UK Parliament votes down Prime Minister May's EU divorce deal

Two-and-a-half years after Britain voted to leave the European Union , and just 73 days before it is formally due to depart, parliament had its say on the Brexit deal .

The Labour party was expected to respond to May’s defeat by calling a vote of confidence in the government.

If the Prime Minister survives, that would at least eliminate the possibility of an early election .

If Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn accepts that he cannot win power, he may then endorse a softer Brexit or another referendum .

Either way, parliament seems set to exert greater control over May’s hapless government.

Barring an extension to the March 29 deadline , however, Britain will crash out of the European Union without a deal unless an alternative plan secures a majority in parliament. To reach a consensus, lawmakers need to rule out less viable alternatives. They don’t have much time.

sg