Parliament has again rejected Theresa May’s Brexit deal, deepening the political crisis that has crippled her government and casting a shadow over the future of the UK’s economic, legal and security arrangements.



On the day that Britain had initially been scheduled to leave the European Union — a day that Brexit supporters had hoped would be a moment of national celebration — the House of Commons voted down May’s withdrawal agreement for the third time, although by a much reduced margin.

MPs voted 344 to 286 against the withdrawal agreement, defeating it by a margin of 58.

Thirty-four Tories voted against the government, down from 75 at the last vote but more than enough to defeat the motion. The rebels were mainly hardline Brexiteers but also included six Remainers. The Conservatives' closest parliamentary allies, Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), also voted against the agreement.

Speaking to the Commons immediately after the vote, May said: "I think it should be a matter of profound regret to every member of this House that once again we have been unable to support leaving the European Union in an orderly fashion."

Parliament will now have to agree an "alternative way forward", the prime minister said, although she pointed out that there will not be time to agree, ratify and legislate for an agreement in the two weeks before the EU's deadline expires.

"I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this House," May said.

Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, announced that the EU will hold a summit on April 10. A spokesperson for the European Commission said that a no-deal exit at midnight on April 12 was "now a likely scenario".

"The EU will remain united," the spokesperson continued. "The benefits of the withdrawal agreement, including a transition period, will in no circumstances be replicated in a “no-deal” scenario. Sectoral mini-deals are not an option."



Martin Selmayr, secretary general of the European commission tweeted: "12 April is now the new 29 March".