UK prime minister to delay Brexit vote, pound sinks

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Theresa May looked set Monday to postpone Parliament’s vote on her European Union divorce deal to avoid a shattering defeat, throwing Brexit plans into chaos just weeks after Britain and the bloc finally reached an agreement on the U.K.’s departure.

The pound sank amid the political uncertainty, hitting an 18-month low against the U.S. dollar of $1.2660.

The House of Commons Speaker’s office said May would make a previously unscheduled statement to lawmakers about Brexit at about 3:30 p.m.

An updated House of Commons schedule said there would also be a statement on “business of the House” after May’s address, indicating a sudden change to the parliamentary timetable.

May’s office insisted Monday morning that the vote would definitely be held.

But British media reported that May had decided to postpone the vote.

All signs had pointed to a big defeat for the prime minister on Tuesday — a result that could sink May’s deal, her leadership, or both.

Postponing the vote would be a new blow for May, who became prime minister after Britain’s 2016 decision to leave the EU. She has been battling ever since — first to strike a divorce deal with the bloc, then to sell it to sceptical British lawmakers before the U.K. leaves the bloc on March 29.

May’s Conservative government does not have a majority in the House of Commons, and opposition parties — as well as dozens of Conservative lawmakers — said they would not back the divorce deal that May and EU leaders agreed on last month.

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