Labour pushes for House vote
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EU says no Brexit deal means hard Irish border
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Germany says Britain should hold a second referendum
British opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn yesterday moved a step closer to paving the way for another referendum on European Union membership by trying to use parliament to grab control of Brexit from Prime Minister Theresa May.
With the clock ticking down to March 29, the date set in law for Brexit, the United Kingdom is in the deepest political crisis in half a century as it grapples with how, or even whether, to exit the European project it joined in 1973.
Since May's divorce deal with the EU was rejected by 432-202 lawmakers last week, the biggest defeat in modern British history, lawmakers have been trying to plot a course out of the crisis, yet no option has the majority support of parliament.
Labour put forward an amendment seeking to force the government to give parliament time to consider and vote on options to prevent a "no deal" exit including a customs union with the EU, and "a public vote on a deal".
"It is time for Labour's alternative plan to take centre stage, while keeping all options on the table, including the option of a public vote," said Corbyn, who put his name to the amendment.
It was the first time the Labour leadership had put forward in parliament the possibility of a second vote, which was welcomed by some opponents of Brexit.
However, the party said it did not mean it supported another referendum and lawmakers cautioned that the amendment would not garner the support of parliament.
Clarity from London is some way off: lawmakers have so far put forward six amendments with proposals for a delay to Brexit, a new vote and even for parliament to grab control of the process. They will vote on the next steps on Jan 29.
Beyond the intrigues of British politics, the future of Brexit remains deeply unpredictable with options ranging from a disorderly exit that would spook investors across the world to a new referendum that could reverse the whole process.
May on Monday proposed tweaking her deal, a bid to win over rebel Conservative lawmakers and the Northern Irish party which props up her government, but Labour said May was in denial about the crushing defeat of her plans.
She refused to rule out a no-deal Brexit, warning that another referendum would strengthen the hand of those seeking to break up the UK and could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in democracy.
With May's Brexit policy in tatters, lawmakers in the British parliament are trying to wrest control of Brexit, though there is no clear majority for an alternative to May's deal.
The European Commission's chief spokesman yesterday said Northern Ireland will automatically have a "hard border" with its southern neighbour if Britain leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement.
The remark to reporters by Margaritis Schinas reflected the European Union position that Ireland, like other member states, would have to enforce EU customs and other checks on imports from Britain after Brexit in the absence of a special deal.
And German Justice Minister Katarina Barley yesterday said she was disappointed by Theresa May's plan to break a deadlock over Brexit and suggested Britain hold a second referendum.
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