Brexit ‘shrouded in mystery’ as Government faces no confidence vote

A vote of no confidence in the Government is to be held today (16 January) after Theresa May suffered a catastrophic defeat in the House of Commons last night.

The Prime Minister’s proposed Brexit deal was defeated by a historic margin of 230.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately tabled a motion of no confidence in the Government which will be debated this afternoon.

MPs overwhelmingly rejected the PM’s agreement by 432 votes to 202, one of the worst defeats ever suffered by a UK Government in Parliament.

Theresa May will head back to Brussels in yet another attempt to secure concessions from the EU on the deal.

Theresa May said the vote has made it clear MPs do not support the deal.

Scott Knowles, chief executive at East Midlands Chamber, said: “There is now a very real threat that we could leave the EU on 29 March with no agreement for continuing relations with our biggest trading partner, which also means no agreements in place for trading with any other country or bloc.

“While some advice has been offered, the full implications of such a departure from the EU remain shrouded in mystery. We need to know immediately what the Government’s contingency plan is so that businesses can prepare their own exit strategies and avoid the chaos that is expected to follow a no-deal divorce.

“Businesses want this long and laborious chapter of Brexit to come to a swift conclusion. The endless Westminster back-and-forth only causes business frustration to increase.”