British MPs reject proposal to delay Brexit

2019-01-30 1

British lawmakers have voted against a proposal to delay Brexit in order to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal.
The amendment is not legally binding for the UK government, but makes it more politically difficult for Prime Minister Theresa May to pursue a hard Brexit.
MPs also voted to reopen Brexit talks with Brussels and renegotiate the terms of the Irish border.
The so-called "backstop" issue is an insurance policy to prevent the return of a hard Irish border - a provision despised by many Brexiteers who fear it could tie the UK to EU customs rules permanently.
The EU, however, said it will not reopen discussions nor change the terms of the deal reached last November.
With only a couple of months left until Britain leaves the bloc, May is under increasing pressure to find a deal that will satisfy both Brussels and British parliament.