Parliament backs plan to delay Brexit

Parliament has backed a plan to delay Brexit. MPs approved a motion to delay Britain’s departure from the EU beyond the end of March by 412 to 202. Despite the vote, Britain will still leave without a deal unless one can be struck in the next 15 days, or the EU agrees to an extension. The motion means that if Theresa May’s deal passes by next Wednesday, Britain will ask the EU for a short extension. If her deal does not pass, a longer extension will be sought.

Theresa May earlier secured a rare Parliamentary victory after MPs rejected an amendment that would have allowed them to take control of Commons business on March 20th away from the Government. This could have handed over time to hold a series of indicative votes on Brexit. But MPs rejected the amendment by a wafer thin margin of 314 to 312.

Jeremy Corbyn’s amendment, that would have sought an extension to Article 50 to avoid a no deal at the end of March, was also voted down.