U.K. Delays Parliament Brexit Vote

British Prime Minister Theresa May has agreed to postpone a Dec. 11 parliamentary vote on her compromise plan for the U.K.’s scheduled exit from the European Union next spring.

May conceded earlier today that the measure would be rejected “by a significant margin” if the vote was held tomorrow. The decision raises the specter of a new round of complex talks to modify the proposed Brexit plan, which was more than a year in the making.

A primary sticking point has been what to do about the border between Ireland, a member of the EU, and Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K. May’s government and the EU say they are committed to preventing a formal customs barrier between the two regions. But Brexit backers demand a complete break that will give the U.S. full power to set its own trade deals and immigration rules.

The turmoil over tomorrow’s delayed vote increases the likelihood that the U.K will leave the EU with no follow-on trade agreement. Favored by many, a “hard” Brexit would lead to broad and deep economic disruption on both sides of the English Channel, according to critics.

Carmakers have described such as scenario as a “disastrous” upending of their delicately balanced trade system between the U.K. and EU. They warn that British assembly operations likely would eventually relocated to Europe to avoid onerous tariffs and supply chain delays.

Some members of Parliament are calling for a new general referendum in hopes of cancelling Brexit entirely, an option the EU says is possible. But May has flatly rejected the notion of a second vote.