the bloc.

“We take note of tonight’s votes. A request for an extension of Article 50 requires the unanimous agreement of all 27 Member States,” a EU Commission spokesperson said, adding that such a request is to be considered by the European Council while “taking into account the reasons for and duration of a possible extension.”

Following the vote, the result of which was quite expected, Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn urged for a public vote on the matter, calling it the only proper way to untangle the Brexit deadlock.