United Kingdom and Gibraltar European Union membership referendum

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Little time? At the end of the text there is a summary.

In the seconds before the biggest defeat of a British government since 1924, Theresa May is sitting deep in the green leather of her bank. She leans forward, then back, sips a glass of water, fiddles with her documents, runs her hand through her hair, smiles briefly, reaches for the water again.

Then the result: Only 202 MPs vote in the lower house for the EU exit agreement of the Prime Minister. 432 are against. The slap is even more violent than many expected.

May now knows that a large part of her own people at Brexit can not be brought on line. The Tories have 316 votes, 118 reject May's deal.

See here in the video how the result was announced:

Video

REUTERS

When the result is announced this evening, the prime minister will remain petrified for a moment. But then she seems to shake off any sign of nervousness: when she gets up, her voice is clear. May is prepared for this situation, she had to be. In December, she had even canceled the previously scheduled vote on the deal even at short notice, because she saw no chance.

Vote of no confidence on Wednesday

May now says how it goes on. The government will hear Parliament's decision, she says. The deputies would also have to explain what they actually stood for. "Citizens deserve clarity."

Then May goes on the offensive - and steals the opposition's big show moment. The government will see to it that a vote of no confidence can be held on Wednesday, if Labor wants it that way.

and thats the way it is. Opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn announces that he has already filed the motion to overthrow the Tory government and pave the way for new elections.

May May now threaten the political end?

At least, this evening will show once again how things are going for May and all British politics. After all the wrestling, all the months-long debates, the persuasion, the dispute is an agreement on Brexit, or at least a majority, still not in sight.

Final election campaign

A few minutes before the vote, the Prime Minister once again addressed the MPs with an emotional appeal. Their deal meant assurance for business, security, protection of EU citizens in the country and a good basis for future trade relations. All that is at stake. "Today is the most significant vote that each of us will take in his political career," she says.

AFP

Jeremy Corbyn

It is her personal final of a real election campaign. Since the weekend, May had once again asked dozens of Tory politicians for talks in their office in the Parliament building. On Monday she spoke in the Brexit stronghold Stoke-on-Trent, then in front of her faction in London, she also appeared in parliament.

Alone: ​​It did not help.

And despite the recent attempts from Brussels, May once again jump aside. EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and Council President Donald Tusk had on Monday again stressed that the so-called backstop should not apply permanently. The emergency solution for the border on the Irish island would tie Britain in doubt to the EU Customs Union. For many in the UK unacceptable.

But Juncker and Tusk remained at a loose declaration of intent. On concrete commitments, a fixed deadline for the backstop they did not enter. It was clear on Monday: May still had nothing concrete that they could offer the doubters in Parliament.

Getty Images

Nigel Farage

Rally Carnival in front of the Parliament

On the day of the vote, things are not going better. In the morning in front of the Parliament in London, the demonstrators warm up for the final decision, where later in the evening hundreds of Proeuropeans march. Some people have been protesting for weeks with balloons, drums, bells, funeral robes and flags. This time a ship has set up the Proeuropeans, which is heading for an iceberg. On it is a woman with May mask.

At the same place, Nigel grins Farage into a wall of cameras. The right-wing populist was the driving force among the European enemies for the plebiscite on the EU exit. Now he is standing in front of the Parliament and is visibly happy about the historical defeat that the government has to face. His solution: "Let's just step out". Without a deal, of course.

Mays unchanged problem: It has them all to the opponent - the Brexit hardliners and those who want to stay in the EU.

Then the next setback: House Speaker John Bercow announces what amendments he approves for the evening's vote. Not included is a paper from the ranks of the Tories, which would provide the deal with the demand for a concrete end date for the backstop. Re-negotiating with this clear message in Brussels - for May that would have been quite charming.

Three of the four approved amendments also withdraw the initiators later. There seems to be a decision on the original application, no room for interpretation.

AFP

John Bercow

Renegotiations in Brussels?

Only: It still remains completely open, how it goes now at Brexit. If May has received more than a hundred votes from its own ranks, it had previously been called, the pressure should be on them to resign. In her speech to the House of Commons, the head of government leaves no signs for it.

And the prospects for Labor's no-confidence motion should not be very good either. After all, it is hard to imagine enough conservatives voting with Jeremy Corbyn, the leftist hardliner at the head of the opposition. From the DUP it says then, one will support May. Even the sharp May opponents of the European Research Group do not want to let them drop on Wednesday.

With three days of meetings, the government now has time to consider what its concrete plan for the future looks like. That means: By Monday at the latest May must explain. Before that, she wants to talk to representatives of the various parties.

On the table are still the long-traded options:

  • May could move back to Brussels and ask for renegotiation.
  • She could push for a deal without a deal.
  • At the same time, the calls for a second referendum should become louder again.

Much will now depend on the political momentum in the coming days, on the mood that has so often wavered in recent months. In Westminster, throughout the kingdom. Britain is a divided country. Even after this night.

In summary: Theresa May has lost the vote on her EU Brexit deal more clearly than previously thought. Now the Head of Government has three days to consider a plan on how to proceed with the negotiations with Brussels. A vote of no confidence vote by the Labor Opposition, to be held on Wednesday evening, will not give much chance. But what is going on with May at the head of the country, whether and what she can renegotiate in Brussels, is open.