British PM May tries to plot a course out of the Brexit maelstrom

Fourth time lucky?

With Brexit stalled, parliament has been trying to come up with an alternative but has thus far failed.

The option which came closest to getting a majority in parliament on Monday was a proposal to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU, which was defeated by three votes. A proposal to hold a confirmatory referendum on any deal got the most votes, but was defeated by 292-280.

Barnier said the EU was ready to accept Britain staying in the EU's customs union or a relationship akin to the one the EU has with Norway.

But May is boxed in by different factions: half of her lawmakers voted for a no-deal Brexit last week while just 37 voted for the customs union option on Monday and 15 for a confirmatory referendum.

A no-deal Brexit would push up food prices by 10 percent, force direct British rule in Northern Ireland and compromise national security, according to a letter by Britain's top civil servant Mark Sedwill quoted in the Daily Mail.

Some Conservative lawmakers have warned they will support a motion of no confidence if she accepts calls for a Brexit that maintains many of the existing close economic ties with the EU.

That means May's thrice-defeated deal is back in focus.

Education Secretary Damian Hinds said he hoped May's withdrawal agreement would finally be approved this week by parliament, saying it remained the best outcome.

"If we move quickly this week and we get this deal over the line it is still possible that we may be able to avoid having to have those European Parliament elections (in May)," Hinds said.

Asked whether there would be a much longer extension if May's deal failed once again, he said: "That is absolutely a risk and a big looming risk at the moment."

The Sun newspaper said Brexit-supporting ministers will demand May give a final ultimatum to fix the Irish backstop, the most controversial part of her deal, or see the United Kingdom leave without a deal at 2200 GMT on April 12.

The Times said finance minister Philip Hammond will tell cabinet that the Conservatives may have to make its own compromise or consider a referendum since neither the party or the country could afford an election.

Reuters