Tory MPs are warning Theresa May they will resist any attempt by the Prime Minister to call a snap general election in a bid to end the Brexit crisis engulfing the party. MPs from both the pro-Brexit and pro-EU wings of the party warned they could face an electoral disaster if she goes to the country early.
British Prime Minister Theresa May on Saturday mulled a possible fourth attempt to get her Brexit agreement through parliament, faced with the growing risk of a chaotic no-deal exit in less than two weeks' time. MPs on Friday resoundingly rejected May's deal, although by a substantially lower margin than on two previous occasions in January and March.
Spain on Friday took over from Britain command of a European Union maritime mission that combats piracy off the coast of Somalia as Britain's planned departure from the bloc nears.
Business groups have said they are devastated after Parliament's latest rejection of the prime minister's EU withdrawal plan. They urged MPs and the government to find a solution and stave off the nightmare of a no-deal Brexit.
The Independent Group (TIG) of MPs has applied to become a political party to take part in European elections in May if they go ahead. The group intends to call itself Change UK, and has named Heidi Allen as its interim leader.
With British lawmakers rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal for a third on Friday what could happen next? Britain is left with three general directions: back a deal, end up leaving with no deal or negotiate a long delay to work out a new strategy.
Thousands of Leave supporters gathered outside Parliament to protest against the delay to Brexit, on the day the UK had been due to leave the EU. Traffic was brought to a standstill, amid chants of Brexit now. The March to Leave, which started in Sunderland a fortnight ago, has also arrived in Westminster.
Members of Parliament have rejected Theresa May’s EU withdrawal agreement on the day the UK was due to leave the EU. The government lost by 344 votes to 286, a margin of 58. It means the UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal.
The EU free-trade deals that the UK government has managed to roll over are incomplete, say trade experts. The UK Trade Policy Observatory told Newsnight the deals cannot guarantee trade will continue for British companies in a no-deal Brexit.
MPs will be asked to vote again on Brexit on Friday but only on part of the deal negotiated with the EU. They will vote on the withdrawal agreement on the Irish backstop, divorce bill and citizens' rights. But it will not amount to a third meaningful vote on the deal, as it will not include a vote on the UK's future relationship with the EU.