British lawmakers vote to delay Brexit past March 29
British MPs on Thursday voted massively in favour of asking the EU to delay Brexit and holding a new vote soon on a divorce deal they have already rejected twice. Parliament voted by 412 in favour and 202 against on the government's proposal -- a rare respite for Prime Minister Theresa May following a chaotic week.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 09:36 | 14 March 2019
- Modified Date: 09:38 | 14 March 2019
British lawmakers have voted to delay Brexit, just 15 days before the country is scheduled to leave the European Union.
The House of Commons voted by 412-202 in favor of seeking to postpone the U.K.'s departure for at least three months beyond the scheduled March 29 departure from the EU.
The motion commits Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative government to seek an extension until June 30 if Parliament approves a U.K.-EU withdrawal deal next week.
British lawmakers have already rejected May's EU divorce deal twice and if it fails a third time, the government says the U.K. is looking at a much longer delay to Brexit.
Any extension to Brexit has to be approved by all 27 remaining EU countries.