London: British Prime Minister Theresa May consulted opposition parties and other lawmakers Thursday in a battle to get Brexit back on track after surviving a no-confidence vote, talks that were branded a “stunt” by the main opposition leader.
Across the Channel, European Union countries were stepping up preparations for a disorderly British exit March 29 after the UK Parliament rejected May’s Brexit withdrawal deal. EU nations were spending millions, hiring thousands of workers and issuing emergency decrees to cope with the possibility that Britain will leave the bloc without an agreement to smooth the way.
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The drubbing was followed by a no-confidence vote demanded by the opposition. May’s minority Conservative government survived it Wednesday night with backing from its Northern Irish ally, the Democratic Unionist Party.
The government confirmed that May will meet a Monday deadline to publish a Brexit Plan B, and that lawmakers will have a full day to debate it — and, crucially, amend it —Jan 29.
May Thursday met representatives from several of Parliament’s feuding Brexit factions: Northern Ireland’s compromise-rejecting Democratic Unionists, Euroskeptic ‘hard Brexit’-backing Conservatives, those urging Britain to hold a second EU membership referendum and supporters of a close economic relationship with the EU.
