Britons might not know if they're leaving EU until days before deadline

Prime Minister Theresa May won atwo week reprieve on Wednesday from British lawmakers, whopostponed a threatened rebellion aimed at blocking a no-dealBrexit after she agreed to a possible delay to Britain'sdeparture from the EU.

But the opposition Labour Party announced it would nowsupport a new public vote on Brexit, the first time sinceBritain voted in 2016 to leave the EU that one of its mainparties has backed giving voters a chance to change their minds.

After months of saying that Britain must leave the EU ontime on March 29, May opened up the possibility on Tuesday of ashort, limited extension to the exit date.

That was enough to avert a showdown in Parliament onWednesday with lawmakers including ministers in her owngovernment, who had said they were prepared to join a rebellionthis week to avert an exit with no agreement.

May's climbdown took much of the heat out of a series ofvotes on Wednesday that could have ripped control of the entireprocess away from the government.

May promises final attempt at divorce accord

In the end, lawmakers backed her promised timetable. But thatnow means British citizens and businesses will not learn how, orpossibly even whether, they are to leave the European Unionuntil the final weeks or even days before the deadline.

After a deal she negotiated with European leaders wasrejected on Jan. 15 in the biggest Parliamentary defeat inmodern British history, May is hoping to bring back a tweakeddivorce accord for a vote, which could come as early as nextweek but might not take place until March 12.

May has now promised that if her deal is voted down,lawmakers will get a chance to vote on whether to leave with nodeal, or to ask the European Union to delay the deadline.

Lawmakers voted 502-20 in support of an amendment proposedby opposition Labour lawmaker Yvette Cooper that spelled outMay's proposed timetable. The government backed the amendment.

Before May's concessions on Tuesday, Cooper had beenassembling support from all parties for an amendment that wouldhave ensured Parliament had a chance to block a no-deal exit andseek a delay.

Labour to support public vote

Wednesday's votes also saw lawmakers defeat a Labourproposal for a permanent customs union with the EU.

While that was widely expected, Labour had said this weekthat its failure would be the trigger for the main opposition
party to pledge its support for a new referendum.

"Disappointed the government has rejected Labour'salternative Brexit deal," Labour's Brexit spokesman, KeirStarmer, said. "That's why Labour will put forward or support anamendment in favor of a public vote to prevent a damaging ToryBrexit."

Lawmakers also rejected a proposal on Wednesday by theScottish National Party calling for no-deal Brexit to be ruledout under any circumstances. Most lawmakers oppose a no-dealexit, but May's promise to allow a vote on that after the voteon her deal was enough to persuade many not to intervene yet.

Another measure, calling on the government to guarantee therights of EU citizens in the event of a no-deal exit, was also passed with government support.

Germany, France open to extension

"If the British need more time, we would support anextension request if it was justified by new choices from theBritish," Macron told a joint briefing with Germany's ChancellorAngela Merkel in Paris. "But we would in no way accept anextension without a clear view on the objective pursued."

Merkel said she was "totally on the same line" as Macron butappeared more willing to show flexibility.

"If Britain needs some more time, we won't refuse but we arestriving for an orderly solution i.e. an orderly exit of Britainfrom the European Union," she said.

The big shifts on Brexit by both May and Labour this weekreflect turmoil within both major parties as the Brexit deadlineapproaches.

Eight Labour lawmakers and three Conservatives quittheir parties last week to set up a new anti-Brexit group, thebiggest such schism in British politics for decades. Lawmakersin both parties have threatened further defections.