BREXIT: Uncertainty continues after British PM Theresa May’s deal defeated for third time

UNCERTAINTY: Protesters gathered outside Westminster today. Credit: Henry Smith, via Twitter

BRITAIN’S Prime Minister saw her Brexit deal voted down for the third time in Parliament today (Friday), prolonging uncertainty over how Britain’s withdrawal from EU will play out.

MPs voted 286 in favour to 344 against Theresa May’s Withdrawal Agreement. The margin of 58 is far narrower than that of the first and second vote but it the rejection would still have “grave” implications for Brexit, May said.

The prime minister, speaking in the House of Commons, said Britain would have to find alternative options for its withdrawal from the EU.

The country will “almost certainly” take part in EU elections after today’s vote, May added.

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A Downing Street spokesperson said: “Clearly there is more work to do. We are at least going in the right direction.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told MPs the deal now had to change after today’s result.

“There has to be an alternative found. And if the prime minister can’t accept that then she must go, not at an indeterminate date in the future but now,” Corbyn said.

The Labour leader added the party remained committed to a general election to break the current impasse.

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Meanwhile in Brussels, European Council President Donald Tusk said he had decided to call a summit for the body on Wednesday April 10.

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It comes as he called on MEPs in the European Parliament to be open to allowing a “long extension” to negotiations if Britain rethinks its Brexit approach.

Britain now looks set to leave the EU on Friday April 12 at 11pm at the earliest. It was slated to leave at the same time today.

If the Withdrawal Agreement is passed then the EU has said Britain will have until Wednesday May 22 to implement the deal before leaving.

Back in London, thousands of Brexit supports descended on Westminster for a “Make Brexit Happen” and “March for Leave” demonstrations.

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UKIP leader Gerard Batten, his predecessor Nigel Farage and English Defence League founder Steven Yaxley-Lennon (known by his alias Tommy Robinson) were present.

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Counter-protesters have said they will demonstrate against the march, accusing them of using Brexit as a platform to spread their “extreme far-right agenda”.

Metropolitan Police said they were on stand-by to prevent outbreaks of violence.

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Joe Gerrard

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