UK MPs vote against amended Brexit deal

Wednesday, 13 March 2019, 9:34 am
Article: RNZ

Live: UK MPs vote on Theresa May's amended Brexit deal

MPs in UK's House of Commons this morning have rejected British Prime Minister Theresa May's amended Brexit deal.

Mrs May managed to secure "legally binding" changes to the deal during a meeting with the EU yesterday that were intended to soothe UK Brexiteers in parliament.

However, many pro-Brexit Tories and the Irish DUP - which props up the coalition government - said the changes did not go far enough and that they would vote against the deal.

MPs have now done so, voting 391 to 242 against the deal in the House. It's not as large a defeat as when they shot it down in January by a margin of 230.

Following the latest rejection today, a further vote is slated for tomorrow on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal.

If that no-deal option is rejected, MPs could get a vote on Friday on whether to request a delay to Brexit from the EU.

The UK is set to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 after a referendum in which the public voted to leave by nearly 52 percent to 48 percent - 17.4m votes to 16.1m - in 2016.

Follow RNZ's live blog:

© Scoop Media

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Contact RNZ

• Website - www.radionz.co.nz
• Twitter - @rnz_news
• Facebook
• Link - Contact RNZ