British MPs again rejected very clearly (391 votes against, 242 in favour) the agreement on an orderly exit from the United Kingdom of the European Union defended by Theresa May on Tuesday 12 March in the early evening, inflicting a second defeat on her despite the additional assurances she had negotiated the day before in Strasbourg with the European Commission (see other news).
The British Prime Minister immediately confirmed that she would table a motion on Wednesday, 13 March, asking the British Parliament if it wants a no-deal Brexit. In the event of rejection, another vote will take place on 14 March to decide on an extension of the negotiating deadline provided for in Article 50 of the Treaty. Such a request would be discussed at the European Summit on 21 and 22 March. The United Kingdom is scheduled to leave the EU on 29 March at midnight.
Theresa May asked MPs to ask themselves real questions, remaining convinced that her country must leave the EU in an orderly manner.
"Voting against leaving without a deal, and for an extension, does not solve the problems we face" and the EU will want to know what we would do with an extension of the deadline, she stressed on the verge of the end of votes. Does this meeting “call for a revocation of Article 50? Does it call for a second referendum?” she also asked. “They will have to be answered.”
The opposition Labour Party and the Northern Irish DUP Party, Ms May's government ally, had indicated earlier today that they would oppose the agreement, while the conservatives in Ms May's party were advancing in a very divided direction.
The EU negotiator on Brexit, Michel Barnier, and the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, reacted immediately, saying that the EU had "done everything possible" to help get the draft agreement through. "If there is a solution to the current impasse, it must be found in London", they said.
Now, preparations for a no-deal Brexit scenario are becoming "more important than ever", Barnier added via Twitter.
In January, British MPs had already very clearly rejected the agreement (432 votes against, 202 in favour - see EUROPE 12172/1). EUROPE will continue to follow this. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)