UK plans third Brexit deal vote in parliament on Friday
Pro-Brexit activist Joseph Afrane (centre) holds a placard and waves a Union flag as he demonstrates outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, London on March 28, 2019. PHOTO | DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS | AFP
What you need to know:
- Bercow has previously blocked a third vote on the deal, invoking a 17th-century statute that prevents parliament from voting on the same thing again and again.
LONDON
Britain's government on Thursday said it intended to hold a third parliamentary vote on Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal on Friday.
House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom said the government was still awaiting the go-ahead from House of Commons speaker John Bercow.
"We recognise that any motion brought forward tomorrow will need to be compliant with the speaker's ruling and that discussion is ongoing," Leadsom, who represents the government in parliament, told MPs.
"A motion will be tabled just as soon as possible and obviously by later today," Leadsom said Thursday.
Speaker Bercow has previously blocked a third vote on the deal, invoking a 17th-century statute that prevents parliament from voting on the same thing again and again.
"The only way we ensure we leave in good time on May 22 is by approving the withdrawal agreement by 11:00pm on March 29," she said.
Leadsom pointed out that EU leaders had granted an extension until May 22 "provided that the withdrawal agreement is approved by the House of Commons this week".
