British Lawmakers Move to Prevent No-Deal Brexit
LONDON (Reuters) -- An attempt by British lawmakers to prevent a no-deal Brexit was gaining momentum on Wednesday after the opposition Labor Party said it was highly likely to throw its parliamentary weight behind the bid.
The United Kingdom, in the deepest political crisis since World War Two, is due according to law to leave the European Union at 2300 GMT on March 29, yet it has no approved deal on how the divorce will take place.
Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to break the deadlock after last week’s crushing defeat of her two-year attempt to forge an orderly divorce raised the prospect of an exit without a deal.
In a step that could overturn centuries of constitutional convention, some lawmakers are trying to grab control of Brexit from the government in an attempt to prevent what they say would be an economically disastrous no-deal departure.
The opposition Labor Party looks set to back one such attempt, an amendment proposed by Labor lawmaker Yvette Cooper that could result in May being given until Feb. 26 to get a deal approved by parliament or face a parliamentary vote on delaying Brexit.
John McDonnell, the second most powerful figure in the party, told the BBC the amendment was sensible, and that Labor was "highly likely” to back it. At least nine Conservative lawmakers have also publicly said they will support it, suggesting that it has a good chance of passing.
As the United Kingdom’s tortuous two-and-a-half year crisis over EU membership approaches its finale, the possible outcomes for the world’s fifth largest economy still include a no-deal Brexit, a last-minute deal, a delay or a snap election.
May has said thwarting Brexit would threaten social cohesion because it would undermine faith in British democracy, while police have said the "febrile” atmosphere could be exploited by far-right extremists.
Parliament will vote on Jan. 29 on different options put forward by lawmakers, potentially opening a way out of the stalemate.
If the Cooper amendment is passed, it would effectively give parliament the power to set May a deadline of Feb. 26 to get a deal through parliament.
If May fails, parliament would be given a vote on asking the EU for a postponement of the Article 50 deadline to prevent Britain leaving without a deal on March 29. It proposes a nine-month extension, to Dec. 31.
The United Kingdom, in the deepest political crisis since World War Two, is due according to law to leave the European Union at 2300 GMT on March 29, yet it has no approved deal on how the divorce will take place.
Prime Minister Theresa May is battling to break the deadlock after last week’s crushing defeat of her two-year attempt to forge an orderly divorce raised the prospect of an exit without a deal.
In a step that could overturn centuries of constitutional convention, some lawmakers are trying to grab control of Brexit from the government in an attempt to prevent what they say would be an economically disastrous no-deal departure.
The opposition Labor Party looks set to back one such attempt, an amendment proposed by Labor lawmaker Yvette Cooper that could result in May being given until Feb. 26 to get a deal approved by parliament or face a parliamentary vote on delaying Brexit.
John McDonnell, the second most powerful figure in the party, told the BBC the amendment was sensible, and that Labor was "highly likely” to back it. At least nine Conservative lawmakers have also publicly said they will support it, suggesting that it has a good chance of passing.
As the United Kingdom’s tortuous two-and-a-half year crisis over EU membership approaches its finale, the possible outcomes for the world’s fifth largest economy still include a no-deal Brexit, a last-minute deal, a delay or a snap election.
May has said thwarting Brexit would threaten social cohesion because it would undermine faith in British democracy, while police have said the "febrile” atmosphere could be exploited by far-right extremists.
Parliament will vote on Jan. 29 on different options put forward by lawmakers, potentially opening a way out of the stalemate.
If the Cooper amendment is passed, it would effectively give parliament the power to set May a deadline of Feb. 26 to get a deal through parliament.
If May fails, parliament would be given a vote on asking the EU for a postponement of the Article 50 deadline to prevent Britain leaving without a deal on March 29. It proposes a nine-month extension, to Dec. 31.