British lawmakers vote on May’s Brexit deal for second time

UK MPs are set to vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal this evening, which could see the finalising…

UK MPs are set to vote on Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal this evening, which could see the finalising of the UK’s departure from the EU, VOA News reports.

But things are not looking promising for May (you can watch MPs debate her Brexit deal in the video player, above).

Speaking with a croaky voice, May addressed a noticeably empty House of Commons on Tuesday in her last-ditch attempt to gather enough support to push her deal over the line.

She reminded MPs that a rejection of her deal could eventually lead to the UK crashing out of the EU without an agreement, which “would be no good blaming the EU,” she said, adding, “responsibility would lie with the House”.

In the long term, the UK would make a success of a no-deal scenario, she added, but would expect to experience a shock to the economy, and growth in independence movements in Scotland and Nothern Ireland.

An extension to Article 50 would also place power in the EU’s hands, she warned. The EU would decide how long, if any, an extension would be allowed, and whether to place restrictions on it.

‘Legal risks remain unchanged’

However, May’s comments were overshadowed on Tuesday by several blows from areas in which she hoped to gain support.

Attorney General Geoffrey Cox published his legal opinion on May’s latest concessions, saying the EU had not given the UK the legal right to exit the backstop.

Despite following up and maintaining that his comments were based on legalities, and not political opinions (therefore not taking into account any “good faith” UK-EU relations), the statement went on to fuel rejections from two key areas: the DUP and the pro-Brexit European Research Group (ERG).

“In our view, sufficient progress has not been achieved at this time,” the DUP said in a statement, which was echoed in a separate statement from the ERG.

Contradicting May’s view that the blame for rejecting her deal would not lie with the EU, the DUP added: “The European Union has been intransigent.”

“It is possible to reach a sensible deal that works for the United Kingdom and the European Union but it will require all sides to be reasonable and be in deal-making mode.”

Sterling also registered a negative effect after Cox’s comments. While it had steadily strengthened since Monday after May’s trip to Strasbourg to seek concessions on the backstop, it dropped sharply on Tuesday morning.

Has the EU set a ‘trap’?

In her speech, May commented on the murmurs of a legal vs political “trap” the EU could set should the UK rely on a “good faith” negotiation over the backstop.

“I’ve fought hard to address these concerns,” she said, adding, “I’m certain we’ve secured the very best changes available.”

A former British official for the EU Commission Jonathan Faull said that people who thought the UK could legally exit the backstop unilaterally “fail to understand its meaning and purpose.”

“Anyone who thinks the EU has set a trap for the UK in bad faith has a poor understanding of relations with the country’s nearest friends and neighbours,” he added.