UK Parliament Postpones Voting on Revised Brexit Deal

By

Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Feb. 12 (SEE) - British parliament would not be asked to vote on a revised Brexit deal this week as Prime Minster Theresa May needed more time to negotiate with the European Union, a spokeswoman for May's office said in a statement following May's weekly meeting with her cabinet of ministers. 

The

spokeswoman stressed that May is seeking changes to the deal she agreed with

the European Union last year, after lawmakers rejected it largely due to

concerns over an insurance policy aimed at avoiding the return of border

controls on the island of Ireland.

A few

hours before that statement, May told British lawmakers that they must hold

their nerve over Brexit to force the EU to accept changes to the

porce deal that would pave the way for an orderly exit.

Anti-Brexit protestors are seen holding placards, flags and banners outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 11, 2019. REUTERS/Toby Melville

The

United Kingdom is on course to leave the European Union on March 29 without a

deal unless May can convince the bloc to amend the porce deal she agreed in

November and then sell it to skeptical British lawmakers.

British

lawmakers overwhelmingly rejected May's withdrawal deal last month, with the

major sticking point being the Irish 'backstop' - an insurance policy to

prevent the return of a hard border between the British province of Northern

Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Critics

say the policy could leave Britain subject to EU rules for years or even

indefinitely after leaving the bloc.

The

EU says the backstop is vital to avoiding the return of border controls in

Ireland and has refused to reopen the Brexit porce deal, though May

insists she can get legally binding changes to replace the most contentious

parts of the backstop.

The

British parliament is set to hold a debate on Brexit on Feb. 14 but

with just 45 days until Britain leaves the bloc, no date has yet been set for

another "meaningful" vote on May's deal.

Opponents

of Brexit argue May is deliberately delaying so lawmakers will be

faced with the option of backing her agreement or leaving without a deal, a

disorderly exit that businesses fear will cause widespread damage to the

economy and jobs.

A pro-Brexit protester stands outside the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 7, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls

"It's

not running down the clock. The meaningful vote will come back just as soon as

it possibly can," the leader of the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, told

BBC radio.

She

added necessary legislation needed to ensure a smooth Brexit would be

in place, amid fears parliament was running out of time to approve it.

As

companies and governments across Europe step up preparations for the turmoil of

a no-deal exit, diplomats and officials said the United Kingdom now faces three

main options: a no-deal exit, a last-minute deal or a delay to Brexit.