British MPs have returned to parliament for a third consecutive day of debates and voting on the UK’s next steps for Brexit, Euronews reports.
They are debating whether the UK should seek an extension to Article 50 — which governs when the country officially leaves the European Union with or without a deal — beyond the current March 29 deadline.
A vote on this — and a number of amendments linked to it — will take place at 18:00 CET, which you can watch in the video player, above.
It has been a tumultuous week for the UK’s divorce proceedings from the EU, with MPs rejecting UK Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a second time on Tuesday.
The following day, MPs returned to debate and vote on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal.
This was also rejected.
May then tabled a motion for MPs to decide whether the March 29 deadline should be extended, which is what is happened today.
She said if MPs could agree on a Brexit deal next week she would seek an extension on the UK’s departure date to June 30. If MPs are still unable to agree a deal, she would seek a lengthier extension, which would see the UK take part in the upcoming European Parliament elections.
European Council President Donald Tusk said he would appeal to the 27 heads of EU states to prepare for the latter.
However, this amendment was criticised by supporters and campaigners of a second referendum.
The Labour Party, which has said it will back a second referendum, encouraged MPs to vote against the amendment in tonight’s session, preferring instead to focus on the issue of the Brexit delay.
This sentiment was echoed by the People’s Vote UK, a group lobbying for a second referendum, which also maintained that Thursday was not the day for this conversation.
Despite the criticism, Wollaston stood by tabling her amendment, likening the waiting for a discussion on a second referendum as a «bit like Waiting for Godot.»
