HAMSTRUNG

Parliament Rejects Theresa May’s Latest Brexit Strategy

Damages PM’s negotiating position in Brussels.

The House of Commons has voted against the British government’s Brexit strategy by 303 votes to 258. Unlike some of her most humiliating defeats, the latest insult to Prime Minister Theresa May was only symbolic, but it may cause real damage to her negotiating position in Europe. May has spent the last few weeks trying to cobble together a stable majority who agree on what concessions must be granted by Brussels for the British Parliament to vote through her withdrawal agreement. Thursday’s defeat means May is in no position to return to Europe and tell negotiators that she can get any newly negotiated compromise deal through her own parliament. The next meaningful votes in Westminster are expected at the end of the month.