British House of Commons rejects Brexit deal, Mrs. May's position is threatened

The vote on the draft Brexit deal was held in the British House of Commons from 7pm on January 15, London time. As predicted by analysts, the majority of British MPs voted to reject the deal that Prime Minister Theresa May's government reached with the EU in late November 2018.

British Prime Minister Theresa May. Photo: iNews.

Specifically, 432 MPs voted against, twice as many as the 202 MPs who supported it. Notably, among the votes against, 118 were from MPs in Theresa May's ruling Conservative Party.

Speaking immediately after the vote result was announced, Mrs. May said the British government would listen to the opinions of MPs but expressed regret that the deal had been rejected.

"Parliament has made up its mind and the British government will listen. It is clear that MPs did not support this deal but this vote does not say what Parliament supports. Nor does it say how the decision that the British people made in the referendum that Parliament itself authorised will be implemented. EU citizens living in the UK and British citizens living in Europe deserve clear answers as soon as possible."

The rejection of the Brexit deal by the House of Commons is pushing British politics into new complexities. On the evening of January 15, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, immediately submitted a motion for a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Theresa May's government, and the House of Commons will discuss and vote on it today, January 16.

If Mrs May survives the no-confidence vote, her next task will be to renegotiate a new Brexit deal with the EU while the Brexit deadline of March 29, 2019 remains the same.

In the event that Mrs. May is ousted, it is likely that the UK will have to hold an early general election to choose a new Government.

Meanwhile, many European leaders have expressed regret over the rejection of the Brexit deal by the British House of Commons. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the risk of a chaotic Brexit was increasing, while European Council President Donald Tusk called for efforts to find a "positive solution".