Delaying Brexit

From the DW:

"British lawmakers overwhelmingly vote in favor of delaying Brexit"

MPs have backed a motion to ask the European Union for an extension on the Brexit divorce date, which is currently set for March 29. The delay would still have to be unanimously approved by EU leaders. Lawmakers in the House of Commons overwhelmingly backed a government motion on Thursday to ask for a three month delay Brexit, which is currently scheduled for March 29. The vote comes after a week of defeats for Prime Minister Theresa May, which saw her Brexit deal with the EU rejected for a second time on Tuesday, as well as a vote on Wednesday which saw lawmakers reject a no-deal Brexit under any circumstances.

What you need to know:

• With a vote of 412 to 202, lawmakers overwhelmingly backed the government's motion to ask the EU to push the divorce date back to June 30

• The government's motion states that it would ask for the three-month delay — but on the condition that Parliament approves May's withdrawal agreement with the EU.

• Lawmakers overwhelmingly voted down the prospect of a second referendum — with only 85 MPs backing the amendment, while 334 voted against it.

• An amendment that would have given lawmakers more control over the Brexit procress narrowly lost, with 312 voting in favor and 314 against.

• An amendment to block May from bringing her divorce deal back for a third vote was withdrawn.

Where does the EU stand?

Even if British lawmakers vote to support extending the Brexit deadline past March 29, it's not certain that the EU would grant it. EU leaders have expressed frustration at the political turbulence taking place in London, saying that they would grant an extension but would need a concrete reason from the UK for doing so. Any delay would require unanimous approval from the leaders of the remaining 27 member states.

Trump 'surprised at how badly' Brexit has been going

US President Donald Trump weighed-in on the upheaval surrounding the UK's departure from the EU on Thursday, saying that he is "surprised at how badly" the negotiations have been going and that the Brexit debate is "tearing the country apart." He also criticized May's handling of the negotiations, saying that she did not heed his advice. "She didn't listen to that, and that's fine. I mean ... she's got to do what she's got to do. But I think it could have been negotiated in a different manner, frankly," Trump told reporters at the White House ahead of a meeting with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. Trump added that he still hopes to secure a "large scale" trade agreement with the UK.

^ At this point I hope the other members of the EU vote to not give the UK more time to Brexit. They (the UK) couldn't figure it out over several years so there's no chance they will in a few more months. Since they (the UK) also voted down holding a second referendum I see that as opening the doors wide openown for a 2nd Scottish Independence vote as well as a Northern Irish vote on whether to reunite with Ireland. The United Kingdom is anything but united nowadays. ^

https://www.dw.com/en/british-lawmakers-overwhelmingly-vote-in-favor-of-delaying-brexit/a-47921086