U.K. Parliament approves Brexit amendment on replacing Irish backstop

British lawmakers instructed Prime Minister Theresa May Tuesday to demand that Brusselsreplace the Irish border arrangement known as the "backstop," ina last-ditch attempt to renegotiate an exit treaty that theEuropean Union says it will not change.

The amendment, put forward by influential Conservativelawmaker Graham Brady, passed by 317 votes to 301. It isintended to strengthen May's hand when she returns to Brusselsto try to renegotiate something the EU again ruled out withinminutes of the vote.

With two months left until Britain is due by law to leavethe EU, investors and allies have urged the British government to clinch a deal to allow an orderly exit from the club itjoined in 1973.

"Tonight, a majority of honourable members have said theywould support a deal with changes to the backstop," May said,only two weeks after her divorce deal was crushed in the biggestparliamentary defeat in modern British history.

"It is now clear that there is a route that can secure asubstantial and sustainable majority in the house for leaving the EU with a deal," May said, adding she would seek "legallybinding changes."

The amendment calls for the backstop to be replaced withunspecified "alternative arrangements" to avoid the reintroduction of border checks in Ireland, and says Parliamentwould support May's Brexit deal if this change were made.

However, Brussels has repeatedly said it does not want toreopen the treaty, which has been signed off by the other 27 EUleaders, and has said the "backstop" is needed toensure there can be no return to a hard border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and the Republic of Ireland.

European Council President DonaldTusk said the backstop was part of the withdrawal deal and wasnot up for negotiation.

"The Withdrawal Agreement is and remains the best and onlyway to ensure an orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom fromthe European Union," Tusk said via aspokesperson.

"The backstop is part of the Withdrawal Agreement, and theWithdrawal Agreement is not open for renegotiation."

France also rejected anyrenegotiationof thedivorce deal.

"The EU has been clear on thispoint," French President Emmanuel Macron's office said in a statement.

Ireland's European Affairs ministersaid Tuesday thatMay's demand for binding changes tothebackstopamounts to reneging on hergovernment's commitments.

"It's exasperating at this stage because this is a dealwhich was negotiated with the U.K., by the U.K., signed off by theU.K. and the prime ministerand now it looks as though thisevening, essentially, there is a row-back and a renegingon thecommitments that were made," HelenMcEnteetold Irishnationalbroadcaster RTE.

Irish Prime Minister LeoVaradkarhas said Ireland expects toask Brussels for emergency aid in the event of a no-dealBrexit.

Non-binding no-deal amendment

Lawmakers rejected two amendments setting out a path for Parliament to prevent a no-deal exit if May cannot get a dealpassed next month. However, they did later approve a symbolicproposal calling on the government to rule out a damaging no-deal Brexit.

The so-called Spelman amendment "rejects the United Kingdom leaving the European Union without a Withdrawal Agreement and a framework for the future relationship."

The amendment which is non-binding sends a signal that Parliament as a whole opposes leaving the EU without a negotiated agreement, which will happen by default on March 29 if no alternative is agreed, but it does not compel the government to prevent such a departure.

"I agree that we should not leave without a deal," May said. "However, simply opposing no deal is not enough to stop it. The government will now redouble its efforts to get a deal that this House can support."

On behalf of the 27 EU states remaining inthe bloc afterBrexit, Tusk said,"We welcome and share the U.K. parliament's ambition to avoida no-deal scenario. We continue to urge the U.K. government to clarify its intentions with respect to its next steps as soon aspossible."

He also gave the U.K. an opening to extend the Brexitdeadline.

"Should there be a U.K. reasoned request for anextension, the EU27 would stand ready to consider it and decideby unanimity."

Tusk added that the EU would press on with contingencypreparations as well as the ratification of the existing Withdrawal Agreement that has stalled on the U.K. side.

Parliament voted down several other amendments that would wrest control of the Brexit negotiations from May if she fails to secure concessions from Brussels.