What in the world is going on with Brexit?

 | Updated: Mar 26, 2019, 12:15 PM IST

British MPs voted on Monday to take control of Brexit from the government. They will now on Wednesday vote on a range of further Brexit options — the big 4 of which are: 

Brexit

British MPs have twice rejected by overwhelming margins a draft divorce agreement struck between London and Brussels in November last year.

A new vote on the agreement, which allows for a long transition period and time for trade ties to be negotiated, was expected next week but Prime Minister Theresa May warned lawmakers Friday this would only happen if there were signs of 'sufficient support'.

If MPs overcome numerous objections from 'Brexiteers' and 'Remainers' and approve the deal, Britain will leave the European Union on May 22.

(Photograph:AFP)

Brexit

If MPs reject the deal for the third time, or no vote is held, the default option would be that Britain leaves without a deal.

According to a European official that hard deadline would be midnight Brussels time on April 12 but Macron said this was not 'necessarily' the case and a later date for no-deal Brexit could be agreed.

May has not ruled out the possibility of a no-deal.

Some commentators say her position has hardened this week and she could be prepared to go through with it despite a potentially heavy economic fallout.

(Photograph:AFP)

Brexit

Britain could also ask EU leaders for another, much longer delay by April 12 that would mean it would have to hold European Parliament elections at the end of May.

The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, has advised EU leaders that this longer extension should be at least until the end of 2019 and possibly much longer to allow for a proper change in Brexit strategy.

The longer delay would allow time for a change in prime minister if the growing list of May's opponents in the Conservative Party manage to force her out. It would also open up other options such as holding a general election or, perhaps, a second referendum.

(Photograph:AFP)

Brexit

This is by far the least likely option but is still one of the possibilities mentioned by EU President Donald Tusk in his remarks after Thursday's summit.

An estimated one million people flooded London on Saturday calling for a second referendum on EU membership while an online petition started Wednesday asking the government to end the Brexit process has garnered more than four million signatures so far.

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Britain could unilaterally revoke its Article 50 notification -- the formal procedure for leaving the EU.

(Photograph:AFP)