UK Parliament Rejects Alternative Brexit Plans

Members of the UK Parliament on Monday, April 1, failed to reach an agreement on any of the alternative plans for leaving the European Union, Brexit. The UK Parliament has rejected Theresa May's agreement for leaving the EU three times so far. According to Reuters, one of the plans that was rejected by a margin of three votes was one that would keep the UK in the European customs union. The proposal to put the final exit agreement from the EU to a referendum was also rejected by a margin of 12 votes, with 292 representatives voting against it and 280 in support. Theresa May opposed both of these plans, as they limit the UK government's independence in reaching an agreement. She stated that these two plans are a betrayal of the people's will in the 2016 referendum, where a majority approved leaving the EU. Stephen Barclay, the Brexit Minister in Theresa May's government, said that the result of Parliament's opposition to the alternative plans means that the UK will exit the EU on April 12 without reaching an agreement. Barclay told Parliament members that the only option is to find a way that allows the UK to leave the EU with an agreement. He also implied that Ms. May's agreement could still be put to a vote again. He expressed hope that the exit from the EU would be realized before May 23, the day of the European Parliament elections. Nearly three years after the referendum, the manner of the UK's exit from the EU remains unclear. After the 2016 referendum, the UK submitted its request to leave the EU in 2017, which, according to law, had to be finalized after two years on March 29. The UK has until April 12 to present new proposals regarding Brexit.