Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal has been rejected by 230 votes. This is the largest defeat for a government in history. Namely, MPs voted by 432 votes to 202 to reject the deal, which describes how the UK willl exit from the EU on 29 March.
Moreover, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has tabled a vote of no confidence in the government, which could lead to a general election. The confidence vote will take place on Wednesday, January 16.
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This defeat is considered significant for Mrs May, as she has spent over two years negotiating a deal with the EU. The proposed plan aspired to bring an orderly departure from the EU on 29 March, and included a 21-month transition period to negotiate a free trade deal.
Now, the UK is still on course to leave EU on 29 March, but this defeat obscures how the exit will take place.
Before the vote took place, BPA had encouraged the UK government to reveal its plans for preventing a disorderly withdrawal and the disruption this would bring at key gateways. This is especially important as there will be only weeks to mitigate the worst impacts of a ‘no-deal’ scenario.
In the meantime, the Associated British Ports (ABP) announced an additional investment to advance facilities at its Port of Hull. This investment is part of the group’s plan to keep Britain trading with Europe and the rest of the world after Brexit.
Some of the investments include £50 million to improve capacity at its container terminals at ABP’s ports of Hull and Immingham; £65 million to ensure the future of the steel industry on the river Humber; £55 million to enhance the automotive and cruise offering in the Port of Southampton; and other investments throughout 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales.
