May to make plea to MPs for time to change deal

British Prime Minister Theresa May will later this week pledge to give parliament another chance to voice their opinions on Brexit by February 27, a government source said, as she tries to buy more time to negotiate a new deal with the European Union.

As the clock ticks down to Britain's scheduled exit on March 29, May is trying to persuade the EU to change a deal that was agreed between London and Brussels late last year but overwhelmingly rejected by parliament in January.

May wants to win over lawmakers in her Conservative Party with changes relating to the Northern Irish border, but the EU has refused to reopen that part of the deal and instead wants May to pursue a compromise with the main opposition Labour Party by agreeing closer UK-EU ties.

The impasse has left the world's fifth largest economy facing an uncertain future, rattling financial markets and businesses about the prospect of a disorderly exit from the bloc that could damage the economy.

A government source said May would commit to giving parliament another debate on Brexit by February 27 with the chance to vote on alternative options, if a deal had not yet been agreed and voted upon by then.