By Ben Kerrigan and Tony O'Riley-
Brexit was left in even deeper chaos on Wednesday night as none of the MPs’ eight proposed options for Brexit secured clear backing following a Commons vote.
A few hours after prime minister Theresa May vowed to step down if Mps supported her Brexit deal, Parliament remained divided on the pathway Britain should take in leaving the EU. The prime minister’s frustrations over Brexit must have reached fever pitch; there is no unified direction for the United Kingdom in leaving Brexit. The EU 27 member states must be shaking their heads with despair at hte failure of Mps to decide what is in the best interest of the country.
Calls for a customs union with the EU were rejected by 272 to 264 votes , and in a separate vote, a call for a referendum to endorse any deal was rejected by 295 to 268 votes. In another dramatic day of chaos for British politics , all options were voted down by parliament, confirming the obvious that parliament are clueless about how to proceed with Brexit. Brexit Secretary Steven Barclay said the results strengthened the government’s view that their deal was “the best option. He told MPs it was clear there was no “simple way forward”.
DUP leader Arlene Foster, had made it abundantly clear that her party could not support the deal because it ‘poses a threat to the integrity of the UK’. A party statement said ‘we will not be supporting the Government if they table a fresh meaningful vote’ . The rounded rejection of all motions provides further evidence that Theresa May’s resignation is not the answer to the political chaos dividing Britain. Her leadership has not been considered in tact for a while, but Brexit is a problem the entire parliament cannot solve.
ALTERNATIVES FAIL
All other alternatives, including Labour’s alternative plan for Brexit – including “close alignment” with the single market and protections for workers’ rights were all defeated by 307 votes to 237.
Five other propositions – including backing for a no-deal exit, the so-called Common Market 2.0 plan, a proposal to remain in the European Economic Area and one to stop the Brexit process by revoking Article 50 – all failed to secure the backing of a majority of MPs. Angry exchanges between Mps in the commons accompanied a dreadful day of confusion and disharmony in Westminster.
Brexiteer Mark Francois said “this attempt to seize the order paper” by MPs had failed and the public would be looking on “with amazement”. MP Anna Soubry of the independent group said more people had voted for the idea of another referendum than had voted for Mrs May’s deal on the two times it had been put to Parliament.
After Commons Speaker John Bercow said the process agreed by the House allowed for a second stage of debate on Monday and there was no reason this should not continue. It looks like the madness and indecisiveness will continue too.
.