MPs have rejected the Prime Minister’s EU withdrawal agreement by 432 votes to 202 – the largest defeat for any government motion.
Prime Minister, Theresa May faces a no confidence vote in the House of Commons which, if lost, could result in a general election within a few weeks. If the Prime Minster wins, she will have three days to present an alternative deal to MPs – most likely 21 January 2019.
Following the rejection of the withdrawal agreement, European Council President Donald Tusk took to social media, suggesting that the UK’s decision to leave the UK is now in question. He Tweeted: “If a deal is impossible, and no one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?”
The UK imports 37 million packs of medicine each month from the EU and the possibility of a no-deal Brexit has raised concerns about delays at Dover. About 5% of staff currently working in the health and social care sectors are from Europe and under the Brexit agreement they will need to obtain a settled status to remain in the UK, however, there are no contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit.
Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, has called for a vote of no confidence in the government.
Commons leader, Andrea Leadsom, told BBC Radio 4 that the government won't be delaying the UK's exit from the EU, despite Parliament rejecting the PM's Brexit deal. She said: “We are clear we won't be delaying Article 50. We won't be revoking it."
