UK parliament again rejects May’s Brexit deal

The United Kingdom’s Parliament on Tuesday again rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal, throwing further uncertainty into how the country will break away from the European Union.

The Parliament’s lower house, the House of Commons, voted 391-242 to reject May’s plan for the second time this year, leaving no political consensus ahead of a crucial deadline at the end of the month.

GOVERNMENT DEFEAT: The House of Commons has again rejected the Government’s #BrexitDeal in the second #MeaningfulVote.

The Commons voted 391 to 242 – a majority of 149.#BrexitVote pic.twitter.com/9tuvwkUwxE

— UK House of Commons (@HouseofCommons) March 12, 2019

{mosads}The Parliament must approve a deal by March 29 that would allow it to negotiate its future relationship with the EU before it officially breaks off from the body. The U.K. will leave the EU on that date without any transition efforts in place if the government cannot come to an agreement.

May has already reached an arrangement with the EU over Brexit but she has struggled to win over new allies in Parliament.

Members of Parliament also rejected in January an amendment that would have allowed the body to delay Brexit if they are unable to agree upon a deal.

Observers have warned that a no-deal or “hard” Brexit could wreak havoc on the British economy that could have ripple effects on global markets.

About 52 percent of U.K. voters supported a 2016 referendum to withdraw the country from the continental pact.