The U.K.’s upper house sought to make it harder for Prime Minister Theresa May to take Britain out of the European Union without a deal by defeating her for a seventh time over the government’s flagship Brexit legislation. The House of Lords voted 335 to 244 in favour of an amendment to the government’s European Union (Withdrawal) Bill to give Parliament a vote before May can walk away from negotiations with the EU without a deal. Brexit Minister Martin Callanan told the Lords that the “true motivations” of many of the amendment’s supporters was “thwarting Brexit.”‘Perverse’“This amendment will bolster those who wish not to secure the best deal with the EU, but rather who wish to frustrate Brexit altogether,” he said. “It would create a perverse negotiating incentive for the EU to string out negotiations for as long as possible. “Any such outcome must be taken by Parliament, not just ministers.”Hogg went even further, saying that without Monday’s amendment, “Parliament will not have a genuine, meaningful vote” on the Brexit deal.

Source: National Post April 30, 2018 19:18 UTC