PM May tries to tweak defeated Brexit plan, refuses to rule out no-deal

[webfact]

PM May tries to tweak defeated Brexit plan, refuses to rule out no-deal

By Kylie MacLellan, William James and Elizabeth Piper

 

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May returns to Downing Street in London, Britain, January 21, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

 

LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to break the parliamentary deadlock overBrexit on Monday by proposing to seek further concessions from the European Union on a plan to prevent customs checks on the Irish border.

 

With little time left until the United Kingdom is due to leave the European Union on March 29, there is no agreement in London on how and even whether it should leave the world's biggest trading bloc, and a growing chance of a dramatic 'no-deal' exit with no provisions to soften the economic shock.

 

After her Brexit divorce deal with Brussels was rejected by 432-202 lawmakers last Tuesday, the biggest defeat in modern British history, May has been searching for a way to get a deal through.

 

She told parliament she could not take a "no-deal" Brexit off the table as there was no approved alternative yet, and that the EU would be unlikely to postpone Britain's exit date - determined by the "Article 50" withdrawal notice - without an exit plan.

 

"No-deal will only be taken off the table by either revoking Article 50, which turns back the results of the referendum - the government will not do that - or by having a deal, and that is what we are trying to work out," May said.

 

She said another referendum would strengthen the hand of those seeking to break up the United Kingdom and could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in democracy.

 

May vowed to be "more flexible" with lawmakers in trying to agree changes to the Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to ensure there will be no return to border checks between the British province and Ireland.

 

"I will then take the conclusions of those discussions back to the EU," May said. "My focus continues to be on what is needed to secure the support of this House in favour of a Brexit deal with the EU."

 

SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA

Hardline supporters of Brexit in May's Conservative party object above all to the fact that Britain cannot unilaterally end the backstop, which would keep it in a customs union with the EU until an alternative way of ensuring an open border is found. Brussels says this provision is non-negotiable.

 

May's task is gargantuan: Convince the EU to reopen negotiations and then secure enough changes to gain the support of at least 115 lawmakers who previously voted against the deal.

 

The EU, which has an economy more than six times the size of the United Kingdom, says it wants an orderly exit, but senior officials have expressed frustration and sorrow at London's deepening crisis.

 

German Europe Minister Michael Roth said on Monday that even William Shakespeare would not have been able to think up a Brexit tragedy of such drama.

 

Amid fears that the world's fifth largest economy could drop out of the EU without a deal, some lawmakers are planning to wrest control of the process from the government.

 

The EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the bloc was ready to work on the political declaration on future EU-UK ties that accompanies the binding withdrawal deal, but that the withdrawal deal already agreed was the best one possible.

 

In a sign of just how grave the political crisis has become, May was forced to deny a report by the Daily Telegraph that she was considering amending the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, which ended 30 years of violence in Northern Ireland. An open border with Ireland is widely seen as crucial to maintaining this peace.

 

CLOSED MIND

Ireland's European Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said Dublin would not engage in bilateral talks on Brexit, and would negotiate only as part of the remaining EU.

 

Once the motion on May's proposals is published, lawmakers will be able to suggest amendments with alternative proposals.

 

The 650-seat parliament is deeply divided over Brexit, with different factions supporting a wide range of options including leaving without a deal, holding a second referendum and seeking a customs union with the EU.

 

May chided Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for not taking part in cross-party talks, but he said May was in denial about the failure of her deal.

 

"Her current deal is undeliverable," he said.

 

Hilary Benn, an opposition Labour Party lawmaker who is chairman of parliament's Brexit committee, said: "While her door may have been open, her mind has remained closed because she has rejected stopping us leaving the EU with no deal, even though she knows it would be disastrous."

 

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of anti-EU lawmakers in May’s party, said Britain was most likely to leave without a deal.

 

But if the backstop were scrapped, he said most of the opposition from eurosceptics in May's party would be removed.

 

Sterling, which has flip-flopped over the past two-and-a-half years on different signals about the course ofBrexit, rose slightly to around $1.29 on hopes of a Brexit compromise. On the day of the referendum in 2016, it was trading at $1.50.

