British MPs reject Brexit deal; Regrettable, Dutch PM says

The British House of Commons voted against the Brexit deal British Prime Minister Theresa May negotiated with the European Union. With only two months to go until the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, time is running out to come to a good solution. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other EU leaders are disappointed by the vote.

Of the 650 British parliamentarians, 432 voted against the deal and 202 for, NOS reports. The rest abstained from voting. This is the largest government defeat for the Brits since 1924. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately submitted a motion of no confidence against May. That will be voted on today. If it passes, the government will fall and elections will be held. That is exactly what Corbyn wants, according to NOS. He believes a government led by Labour will be able to get a better deal for the Brits from Brussels.

"I regret, yet respect the result of the vote in the House of Commons on the current Brexit deal", Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in a reaction on Twitter. "The Netherlands and EU are still behind the agreement, but will keep preparing for all scenarios. Despite this setback, it does not mean we are in a no-deal situation. The next step is up to the UK."

"I take note with regret of the outcome of the vote in the House of Commons", Jean-Claud Juncker, president of the European Commission, said on Twitter. "I urge the UK to clarify its intentions as soon as possible. Time is almost up."

EU president Donald Tusk was also quick to respond. He wrote on Twitter: "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?"

In a joint letter to May, Juncker and Tusk stressed that the Brexit is causing great uncertainty and disruption in the UK and EU. "That is why the Withdrawal Agreement that you and the Leaders of the 27 EU Member States agreed after long negotiations is so important. It represents a fair compromise and aims to ensure and orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, thereby limiting the negative consequences of Brexit."