DNA Edit: No deal for now – Brexit for UK gets messier by the day

After months of protracted negotiations and back-channel efforts to achieve a consensus over Brexit, Prime Minister Theresa May’s efforts came a cropper when the deal was rejected by 230 votes in the Commons — the largest defeat for a sitting government in history. This makes the PM’s position untenable, thus spurring a fresh set of crises, which the Labour Party wants to make full use of. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has now tabled a vote of no confidence in the government, which could trigger a general election. Recall that May had spent more than two years to work out a deal with the European Union. 

The big questions are if the UK is still on course to leave on March 29, how will the timing and the manner of the departure work out? The country seems more divided than ever over a divorce that has proved to be every bit as disastrous. And, the scale of May’s defeat has once again cast the spotlight on her leadership role. Well, if it’s not May, then who should lead Britain out of a messy affair? At the core of the Brexit drama is the quandary: A dramatic break with the EU — the hard Brexit — or a tighter, softer version? 

Following the rejection of the deal, the EU fears a messy withdrawal. There is clearly no solution in place, given that May had called her deal the best ever proposal. It also had EU’s full backing. At this point going back to the drawing board to carve out a new agreement looks impossible, keeping in mind the March 29 deadline. In case of a hard Brexit, India has reasons to worry because of the trade deals with the European bloc and Britain separately. It might have to renegotiate all over again.