 

(Writing by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-01-2

[Laughing Gravy]

19 minutes ago, webfact said:

She told parliament she could not take a "no-deal" Brexit off the table as there was no approved alternative yet, and that the EU would be unlikely to postpone Britain's exit date - determined by the "Article 50" withdrawal notice - without an exit plan.

Finally something I agree with the Prime Minister. Lets hope she keeps to her word although from form I doubt it.

 

It does keep the remainers frothing at the mouth though????

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Finally something I agree with the Prime Minister. Lets hope she keeps to her word although from form I doubt it.

 

It does keep the remainers frothing at the mouth though????

Brexit never really developed beyond a wish to ‘keep remainders frothing at the mouth’.

 

Little things for little minds.

[Laughing Gravy]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

Brexit never really developed beyond a wish to ‘keep remainders frothing at the mouth’.

 

Little things for little minds.

Touched a nerve have I!

[whatsupdoc]

1 hour ago, Laughing Gravy said:

Finally something I agree with the Prime Minister. Lets hope she keeps to her word although from form I doubt it.

 

It does keep the remainers frothing at the mouth though????

You (and like-minded Brexiteers) totally deserve to get your no deal, hard Brexit. See you in a couple of years when you come begging to the EU to rejoin again....

You all voted to get poorer, live with it.

[soalbundy]

A lot of theatre for a none event.

[Prissana Pescud]

She said another referendum....would undermine democracy.

The only person undermining democracy is this prime minister. Referendums, with the people having full 

knowledge of all the facts is the basis of democracy. 

Her fallback positions b and c are exactly the same as position one.

A dud prime minister, a dud position A and zero democracy. What a PM. 

[Baerboxer]

1 hour ago, Prissana Pescud said:

She said another referendum....would undermine democracy.

The only person undermining democracy is this prime minister. Referendums, with the people having full 

knowledge of all the facts is the basis of democracy. 

Her fallback positions b and c are exactly the same as position one.

A dud prime minister, a dud position A and zero democracy. What a PM. 

 

A referendum in the UK is no more than a glorified opinion poll. 

 

Parliament is sovereign in a representative parliamentary democracy like the UK.

 

But she had no problem herself when she tried to undermine British parliamentary democracy by trying to misuse the Royal Prerogative to give her executive powers to make unilateral decisions. Thank heavens the Supreme Court stopped her and well done to the courageous people who challenged her through the courts.

 

A stubborn, arrogant, hypocrite whose lack of leadership, intelligence and imagination is leading the country down a very dangerous road.

[Thingamabob]

5 hours ago, whatsupdoc said:

You (and like-minded Brexiteers) totally deserve to get your no deal, hard Brexit. See you in a couple of years when you come begging to the EU to rejoin again....

You all voted to get poorer, live with it.

Rubbish.

[Thingamabob]

No Deal will be fine. Don't pay any attention to Remainers. They are, literally, petrified at the thought of leaving the EU. Sad and pathetic. 

[cleopatra2]

49 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

No Deal will be fine. Don't pay any attention to Remainers. They are, literally, petrified at the thought of leaving the EU. Sad and pathetic. 

No deal is a betrayal of the referendum. Instead of gaining sovereignty it relinquishes more decisions to unelected institutions that the UK as less influence over. WTO rules are reached by consensus from  all members not any individual. The dispute resolution overrides  UK courts

[Basil B]

Refuses to rule out "no deal",  in other words "my deal or go to hell..." 

[Mansell]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

No Deal will be fine. Don't pay any attention to Remainers. They are, literally, petrified at the thought of leaving the EU. Sad and pathetic. 

Right, you did a survey to come to your conclusion......NOT.

