UK still in Brexit stalemate as all alternatives rejected by MPs

UK MPs on Monday failed for a second time to reach consensus on an alternative Brexit deal.

Four motions were put to parliament as non-binding indicative votes in order to find a way forward but were all defeated.

A motion for a customs union proposed by former Conservative chancellor Ken Clarke was rejected by just three votes, while a vote on a confirmatory referendum on any Brexit deal failed by 12.

A proposal by the Tory MP Nick Boles for a Norway-style Brexit deal also failed to win a majority and fell by 261 votes to 282, leading to Boles telling parliament he was leaving the Conservative Party and sitting as an independent.

“I have failed, chiefly because my party fails to compromise,” he said.

The customs union proposal would have kept the UK in the EU's tariffs regime and could have been a way around the contentious issue of a hard border with Ireland. However, MPs rejected it as it would stop Britain from reaching trade agreements with other countries.

The motion calling for a confirmatory referendum received the most votes in favour, totalling 280, but still lost by a margin of 12.

This means the only deal still left on the table is that put forward twice by Prime Minister Theresa May's - already rejected twice in heavy defeats by the House of Commons.

Last Friday she attempted to get the Withdrawal Agreement portion of the deal through parliament but was again voted down.

May now has until April 12 to either seek a longer extension from the EU at an emergency summit next week or leave without a deal.

EU officials have said that a longer extension would only be granted only if May presents a realistic alternative plan that would get through the Commons.