For Prime Minister May, it was finally a success again: The lower house has by a large majority approved their Brexit plans. A shift in EU exit will become more likely.
By Jens-Peter Marquardt, ARD Studio London
In Parliament, Theresa May once again called on MEPs to fulfill their duty, that is to respect the will of the people, to allow the country to leave the EU and to agree to the agreement negotiated with Brussels.
But this deal, which had failed in the Lower House in January, was not yet back to the vote. But the PM wants to bring him back to Parliament in two weeks‘ time – possibly with a few changes that the British government is currently seeking to negotiate with the EU.
It is right to now implement the result of the referendum in June 2016, May emphasized again today. At that time, 52 percent of the British had voted to leave the EU.
Corbyn: Industry already in recession
However, when MEPs reject the agreement again, the Prime Minister wants them to vote on whether they want to leave the EU instead of a deal on 29 March. If they also reject this no-deal Brexit, the head of government wants to apply for postponing the withdrawal date to around the end of June. This three-stage plan approved the lower house in the evening.
Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn had tabled an amendment to the Brexit plan of the Labor Party. After that, Britain will remain in the European Customs Union and largely in the Single Market even after leaving the EU.
Corbyn wants to save the British economy from falling. The industry is already in recession. The auto industry is shrinking at its worst in ten years, according to Corbyn. „Honda, Jaguar Land Rover and Nissan have all announced plans to cut jobs and cut back on investment.“
Proposals by the opposition found no majority
As expected, the Labor Plan did not find a majority. That’s why the opposition wants to push through a second referendum, a second referendum on membership of the EU. However, this can only happen when a majority of the lower house supports this demand. This is not in sight yet.
Another request by the Scottish nationalists to exclude and remove the no-deal under all circumstances did not find a majority in the evening.
However, MEPs unanimously supported the call to safeguard the rights of EU citizens in Britain and the rights of the British in the EU. The government had previously adopted more amendments, so that the new three-step strategy of the prime minister could end up passing the lower house unscathed.
The Brexit is thus on resubmission in two weeks. Then it will decide whether May will still find a majority for the exit agreement negotiated with the EU, or will apply for a postponement in Brussels. Or whether the opposition can even enforce a second referendum.
