With the March 29 deadline looming, Tuesday’s vote is, according to the BBC, “the big one”

Last month, Mary wrote that British Prime Minister Theresa May Will Give Parliament a Chance to Delay Brexit if They Reject Withdrawal Plan. The withdrawal plan comes up for a vote on Tuesday, March 12, and May has traveled to Strasbourg to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

The UK is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29 on this year.

There are conflicting reports about whether or not Tuesday’s vote will take place or, if it does go ahead, whether or not it will be conditional or provisional.

Politico reports:

A House of Commons vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal will go ahead as planned, the prime minister’s spokesman said, but declined to rule out that it could be a conditional or provisional vote. May pledged that MPs would have a second chance to vote on her Brexit deal on March 12, with votes on whether to leave without a deal or to delay Brexit to follow later this week if the deal is voted down. But speculation mounted Monday that May would seek to avoid a straight vote on her deal and instead ask MPs to vote for a deal on the condition that changes the U.K. is seeking to the agreement are accepted by the EU. Asked whether the vote would be conditional, May’s spokesman said only that the relevant motion would be put forward in the House of Commons later on Monday and would deliver clarity. The House of Commons would also have an “update” later today, the spokesman said, though it is not clear what form this will take. Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay is due to appear before a House of Commons committee at 4 p.m. U.K. time, but officials suggested this could be moved if he is required to give a statement in the House of Commons chamber.

If May loses the vote on Tuesday, Politico continues, “it is still May’s intention to give an emergency business statement setting out plans for a vote on no deal later this week, followed by a vote on extending Article 50 if that course of action is rejected.”

Having spoken on the phone with Germany’s Angela Merkel and with Juncker late Sunday night, May flew to Strasbourg to meet with Juncker in person on Monday.

May IS going to Strasbourg and will see Juncker tonight for face to face talks – sources say this does not mean there is definitely a deal — Laura Kuenssberg (@bbclaurak) March 11, 2019

The BBC reports:

Theresa May is heading to Strasbourg for last-ditch talks with senior EU officials aimed at winning MPs’ backing for her Brexit deal. She will meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on the eve of the second vote on her deal. The BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg said the trip did not guarantee there is a new deal to be signed by both sides. But she said sources told her they believe direct talks are the right way to progress at this critical moment.

In a separate article, the BBC summarizes the stakes of Tuesday’s vote:

This is the big one. If MPs vote the deal down, one of two things is likely to happen. The UK will either leave the EU on 29 March without a withdrawal agreement – or that departure date will be delayed. If they back the deal, the UK will leave the EU on 29 March but things will stay broadly as they are until December 2020, while the two sides thrash out a permanent trade deal.

We will update this developing story as we learn more.



