Theresa May faces trust vote as MPs reject Brexit deal
16 Jan 2019
Prime Minister Theresa May's government faces a vote of no confidence later after MPs voted out the Brexit deal negotiated by her government with the European Union. Theresa May lost the Brexit vote by a landslide majority of 230 votes.
Opposition Labour party has launched the bid to trigger a general election after the deal setting out the terms of Britain's exit from the EU was rejected by 230 votes.
A no-confidence motion tabled by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to be held at about 1900 GMT today. The motion, however, looks unlikely to succeed as Northern Ireland's DUP and Tory rebels have offered support to the PM.
Now, with the EU firm on a `no renegotiation’ stand, Britain may crash out of the EU without any deal.
British MPs on Tuesday overwhelmingly rejected the Brexit deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May by a margin of 230 votes, handing down the biggest defeat for a government in history.
MPs rejected the deal, which sets out the terms of Britain's exit from the European Union (EU) on 29 March, with 432 voting against and 202 in favour.
The deal, hammered out after months of negotiations, nearly two years after a divisive referendum in which the British people voted to leave the trade bloc, now stands rejected.
The Brexit deal negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May’s government and EU leadership laid out the terms of Britain's exit from the 27-member EU, as well as the political declaration, which specified the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the EU.
A 'no' vote would spell out further uncertainty and turmoil in Britain as the country looks to exit the EU in 73 days' time,
Britain's future now remains uncertain. It could either be headed towards a "no deal" Brexit or the lawmakers could try to renegotiate the deal. The historic vote on Tuesday may also trigger a new election in the country or could make way for a second referendum over whether UK should pursue with Brexit at all.
The defeat is a huge blow for Mrs May, who has spent more than two years hammering out a deal with the EU.
The deal was aimed at bringing about an orderly departure from the EU and setting up a 21-month transition period to negotiate a free trade deal.
The vote was originally due to take place in December, but May delayed it hoping to win the support of more MPs.