May seeks more time on Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday promised to offer lawmakers a vote on her Brexit deal by March 12, the latest delay in her attempt to win approval for a plan to ensure Britain's orderly departure from the European Union.

As the United Kingdom's labyrinthine Brexit crisis goes down to the wire, May is making a last-ditch effort to get changes to the divorce package but lawmakers may try on Wednesday to grab control of Brexit in a series of parliamentary votes.

After the British parliament voted 432-202 against her deal in January, the worst defeat in modern British history, May promised to seek changes that would allow lawmakers to ratify the agreement and thus avoid a potentially disorderly exit.

On her way to Egypt for an EU-Arab League summit, May said further meetings in Brussels on securing changes to the deal ruled out a so-called meaningful vote in parliament this week.

Instead, the new 'high noon' for Brexit, May and the British parliament will be on March 12, just 17 days before Britain is due to leave on March 29.

"We won't bring a meaningful vote to parliament this week but we will ensure that that happens by the 12th of March," May told reporters on board her plane.

"It is still within our grasp to leave the European Union with a deal on the 29th of March and that is what we are working to do."

In Sharm El-Sheikh, May will try to win backing of EU's leaders to ease increasing frustration in Europe over Brexit impasse.