Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 27 February 2019
Brexit: Parliament to decide between no deal and delay

By JILL LAWLESS movement towards ruling
Associated Press out a chaotic and damag-
LONDON (AP) — Britain's ing no-deal on March 29,"
bumpy journey out of the said Mike Cherry, national
European Union took a ma- chairman of the Federation
jor turn Tuesday, as Prime of Small Businesses.
Minister Theresa May hand- But British politics remains
ed the steering wheel to deadlocked over Brexit,
Parliament, giving lawmak- with both May's govern-
ers the power to slam on ing Conservatives and the
the brakes and divert Brit- main opposition Labour
ain away from a disruptive Party deeply split over
and chaotic Brexit. whether to leave the bloc,
Bowing to pressure from and on what terms.
within her own government Pro-EU Conservative legis-
to avert a damaging "no- lator Ken Clarke said delay-
deal" Brexit, May told legis- ing Brexit would not break
lators she would give them the logjam, but only see
three choices: approve the the "present pantomime"
divorce agreement she has continue, with "similar cha-
struck with the EU, vote to os about where we are go-
leave the bloc on March 29 ing."
without a deal, or ask the Demonstrators protest opposite the Houses of Parliament in London, Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019. The House of Commons
EU to delay Brexit by up to Associated Press rejected May's deal with
three months. the EU last month — large-
May said the promises were option is defeated, they will "A temporary extension reason for seeking the de- ly over concerns about a
"commitments I am making vote on whether to seek a does not rule out a no- lay. provision to guarantee an
as prime minister and I will delay to Brexit. deal Brexit; it merely moves Philippe Lamberts, an influ- open border between the
stick by them." Because a majority of law- the cliff-edge back a few ential member of the Eu- U.K.'s Northern Ireland and
It is the first time she has makers opposes a "no- weeks," said anti-Brexit ropean Parliament's Brexit EU member Ireland — and
conceded that Britain may deal" Brexit, Parliament's Conservative Dominic steering group, said a Brit- sent May back to Brussels
not leave the EU on March choice is effectively be- Grieve. ish request for an extension to get changes.
29, the date fixed two years tween backing May's deal May's concession to Parlia- must be accompanied by The EU is adamant that
ago and enshrined in U.K. and postponing Britain's ment came after members "a credible plan for holding the legally binding with-
law as departure day. departure from the EU. of her government joined a people's vote on the final drawal agreement can't
With that date just over a May said her goal remains calls for her to rule out a deal that includes an op- be changed, though the
month away, the govern- to lead Britain out of the "no-deal" departure. Three tion to remain" in the EU. bloc's negotiators are hold-
ment has not been able EU on schedule and with a government ministers wrote Businesses warn that with- ing talks with U.K. Attorney
to win parliamentary ap- deal. in Tuesday's Daily Mail they out a deal, Britain risks a General Geoffrey Cox
proval for its agreement "I don't want to see an ex- planned to vote with oppo- chaotic departure that about potential tweaks or
with the EU on withdrawal tension," she said, adding sition lawmakers to stop a could disrupt trade be- additions around the mar-
terms and future relations. that any delay to Brexit no-deal withdrawal unless tween the U.K. and the EU, gins.
Anxiety over the standoff should be "as short as pos- May agreed to delay Brexit its biggest trading partner. A large group of lawmak-
is intensifying since a cha- sible." and guarantee "we are not The uncertainty has al- ers, from both government
otic "no-deal" Brexit could But her announcement an- swept over the precipice ready led many British firms and opposition parties, says
cause disruptions for busi- gered pro-Brexit lawmak- on March 29." to shift some operations the only way out of the im-
nesses and people in both ers. Delaying Brexit would re- abroad, stockpile goods or passe is a new referendum
Britain and the 27 remain- "My suspicion is that any de- quire approval from all 27 defer investment decisions. on the terms of Britain's EU
ing EU countries. lay to Brexit is a plot to stop other EU countries. Europe- Businesses and the markets departure.
May promised lawmak- Brexit," said leading Con- an Council President Don- breathed a sigh of relief at May insists she will never
ers they would get to servative Brexiteer Jacob ald Tusk said Monday the May's statement, which did support a referendum that
vote again on her deal by Rees-Mogg. "This would be remaining members would not rule out "no deal" but could overturn Britain's 2016
March 12. If it is rejected, the most grievous error that "show maximum under- at least pushed it a bit fur- decision to leave the EU.
lawmakers will vote the politicians could commit." standing and goodwill" to ther away. The pound rose The Labour Party this week
next day on whether to Pro-EU politicians, mean- such a request. above $1.32, its highest lev- moved to support a new
leave the bloc without an while, said May's move did But some EU leaders say el for a month. referendum as a way to
agreement. If the no-deal not go far enough. Britain must have a good "Today, we have seen real break the deadlock.q

Australian Cardinal Pell faces abuse sentencing hearing

Associated Press two decades ago. But unusually, Pell wasn't he would avoid a custodial and details of his crimes
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Victoria state County Court taken into custody imme- sentence. had been suppressed by a
— The most senior Catho- jury unanimously convicted diately because he had Pope Francis' top financial court order until Tuesday.
lic cleric ever convicted of Cardinal George Pell in De- surgery listed in Sydney to adviser and the Vatican's Pell's lawyers have lodged
child sex abuse faces his first cember of abusing the two have both knees replaced. economy minister faces a an appeal against his con-
night in custody following 13-year-olds in a rear room Chief Judge Peter Kidd potential 50 years in pris- victions and will apply for
a sentencing hearing that of St. Patrick's Cathedral in continued Pell's bail until on for five convictions of bail in the Court of Appeal
will decide his punishment 1996 weeks after becom- his sentencing hearing on sexual penetration and later Wednesday. No date
for molesting two choirboys ing archbishop of Austra- Wednesday, but warned indecent acts involving has been set for an appeal
in a Melbourne cathedral lia's second largest city. Pell that did not indicate the boys. Pell's convictions hearing.q