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British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: AP

Brexit alternatives rejected, as UK Prime Minister Theresa May says she will quit if her deal is passed

  • May’s offer came before parliament voted on eight Brexit proposals – but all failed, possibly strengthening the contention that hers is the best way forward
  • May: ‘I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that’
Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Wednesday she would quit if her twice-defeated EU divorce deal passes at the third attempt, making a last-ditch attempt to persuade rebels in her Conservative party to back her.

“I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that,” she told a meeting of the Conservative Party’s backbench 1922 Committee.

“I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party,” she added, according to a press release from her Downing Street office.

Conservative MP James Cartlidge, who was at the closed-door meeting, told reporters as he walked out that May had said she would step down before the “next phase” of Brexit negotiations.

Fellow MP Pauline Latham told reporters that May had said she would resign “after the meaningful vote was through”, meaning the vote on her EU divorce deal.

“We have to pass it or all bets are off,” Latham said.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May is seen in a car outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Wednesday. Photo: Reuters

The offer came just hours before the House of Commons took part in an unprecedented series of votes intended to seek an alternative plan – but which, in the end, only highlighted the divisions among MPs.

Not one of eight proposals put forward earned a majority, an outcome that Brexit minister Steve Barclay said “strengthens our view that the deal our government has negotiated is the best option”.

May’s announcement and the failed votes are the latest dramatic turns in the United Kingdom’s three-year Brexit crisis, but it is still remains uncertain how, when or even if it will leave the European Union.

Many of the Conservative rebels who want a cleaner break from the EU than May’s deal would deliver had made it clear that they would only consider supporting her agreement if she gave a firm commitment and date for her resignation.

Several who voted against the deal have suggested they could now back it if a new leader were to head the negotiations over Britain’s future relationship with the EU.

“I know some people are worried that if you vote for the Withdrawal Agreement, I will take that as a mandate to rush on into phase two without the debate we need to have. I won’t – I hear what you are saying,” May said.

“But we need to get the deal through and deliver Brexit.”

May, a vicar’s daughter, had already promised to step down before the next election, due in 2022. By agreeing to go sooner, she increases the chances of her EU deal passing before the new April 12 deadline.

The government is now expected to bring the deal back to parliament for a third vote on Friday.

UK lawmakers seize control of Brexit process for one day

May’s deal means Britain will leave the EU single market and customs union as well as EU political bodies.

But it requires some EU rules to apply unless ways can be found in the future to ensure no border is rebuilt between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.

Many Conservative rebels have objected to this so-called Irish backstop, saying it risks binding Britain to the EU for years. But given the choice between the backstop and no Brexit at all, more should come round.

Some of the party’s most influential dissenters had already indicated they would back her deal, agreed after two years of talks with the EU, saying it was the least worst option.

May’s deal was defeated in parliament by 149 votes on March 12 and by 230 votes on January 15.

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While May was telling her lawmakers of her intention to quit in a parliament committee room, MPs in the main chamber debated eight Brexit options ranging from leaving abruptly with no deal to revoking the divorce papers or holding a new referendum.

Several options on the table would have seen much closer alignments with the EU than May has been willing to consider, including staying in the common market or a customs union. But votes on all eight proposals failed,

The United Kingdom was originally due to leave the EU on March 29 but last week the EU granted an extension to the divorce date until April 12.

Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse

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