After 'grave' defeat, PM May says Britain is running out of Brexit options

Withdrawal agreement defeated by 344 votes to 286 in parliament

LONDON: British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Friday that lawmakers' "grave" decision to reject her Brexit deal for a third time meant that parliament was running out of options for how Britain should leave the European Union.

"The implications of the House's decision are grave," she said after the withdrawal agreement was defeated by 344 votes to 286 in parliament.

"I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this
House," May went on. "This House has rejected no deal. It has
rejected no Brexit. On Wednesday it rejected all the variations of the deal on the table. And today it has rejected approving the Withdrawal Agreement alone and continuing a process on the future."

Meanwhile, European Union leaders will meet on April 10 to discuss Britain's departure from the bloc, summit chair Donald Tusk said after British lawmakers rejected a deal for a third time.

"In view of the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons, I have decided to call a European Council on 10 April. Tusk, the European Council president, tweeted.

In view of the rejection of the Withdrawal Agreement by the House of Commons, I have decided to call a European Council on 10 April. #Brexit

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) March 29, 2019

EU leaders last week gave May until Friday to secure backing for the deal she struck with them last year, or Britain would leave as early as April 12 if London offers no other strategy.