By
Arun Srivastava
It
is too premature to predict that Theresa May’s career is over. Nothing is
impossible in the game of politics. The latest development has not come as
surprise. Things followed the dotted line. May’s friends had warned of the
disastrous effect on her moves, but she did not listen to their advice as she
was firm that she would succeed in her mission.
Ever
since she became the prime minister she has been facing unpredictable working
environment. Every day she found herself deep drowned in crisis, but by the end
of the day she would survive. The reason was that Britons had voted for Brexit,
but were no sure of their own future in a country facing financial
insecurities. While they believed May for her abilities, at the same time they
could not repose their faith in her abilities to take the country out of
crisis. They were against no-deals, but did not find the other way out. In
fact, the situation was more confused by the Tory friends of her, who were
egging for her ouster from power.
Theresa
May suffered an overwhelming defeat over her Brexit deal by MPs voting on
Tuesday night, deepening the crisis in British politics ahead of the country’s
scheduled departure from the EU on March 29. May’s Brexit deal has been
overwhelmingly rejected by MPs by 432 votes to 202, a majority against 230.
Though
she has apparently lost the battle and it lies scattered on the floor of 10
Downing Street, May personally has not conceded the defeat and is still trying
to seek a postponement of the March 29 deadline, and agree to keep a permanent
customs union with the European bloc. Just after her defeat she made it known
that she would invite opposition party leaders to discuss a compromise. It is
something else that Jeremy Corbyn has asked her to first rule out leaving the
European Union without any agreement.
It
cannot be denied that the non-committal attitude and approach of the
parliamentarians of the EU has worked against May. While these people have been
saying one thing to May, on her back they speak something else. With the
likelihood of a no-deal Brexit rising, the EU is looking at how Brexit might be
postponed, and pro-EU campaigners are testing ways Britain could hold another
referendum after voters narrowly backed leaving in 2016.
Just
three days back the parliamentarians overwhelmingly rejected May’s divorce deal
with the European Union, plunging the Brexit process into chaos. Lawmakers
finally got their chance to say yes or no to May’s deal after more than two
years of political upheaval — and said no. It was the biggest defeat for a
government in the House of Commons in more than a century.
The
vote means further turmoil for British politics only 10 weeks before the
country is due to leave the EU on March 29. It is not clear if it will push the
government toward an abrupt “no-deal” break with the EU, trigger a new election
or pave the way for a second referendum that could reverse Britain’s decision
to leave. Supporters of a second vote have been told that it would take 52
weeks to secure another referendum
Meanwhile,
May has started the process of consulting party leaders and talking to MPs
about the next steps on Brexit. She strongly holds that no-deal should dominate
the further proceedings. But this she is using to horse trade. She has a plan
to augment her support line so that she does not have to face defeat any more.
She is hurrying through multiple meetings before launching her plan B.
One
thing is absolutely clear that time is running out. There are only 10 weeks to
go before a no-deal crash-out on 29 March. There is much to solve and a lot to
legislate. The EU also has to agree to any new approach. Though May will unveil
plan B, the issue is likely to come up before parliament sometime in the last
week of the month. Nevertheless, apprehensions are being expressed that May may
not like to face the house. This trick she, in fact, tried in December when she
postponed the meaningful vote. Now she seems to be doing it again.
May
might not have acted in this manner if she did have the backing of a section of
the EU leaders. She plans to bring together the nay-sayers, those who had
opposed Brexit and to make close their ranks she would not hesitate from taking
the risk of going for a fresh referendum some time by March or April. (IPA Service)
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