After a cabinet meeting in the morning, Theresa May had once again tried to pull the small party of Northern Irish Protestants to her side. But after the phone call with DUP boss Arlene Foster it said, there is no movement. Subsequently, May spoke with opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn – there was no hint from him that the Labor group could reconsider its no.
Thereafter, the Prime Minister went to Parliament and acknowledged that there was still no majority in favor of the Brexit agreement negotiated with Brussels: „I believe that it is the right way for Britain to join the EU on 22 May But I have to say with great regret that there is not enough support in the lower house to put the agreement to a vote again, given the current state of affairs. “
The Brussels summit had decided that Britain would leave the EU on 22 May when the UK Parliament approved the negotiated agreement this week. If not, the departure originally planned for March 29th will be postponed to April 12th.
No Deal still possible
May said today that this new date applies even without the consent of the House of Commons: „The new exit date is now international law, and if the House of Commons denies consent, it will not affect the date of our departure.“ This also means that a no-deal Brexit, an unregulated exit on April 12, is still not excluded.
A nonpartisan group of MPs wants to request in the evening to explore in several test votes whether there is a majority for a leaving alternative. The options range from the No Deal, ie the unregulated Brexit, to a close adherence to the EU, to a renewed referendum and a withdrawal of the termination of EU membership.
Corbyn promotes closer ties to the EU
These test votes will then take place on Wednesday. May was skeptical today that one of these options gets a majority. A no-deal Brexit becomes more likely. Opposition leader Corbyn campaigned once again for his party’s plan, which foresees a closer link with the EU after it leaves.
If this plan does not find support, then the Labor Party will campaign for a new plebiscite on EU membership, Corbyn said: „If the government does not respond, we will support measures for a referendum to a no-deal Brexit or to stop a chaotic conservative Brexit It is time to clean up the government’s mess and it’s time for Parliament to work together and agree on Plan B. “
Resignation? Coup? Rumors!
There was no talk of a resignation of the Prime Minister. Newspaper reports of a coup by their own party have not been confirmed at first. There was no minister in the Cabinet today calling for May’s resignation. Otherwise, however, remains open on this day in terms of Brexit.