The whole referendum was done without people really being informed at what was at risk. There was a lot of hyperbole thrown around by both sides. Much like American politics a lot of garbage was thrown at the wall and then they waited to see what would stick. Two years later most people are better informed especially looking at the miasma of a mess being touted by the leavers. The balanced and intelligent thing to do would be have another referendum. Then we would see hopefully an informed electorate voting for their choices for the future of the country. The Prime Minister saying that it wouldn't be fair to the voters is complete nonsense. The voters would vote on their informed choices, and not on fear and the rubbish that was bandied around last time. I think the leavers are scared to see things be overturned a second time around. We have been in the EU since the early seventies. People think by leaving Britain or England will go back to those times.....that ship sailed a long time ago, and you cannot return to a bygone age.

[Basil B]

4 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

A referendum in the UK is no more than a glorified opinion poll.

and they do not taken any notice of opinion poles...

 

[evadgib]

Another thread confirming that hard means leave and soft means remain.

[Nigel Garvie]

4 minutes ago, Mansell said:

Right, you did a survey to come to your conclusion......NOT.

The whole referendum was done without people really being informed at what was at risk. There was a lot of hyperbole thrown around by both sides. Much like American politics a lot of garbage was thrown at the wall and then they waited to see what would stick. Two years later most people are better informed especially looking at the miasma of a mess being touted by the leavers. The balanced and intelligent thing to do would be have another referendum. Then we would see hopefully an informed electorate voting for their choices for the future of the country. The Prime Minister saying that it wouldn't be fair to the voters is complete nonsense. The voters would vote on their informed choices, and not on fear and the rubbish that was bandied around last time. I think the leavers are scared to see things be overturned a second time around. We have been in the EU since the early seventies. People think by leaving Britain or England will go back to those times.....that ship sailed a long time ago, and you cannot return to a bygone age.

This is refreshing to read, common sense, which is at a premium in Brexit threads. The PM saying a new referendum wouldn't be fair on voters is idiotic. She said it would threaten social cohesion. What social cohesion for heavens sake, society has been ripped apart by Brexit already. The numties believe everything wrong in their lives is down to the EU, as they have been told to think. Duh -austerity was a Cameron/Osbourne policy, bleeding the poor for the bankers crimes, while the rich made hay big time.

 

Now May is attempting another delaying tactic - she is the most humiliated PM in my lifetime and she wants a repeat performance!

 

"THERESA May has confirmed that she will take the same plan back to Brussels to ask for the same changes before the same MPs vote on it the same way. 

The prime minister has confounded critics who accused her of being out of ideas with her innovative new approach of repeating her actions exactly to achieve an identical result."

[tebee]

 

[dunroaming]

The frustrations by everyone around May is really beginning to show now.  Amber Rudd has said that up to 40 ministers could resign if they are blocked from backing a delay plan for Brexit. (Source is Daily Mail)  The Prime Minister is desperately trying to hang on to her pathetic deal that doesn't deliver what the people voted for and sells out the whole country.

 

She is taking us to the cliff edge trying to force through a deal that has been overwhelmingly rejected by parliament and the people alike.  Shame on her!

 

 

 

 

 

[Thingamabob]

1 hour ago, cleopatra2 said:

No deal is a betrayal of the referendum. Instead of gaining sovereignty it relinquishes more decisions to unelected institutions that the UK as less influence over. WTO rules are reached by consensus from  all members not any individual. The dispute resolution overrides  UK courts

This doesn't make sense. Have another go.

[puipuitom]

3 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

No Deal will be fine. Don't pay any attention to Remainers. They are, literally, petrified at the thought of leaving the EU. Sad and pathetic. 

The Remainers were just a neglectable minority of just a mare 48,11 %. Who cares.

Two months to go, and then Nissin cars from Sunderland and all others are out of competition with a 10% import duty into the EU. Same with mineral oil products 20%, fresh meat, 12.5%, fresh fruits + vegetables 4,7% and many others. As the British import a 60% of their foods from the EU, with seafreight a too long lasting and too expensive alternative, the Leavers will soon see the results at Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrissons, etc.

But.. when you forget the "my money back" of Thatcher, accept €uro, Schengen and.. right lane traffic, you are allowed to file a request for new membership again.

