THE House of Commons has resoundingly defeated a bill driven by Prime Minister Theresa May that provided a plan for a United Kingdom departure from the European Union.
The bill was defeated 432 votes to 202, meaning there is no agreed Brexit plan ahead of the expected departure date in March.
The government will now have to face a no confidence motion introduced by the opposition Labour Party.
European Union leaders have called on Britain to decide how it will avoid a “no deal Brexit”.
“I urge the United Kingdom to clarify its intentions as soon as possible. Time is almost up,” News Corp quoted Jean-Claude Juncker, the president of the European Commission as saying.
There have long been fears about the trade implications of Brexit. The British International Freight Association noted last year that “leaving the single market and customs union could result in the disappearance of the harmonised tariff [system]”.
DCN will be providing more analysis of the trade implications of Brexit as they become more clear.
