The Brexit vote deadlock on Tuesday night, is threatening the 'mother' of all democracies, with a Cabinet split and claims that the Prime Minister has been 'negotiating on bad faith'. Prime Minister's Brexit agreement was voted down 432 to 202. Mrs May through out the debate on Wednesday 16 January told the Parliament that she was going to hold a cross-party talks on finding a way through the deadlock. Downing Street later calrified that Mrs May had no intention of deviating from her 'core principles' and would continue to seek an independent trade policy, and consult 'senior parliamentarians'. No 10 also said that the Prime Minister did not believe it was necessary to extend the Article 50 as demanded by Nicola Sturgeon, leader of SNP.
Among all the issues raised by the Opposition Leader Jeremy Corbyn, he has been right about one thing- this Brexit vote is not a failure of Theresa May as a leader, but a failure that of the government. Labour tabled a no confidence motion in the government but the DUP said it will support Mrs May. DUP leader Arlene Foster said they would work constructively with the government to get a better deal.
A majority of Indian origin MPs voted against Mrs May's withdrawal agreement on Tuesday. Conservative Party's Rishi Sunak and Alok Sharma were the only ones to vote in her favour, according to the published House of Commons new app. Suella Fernandes Braverman, who is expecting a baby early next year, Priti Patel and Shailesh Vara voted against her. Priti was one of the key figures to have backed the 'Leave' campaign. Michael Gove and Home Secretary Sajid Javid stood by Mrs May and her policies till the end. However two Ministerial aides, Eddie Hughes and Craig Tracey quit the government as the vote began in order to vote against the deal. In addition, Tom Pursglove resigned as a vice-chairman of the Conservative party shortly before the vote.
Among Labour MPs, Tulip Siddiq appeared in the House of Commons to vote on a wheelchair, delaying her baby boy's birth by 2 days. Tulip Siddiq, 36, who voted no, was due to have a caesarian section on Tuesday, but medics agreed to delay the operation until Thursday so that she can vote on the withdrawal agreement.
While proxy voting should have been allowed for someone with such pregnancy complications that needed a 37 week ceasarian birth, she had to make her way to vote due to lack of the provision. The Conservative party said it had offered to “pair” Siddiq, meaning a rival MP would not vote to ensure her absence did not affect the end result. But Siddiq said she was not ready to trust the informal system after the Conservatives broke a pair for a new mother MP last year.
The new baby boy will be a great-grandson of the founding father of Bangladesha as Siddiq is the grand-daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the first president of Bangladesh. The current Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina is her aunt.
The other Labour MPs who voted against the agreement Virendra Sharma, Keith Vaz, Lisa Nandy, Seema Malhotra, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Preet Kaur Gill and Valerie Vaz. Speaking to Asian Voice, Virendra Sharma said, "This evening (Tuesday 15) has proven that there is no majority in Parliament for the Prime Minister's Brexit deal and there isn't one for no-deal either.
“The Prime Minister has no support for her deal, so Labour should now renegotiate the deal based on our six tests.
“If she won't stand aside, she should let the people decide instead and hold a second referendum, with remain as an option."
Seema Malhotra, speaking at the Commons debatre on Wednesday said, “As a member of the Brexit Select Committee, today we have published a report in response to the vote last night on Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration. The report outlines the different options for the country and sets out the Brexit Committee's recommendation on how we should proceed. Please see the link below to read the report.
“The Committee's recommendation is that a series of indicative votes on the options we have set out above as soon as possible. In deciding how to proceed on 21 January, the House and the Government will need to identify not only where a majority might be found but also what decision-making process might allow for the reflection of the view of the House as a whole, including the possibility of free votes, and how to enact any decision made."
Suella Braverman in her column in The Daily Telegraph wrote, “My parents emigrated to the UK from Kenya and Mauritius in the 1960s. They were born during the British Empire and admired the United Kingdom. The country that inspired them was confident in the world, pioneering in statecraft and fearless in the face of adversity. A Britain that led the way for others and contributed so much good to the world. That is the vision of Britain which I have inherited and in which I have profound faith. And that is ultimately why I am unable to support the Withdrawal agreement, even after exchange of letters and sincere efforts of the PM to secure concessions.”
Shailesh Vara, North West Cambridgeshire MP resigned as Northern Ireland minister in opposition to the deal. Mr Vara who had voted 'Remain' in the referendum promised to support Brexit and has repeatedly stated that Britain has nothing to fear about a no deal situation, with trading on World Trade Organisation (WTO) terms.
After the vote he reportedly said, “This is an historic vote. It’s also a decisive vote and a powerful message to Brussels that the deal they have offered to the UK is completely unacceptable.
“There’s much in the agreement that I disagree with, but I recognise in international agreement there needs to be compromise. But Brussels needs to appreciate that the unending backstop does need to be looked at again.
“I very much hope that the size of the vote against the withdrawal agreement will encourage Brussels to open up negotiations even at this late stage so we can reach an agreement which is fair and acceptable to both sides.”
European Council President Donald Tusk hinting at a second referendum tweeted, “If a deal is impossible, and no one wants no deal, then who will finally have the courage to say what the only positive solution is?”
Michel Barnier, European Chief Negotiator for Brexit speaking briefly to reporters said, "Now it is time for the UK to tell us the next steps. On our side we will remain united, and determined to reach a deal."
With worries, a no-confidence motion may trigger another general election, Dr Rami Ranger CBE, Chairman of the Conservative Friends of India (CFI) who has come forward to support Mrs May publicly tweeted, saying, “A general election is not the national interest,” mirroring the thoughts of the Prime Minister herself.