[Basil B]

Mrs May also scrapped the £65 fee EU citizens were due to pay to secure the right to continue living in the UK after Brexit.

 

Only fair as Brexit may not happen.

 

Though are other EU countries going to charge Brits if it does happen???

[Basil B]

1 hour ago, Thingamabob said:

Instead of gaining sovereignty it relinquishes more decisions to unelected institutions that the UK as less influence over.

So you are saying the EU parliament in which the UK has 73 out of 751 does not exist???

 

Only Germany(96) and France(74) have more elected MEP's, Italy has same as us, 73.

 

Problem is if we do extend Article 50 or withdraw it, what is going to happen about the European Elections are due in May, we could well end up disenfranchised.

[Krataiboy]

On 1/22/2019 at 3:14 PM, Nigel Garvie said:

This is refreshing to read, common sense, which is at a premium in Brexit threads. The PM saying a new referendum wouldn't be fair on voters is idiotic. She said it would threaten social cohesion. What social cohesion for heavens sake, society has been ripped apart by Brexit already. The numties believe everything wrong in their lives is down to the EU, as they have been told to think. Duh -austerity was a Cameron/Osbourne policy, bleeding the poor for the bankers crimes, while the rich made hay big time.

 

Now May is attempting another delaying tactic - she is the most humiliated PM in my lifetime and she wants a repeat performance!

 

"THERESA May has confirmed that she will take the same plan back to Brussels to ask for the same changes before the same MPs vote on it the same way. 

The prime minister has confounded critics who accused her of being out of ideas with her innovative new approach of repeating her actions exactly to achieve an identical result."

Cobblers. Watch and learn. . . 

 

 

[welovesundaysatspace]

1 hour ago, Krataiboy said:

Cobblers. Watch and learn. . . 

 

 

What is it with all those Tom, Dick and Harry making a fool out of themselves for the whole world to watch on YouTube? First that Pat whatsoever, now this genius. And then they complain when people notice that Brexiteers tend to be uneducated? 

[lamyai3]

On 1/22/2019 at 2:55 PM, Mansell said:

The Prime Minister saying that it wouldn't be fair to the voters is complete nonsense. The voters would vote on their informed choices, and not on fear and the rubbish that was bandied around last time. I think the leavers are scared to see things be overturned a second time around. 

Quite right - in spite of being a remainophile, the PM keeps refusing to entertain the idea of a second referendum as though it were the spawn of satan.

[SheungWan]

10 hours ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

What is it with all those Tom, Dick and Harry making a fool out of themselves for the whole world to watch on YouTube? First that Pat whatsoever, now this genius. And then they complain when people notice that Brexiteers tend to be uneducated? 

And such bad taste in decor as well.

[SheungWan]

On 1/22/2019 at 2:58 PM, Basil B said:

and they do not taken any notice of opinion poles...

 

Those blooming Poles again!

[persimmon]

Hard to see how Brexit can happen now -

MPs have voted against the only deal on offer 

MPs say they will vote against a " no deal " Brexit.

 

So,it looks like a second referendum is the only way out.

 

I don`t see whats so bad about leaving on WTO rules.They impose tariffs on our goods,we impose tariffs on their goods - it should even out over time.

[SheungWan]

17 minutes ago, persimmon said:

Hard to see how Brexit can happen now -

MPs have voted against the only deal on offer 

MPs say they will vote against a " no deal " Brexit.

Currency markets are now discounting "no deal".

Sterling up.

[dick dasterdly]

6 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Quite right - in spite of being a remainophile, the PM keeps refusing to entertain the idea of a second referendum as though it were the spawn of satan.

She's stuck in-between a rock and a hard place.

 

Another referendum will SERIOUSLY annoy the leavers that won the first referendum, on the other hand (as you say) she is a remainer, and so are the vast majority of MPs.

 

This makes life very difficult for the govt. and MPs, as (having rejected the deal agreed between may and the eu - for obvious reasons, it was an appalling deal and the electorate knew that), it leaves them pretty much zero options that will be acceptable to the electorate?