LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May urged British lawmakers on Tuesday to back her “new” Brexit deal, which would include a binding vote by Parliament on whether to hold a second Brexit referendum.
In a speech in London, May said lawmakers will have “one last chance” to deliver Brexit in a vote early next month.
But, more accurately, it probably will be May’s last chance. She has signaled that she will step down if her thrice-rejected divorce deal fails again in the House of Commons, as it is widely expected to do.
In a sign that the British public has already moved on, many of the questions May fielded during Tuesday’s news conference had to do with when she will resign and what might happen after that.
Parliament is scheduled to vote again on the Brexit deal she negotiated with the European Union during the first week of June — which, coincidentally, is when President Trump will be making a state visit to Britain.
“What I’m doing today is setting out what I believe is a new Brexit deal that can command a majority in the House of Commons,” she said.
Offering a binding vote on a second referendum, as well as on whether Britain should remain in a temporary customs union with the E.U., represents a shift in strategy for May. She said she recognized “the genuine and sincere strength of feeling” on the referendum issue. But she also reiterated her long-held views that a second referendum was not her preferred way out of the Brexit impasse. Extending the Brexit debate, she said, “risked opening the door to a nightmare future of permanently polarized politics.”
May hopes that with those additional voting opportunities and some tweaks to her deal — including pledges on environmental protections and workers’ rights — she can win support from enough lawmakers to get it over the line. But early indicators were not looking good.
Some Conservative lawmakers who’d previously backed May said they would now oppose her. The Scottish National Party and ChangeUK said they would not back her. Nigel Dodds, the deputy leader of Northern Ireland Democratic Unionist Party, which props up May’s Conservatives, said the proposal had “fundamental flaws.”
The opposition Labour Party has been internally divided on whether to push for a second referendum, with leader Jeremy Corbyn reluctant to embrace the idea.
In a speech that was at times reflective, May said that she never thought delivering Brexit would be “simple or straightforward,” but that it had “proved even harder than I anticipated.” She said she had given it her all, even offering to “give up the job I love earlier than I would like.”
In a question-and-answer session that followed her speech, May was asked several times about her departure and whom she’d like to replace her. She didn’t offer fresh details, but she has previously promised to outline the timetable of her departure if she loses the next Brexit vote.
The unofficial race to replace her is underway. On Tuesday, Jacob Rees-Mogg, an influential Brexiteer, pledged support to former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who is leading in polls.
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