17 January 2019 - Parliament Rejects Brexit Deal But May's Government Survives No-Confidence Vote
May survives, but the Brexit battle resumes
Jane Merrick (CNN, 17/01/2019)
In what is now becoming a familiar sight on TV screens in homes across the UK, Theresa May walked out of the door of Downing Street late on Wednesday evening to address the nation.
Feverish speculation that she might call an early general election, having failed to win support for her Brexit plan, had been tempered earlier by the presence of the British government crest on the lectern -- a sign that she would not be making a party political statement but speaking as Prime Minister on government business.
The short statement was intended to provide reassurance to a country that seems exhausted by Brexit and shaken by uncertainty.
Brexit: Theresa May says MPs must 'work together' to deliver Brexit
(BBC News, 16/01/2019)
Theresa May has called on MPs to "put self-interest aside" and "work constructively together" to find a way forward for Brexit.
Earlier, the prime minister won a vote of no confidence by 325 to 306, as rebel Tory MPs and the DUP backed her to stay in No 10.
But just 24 hours before, both groups ensured her Brexit plan was voted down.
What are the alternatives to May's rejected Brexit deal?
Peter Walker (The Guardian, 06/01/2019)
After Tuesday night’s crushing defeat for Theresa May’s Brexit deal, there is perhaps one thing on which almost all MPs can agree: there is no obvious consensual route forward. Following are the main possibilities, the obstacles they face and an educated guess at how much support they might command. Most of them would probably involve an extension of article 50 beyond the 29 March deadline. Revoking article 50 is also possible, but unlikely without a second referendum.
Brexit: Theresa May survives confidence vote, but Brussels is in charge now
Chris Stafford (The Conversation, 16/01/2019)
Just 24 hours after suffering a historic defeat in parliament over her Brexit deal, the prime minister has survived a vote of no confidence in her government – thanks to the support of her backbench MPs. Up until this point, these same backbench MPs have been all too willing to vote against her and her Brexit deal.
The result was expected, given that a Conservative rebellion would have likely resulted in a general election that might have gone very badly for the party. Ousting the prime minister is less appealing when, instead of offering the potential for career advancement, there is a strong chance that it would instead lead to a demotion to the shadow cabinet.
With the very public plotting and scheming that has been displayed over Brexit, it is little wonder that British people have become profoundly mistrustful of their elected representatives and their motivations. What happens next is therefore crucial not only for the prime minister and the country, but also the public’s faith in the nation’s democracy.