British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday postponed a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal to avoid a crushing defeat, saying she would head to Europe for further talks — but the EU warned it would not reopen the agreement.
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday postponed a parliamentary vote on her Brexit deal to avoid a crushing defeat, saying she would head to Europe for further talks — but the EU warned it would not reopen the agreement.
In an emergency statement to the House of Commons, May conceded the draft divorce agreement she struck with the European Union last month faced defeat by a « significant margin » of MPs if held Tuesday.
She vowed « no doubt this deal is the right one » but would seek « further assurances » over a controversial backstop clause relating to Northern Ireland.
May said the date for a new vote depended on fresh talks with EU leaders, set to begin Tuesday in meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte in The Hague and then German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
In response, EU President Donald Tusk called a special summit of the other 27 leaders to discuss Brexit on Thursday, at the start of a two-day Brussels meeting that May is due to attend.
But he warned: « We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop, but we are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification. »
The delay in signing off the deal, just months before Britain is set to end its four-decade membership of the bloc on March 29, sent the pound plunging to an 18-month low.
Sterling sank by more than 1.5 percent to $1.2527, the lowest since April 2017.
The pound sank after May delayed the Brexit deal vote
, AFP
« This is yet another blow for companies desperate for clarity, » said Carolyn Fairbairn, head of big business lobby the Confederation of British Industry.
