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Reuters

British Prime Minister Theresa May made the following statement in parliament after lawmakers voted against her proposed exit deal with the European Union by the large majority of 432 to 202.
Mr Speaker, the House has spoken and the Government will listen.
It is clear that the House does not support this deal. But tonight’s vote tells us nothing about what it does support.
Nothing about how – or even if – it intends to honour the decision the British people took in a referendum Parliament decided to hold.


People, particularly EU citizens who have made their home here and UK citizens living in the EU, deserve clarity on these questions as soon as possible. Those whose jobs rely on our trade with the EU need that clarity. So with your permission Mr Speaker I would like to set out briefly how the Government intends to proceed.
First, we need to confirm whether this government still enjoys the confidence of the House. I believe that it does, but given the scale and importance of tonight’s vote it is right that others have the chance to test that question if they wish to do so.
I can therefore confirm that if the Official Opposition table a confidence motion this evening in the form required by the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, the Government will make time to debate that motion tomorrow [Wednesday].
‘Basically dead’: Brexit in chaos as British MPs reject May’s deal with EU
And if, as happened before Christmas, the Official Opposition decline to do so, we will – on this occasion – consider making time tomorrow to debate any motion in the form required from the other opposition parties, should they put one forward.

Second, if the House confirms its confidence in this government I will then hold meetings with my colleagues, our Confidence and Supply partner the DUP and senior parliamentarians from across the House to identify what would be required to secure the backing of the House.
The government will approach these meetings in a constructive spirit, but given the urgent need to make progress, we must focus on ideas that are genuinely negotiable and have sufficient support in this House.
EU preparing to delay Brexit until at least July
Third, if these meetings yield such ideas, the Government will then explore them with the European Union.
Mr Speaker I want to end by offering two reassurances.

The first is to those who fear that the government’s strategy is to run down the clock to March 29 [Britain’s exit date from the EU].


The government has heard what the House has said tonight, but I ask Members on all sides of the House to listen to the British people
Theresa May
That is not our strategy. I have always believed that the best way forward is to leave in an orderly way with a good deal and have devoted much of the last two years negotiating such a deal.
As you confirmed Mr Speaker, the amendment to the business motion tabled last week by my Right Honourable and Learned Friend the Member for Beaconsfield [Dominic Grieve] is not legally binding, but the government respects the will of the House.
We will therefore make a statement about the way forward and table an amendable motion by Monday.
The second reassurance is to the British people, who voted to leave the European Union in the referendum two and a half years ago.
Abe offers support for May, hopes ‘no-deal Brexit’ will be avoided
I became Prime Minister immediately after that referendum. I believe it is my duty to deliver on their instruction and I intend to do so.
Mr Speaker, every day that passes without this issue being resolved means more uncertainty, more bitterness and more rancour.
The government has heard what the House has said tonight, but I ask Members on all sides of the House to listen to the British people, who want this issue settled, and to work with the government to do just that.


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Brexit

Here is British PM Theresa May’s statement to parliament, in full, following her crushing Brexit deal defeat

British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses Parliament after the defeat of her Brexit deal on Tuesday. Photo: Reuters

REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn addresses Parliament after the vote on May's Brexit deal, in London, Britain, January 15, 2019 in this screengrab taken from video. Reuters TV via REUTERS

REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT Prime Minister Theresa May addresses Parliament after the vote on May's Brexit deal, in London, Britain, January 15, 2019 in this screengrab taken from video. Reuters TV via REUTERS

‘Basically dead’: Brexit in chaos as UK Parliament rejects PM Theresa May’s divorce deal with EU, triggering no-confidence vote

Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May listens as Britain’s opposition Labour Party Leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks in the House of Commons in London on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

Protesters react after the result was announced on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, January 15, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls?

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May leaves the Houses of Parliament in London on January 15, 2019, after MPs voted against the government's Brexit deal. - British lawmakers voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to reject the EU divorce deal struck between London and Brussels, in a historic vote that leave Brexit hanging in the balance. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May as she speaks in the House of Commons in London on January 15, 2019, before MPs vote on the government's Brexit deal. - Parliament is to finally vote today on whether to support or vote against the agreement struck between Prime Minister Theresa May's government and the European Union. (Photo by HO / PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

An anit-Brexit demonstrator reacts to the result of the vote on the Brexit deal in London, U.K., on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2019. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected by Parliament in a humiliating defeat, her plan for leaving the European Union all but dead. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn responded by proposing a vote of no confidence in her government. Photographer: Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

REFILE - QUALITY REPEAT British Prime Minister Theresa May addresses Parliament ahead of the vote on May's Brexit deal, in London, Britain, January 15, 2019 in this screengrab taken from video. Reuters TV via REUTERS

EU preparing to delay Brexit until at least July

President of the European Council, Donald Tusk speaking during an event marking the official launch of the Romanian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Bucharest, Romania, 10 January 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE

Protesters wearing yellow vests participate in a pro-Brexit demonstration march in central London, Britain January 12, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson

FILE PHOTO: An anti-Brexit protester waves a flag outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain January 11, 2019. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo

UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wants vote to topple PM Theresa May as Brexit defeat looms

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Photo: AP

Stormy scenes as British Prime Minster Theresa May suffers Commons defeat over Brexit plan B

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit shows British Prime Minister Theresa May as she speaks during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons in London on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

A video grab from footage broadcast by the UK Parliament's Parliamentary Recording Unit (PRU) shows Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow reacting as he speaks in the House of Commons regarding the selection for a vote of an ammendment to the Brexit withdrawl bill in London on January 9, 2019. - Britain's government suffered another setback on January 9, 2019 as MPs voted to force it to announce within three sitting days what steps it will take next if its Brexit deal is rejected by parliament next week as appears likely. (Photo by HO / PRU / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / PRU " - NO USE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, SATIRICAL, MARKETING OR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS

Was London mayor Sadiq Khan trolling Brexit fans with a blatantly pro-EU fireworks display?

Fireworks light up the sky around the London Eye wheel to welcome the New Year in London, Britain, January 1, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

Fireworks explode over the London Eye during the New Year's celebrations in London, just after midnight on Tuesday. Photo: AP

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Theresa May said it was her duty to deliver Brexit to Britons on the basis of the 2016 referendum
She said that it was right that her government be tested by a vote of confidence, in the wake of the defeat of her Brexit deal


Theresa May said it was her duty to deliver Brexit to Britons on the basis of the 2016 referendum. She said that it was right that her government be tested by a vote of confidence, in the wake of the defeat of her Brexit deal.


Theresa May

Britain

European Union