British parliament to vote on Brexit delay

Britain’s parliament was due to vote on Thursday on whether to delay Brexit beyond March 29 and Prime Minister Theresa May prepared to push members of parliament to vote again before then on her EU divorce deal, which they have twice rejected.

It comes after MPs voted on Wednesday evening to reject a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances.

The EU said there were two ways the UK could leave - with or without a deal, adding it was ready for either outcome.

The UK government said there could be a short delay to Brexit, or a much longer one, depending on whether MPs backed the prime minister's existing withdrawal deal by 20 March - the day before the next EU summit.

If MPs approve May's deal before that summit in Brussels, then the extension would be until 30 June.

However, the PM warned that if the deal is not approved, a longer extension will be needed, requiring the UK to take part in elections for the European Parliament in May.

"I do not think that would be the right outcome," said May. "But the House needs to face up to the consequences of the decisions it has taken."

In a night of high drama on Wednesday, the Commons first voted on an amendment to reject the UK exiting the EU without a deal under any circumstances, by a margin of four.

That meant the government's original motion - which had stated that the UK should not leave the EU without a deal on 29 March - was changed at the last minute.

The government had wanted to keep control of the Brexit process and keep no-deal on the table, so they then ordered Conservative MPs to vote against their own motion.

That tactic failed. Government ministers defied those orders and there were claims May had lost control of her party.

The updated motion, to reject a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances, was passed by 321 to 278, a majority of 43.