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A8 WORLD NEWS
Thursday 28 March 2019
Prime Minister May says she'll step down if Brexit deal OK'd

By JILL LAWLESS command a majority. Par-
DANICA KIRKA liament would then instruct
LONDON (AP) — British the government to negoti-
Prime Minister Theresa May ate it with the EU.
offered up her job in ex- May has said she will con-
change for her Brexit deal sider the outcome of the
Wednesday, telling col- votes, although she has re-
leagues she would quit fused to be bound by the
within weeks if the agree- result.
ment was passed and Brit- Brexit Secretary Stephen
ain left the European Union. Barclay urged lawmakers
May's dramatic conces- to back May's deal, saying
sion that "there is a desire the ambiguous result "dem-
for a new approach - and onstrates that there are no
new leadership" was a last- easy options here."
ditch effort to bring enough Barclay said he had intro-
reluctant colleagues on duced a motion to have
board to push her twice- Parliament meet Friday
rejected EU divorce deal if needed for a vote on
over the line. May's agreement, but it re-
It looked like it might not be mained unclear whether it
enough, as a key Northern would go ahead. House of
Ireland party said it would Commons Speaker John
not be supporting the deal. Bercow said he would not
May's announcement accept another vote on
came as lawmakers held the twice-rejected deal
an inconclusive series of Britain's Prime Minister Theresa may leaves the Houses of Parliament, on the day that MPs will be unless substantial changes
votes on alternatives to asked to consider a range of alternative Brexit options after Parliament seized control of the Com- were made.
her unpopular deal. It was mons agenda to force a series of "indicative votes", Wednesday evening March 27, 2019. Wednesday's votes pro-
the first step in an attempt Associated Press duced inconclusive results,
by Parliament to break the but could push Britain in the
Brexit deadlock and stop as foreseen on May 22, she and the rest of the U.K. Plan A — getting her deal direction of a softer Brexit
the country from tumbling will quit soon after. "We cannot sign up to approved — lawmakers that keeps Britain closely
out of the bloc within weeks He said the prime minister something that would this week seized control of tied economically to the
with no exit plan in place. had been "very dignified." damage the Union," DUP the parliamentary timeta- EU.
May has been under "She put her case well, and leader Arlene Foster told ble for debate and votes That would probably re-
mounting pressure from reiterated that she had Sky News. Wednesday on a range of quire the U.K. to seek a lon-
pro-Brexit members of her done her duty," he said. Asked if the party might ab- Brexit alternatives. ger delay, although that
Conservative Party to quit. It was unclear whether stain instead, DUP lawmak- The results underscored the would mean participating
Many Brexiteers accuse her May's offer to resign would er Nigel Dodds tweeted: divisions in Parliament, and in May 23-26 European Par-
of negotiating a bad di- be enough to win back- "The DUP do not abstain on the country, over Brexit. liament elections.
vorce deal that leaves Brit- ing for her deal, which was the Union." None of the eight plans re- Many EU officials are keen
ain too closely tied to the defeated by 230 votes in Two years ago, Britain trig- ceived a majority of votes. to avoid the messy par-
bloc after it leaves. January and by 149 votes gered a countdown to de- The most popular were a ticipation of a departing
Several have said they earlier this month. parture from the EU that proposal to remain in a cus- member state.
would support the with- High-profile Brexiteer Bo- ended Friday, March 29, toms union with the bloc, But the chief of the Euro-
drawal deal if another ris Johnson announced 2019. With that date ap- which was defeated 272- pean Council told Europe-
leader took charge of the soon after May's statement proaching and no Brexit 264, and a call to hold a an lawmakers that the EU
next stage of negotiations, that he would support the deal approved by Britain, public referendum on any should let Britain take part
which will determine Brit- agreement, which he has the EU last week granted divorce deal, which fell by if the country indicated it
ain's future relations with previously called a "humili- a delay. It said that if Par- 295 votes to 268. Both ideas planned to change course
the EU. ation." Johnson is a likely liament approves the pro- got more support than the on Brexit. Donald Tusk said
In a packed meeting of contender to replace May posed divorce deal this 242 votes secured by May's the bloc could not "betray"
Conservative legislators de- as prime minister. week, the U.K. will leave deal earlier this month. the millions of Britons who
scribed by participants as But other hard-liners said the EU on May 22. If not, A call to leave the EU with- want to stay in the EU.
"somber," May finally con- they would continue to re- the government has un- out a deal was supported "They may feel they are
ceded she would have to ject the deal, and Northern til April 12 to tell the 27 re- by 160 lawmakers and op- not sufficiently represented
go, although she did not Ireland's small but influen- maining EU countries what posed by 400. by the U.K. Parliament but
set a departure date. tial Democratic Unionist it plans to do: leave without The plan is for the most they must feel that they are
"I am prepared to leave this Party refused to budge in its a deal, cancel Brexit or pro- popular ideas to move to represented by you in this
job earlier than I intended opposition to the deal. pose a radically new path. a second vote Monday chamber. Because they
in order to do what is right The DUP's support was seen With May clinging to her to find an option that can are Europeans," Tusk said.q
for our country and our as key to persuading other
party," she said, according Brexiteers to back the deal.
to a transcript released by But the staunchly pro-Brit-
her office. ish party fears a provision
Anti-EU lawmaker Ja- designed keep an open
cob Rees-Mogg, who has border between EU mem-
clashed with May through- ber Ireland and the U.K.'s
out the Brexit process, said Northern Ireland after Brexit
she had been "very clear" would weaken the bonds /arubatoday/
that if Britain leaves the EU between Northern Ireland