Brexit — Britain’s plan to get out of the European Union — is going nowhere. Slowly.
Prime Minister Theresa May tried, and for the second time failed, Tuesday to get Parliament to back a deal negotiated with the E.U. The vote was overwhelming: 391 to 242.
May couldn’t even convince the pro-Brexit hardliners of her own Conservative Party.
“Parliament will now vote Wednesday on whether to leave the E.U. on schedule, on March 29, without a deal,” reports the Washington Post — “a scenario that could create economic chaos for Britain and, to a lesser degree, Europe.”
If lawmakers choose to keep trying for a managed withdrawal there could be a third vote, on Thursday, on whether to ask E.U. leaders to delay the deadline.
Those leaders, the Post says, “suggested they would grant an extension, but have warned that their patience is not infinite.”
The opposition Labour Party has called for a second referendum on Brexit, but there’s doubt whether Parliament would support that, either.