British Prime Minister Theresa May has on Sunday said she will be delaying the next referendum over her proposed Brexit deal until March 12, just 17 days before Britain is due to leave the bloc.
According to Reuters news reports, May, who was travelling to Egypt, told the reporters she and her team will pay a visit to Brussels on Tuesday in order to discuss changes into the Brexit deal with the European Union (EU) leaders. Britain was scheduled to leave the bloc on March 29 but had struggled with terms of the agreement.
May said, “As a result of that we won’t bring a meaningful vote to Parliament this week. But we will ensure that that happens by March 12.” She added, “It is still within our grasp to leave the European Union with a deal on the 29th of March and that is what we are working to do.”
The next referendum on Brexit will come after the United Kingdom parliament voted in January to oppose the previous Brexit plan. May said a so-called “meaningful vote” would not be taking place this week as scheduled or expected. Though the parliament will still hold a series of a referendum on Wednesday, but without Brexit on the table.
Opposition Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper, who proposed a bill to block a no-deal Brexit, said May’s “last minute announcement that she won’t put a deal to parliament this week, and is leaving it until just two weeks before Brexit day, is utterly shambolic and irresponsible”.
He added: “She cannot just keep drifting and dithering like this or there is a real risk our whole country tumbles off a cliff edge into a chaotic no deal that no one is ready for and that would hit food prices, medicine supplies, manufacturing and security.”