Prime Minister’s U.K. Brexit Plan Roundly Defeated

The British Parliament rejected a proposed “soft” exit from the European Union by a huge 432 to 202 margin on Tuesday, leaving the U.K’s future more clouded than ever.

The defeat of the plan by Prime Minister Theresa May is being described as the biggest for a sitting government in more than a century. May points out that the vote also leaves unanswered the biggest question of the day: What alternative would Parliament support?

The key issue is whether to make a clean break from the EU for the sake of British sovereignty or avoid much of the negative economy impact of leaving by somehow retaining the tariff-free benefits that EU members enjoy.

May rejects the idea of conducting a new Brexit referendum or delaying the scheduled exit beyond its current date of March 29. The longer the issue remains unresolved, she says, the greater the uncertainty, bitterness and rancor.

The defeat triggers a no-confidence vote today. May is expected to survive the test and offer a new Brexit proposal next week, The Wall Street Journal reports. The newspaper says Parliament is likely to take a stronger role in shaping a new exit strategy from the EU.