Move FM Global News

LONDON, U.K. – The U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May suffered a crushing defeat in the Parliament on Tuesday, after British lawmakers voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject her controversial Brexit deal.

The historic vote on May’s Brexit deal, which sets out the terms of Britain’s exit from the EU on March 29 this year, triggering a political upheaval in the country – becoming the worst parliamentary defeat for a government in recent British history. 

The loss, which was the first British parliamentary defeat of a treaty since 1864, killed May’s two-year strategy of forging an amicable divorce with close ties to the EU after the March 29 exit. 

Several of May’s own lawmakers joined forces to vote down May’s deal and following the vote, May said that the Parliament had spoken and the government had listened. 

She told the Parliament on Tuesday, “It is clear that the House does not support this deal, but tonight’s vote tells us nothing about what it does support. We need to confirm whether this government still enjoys the confidence of this House.”

With fears being high that Tuesday’s defeat could lead to a disorderly exit from the EU or even to a reversal of the 2016 decision to leave the bloc – the vote was followed by another blistering day for May in the Parliament. 

On Wednesday, May was set for another crucial battle to save her premiership after facing lawmakers for Prime Minister’s Question Time.

The Parliament will begin debating a motion of no confidence in May’s government, which could spark a general election.

The Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has now tabled a motion “that this house has no confidence in Her Majesty’s government.”

May would have two weeks to regain the confidence of Parliament if the motion on Wednesday is successful. 

If not, a general election must be called.