UK lawmakers defeat government on Brexit law

LONDON, Dec 13 (KUNA) -- The British lawmakers voted on Wednesday to add an item to the blueprint on the withdrawal from the European Union that gave the parliament the right to vote on all items of the final agreement with Brussels.
A total of 309 MPs voted in favor of the move, while 305 others were against.
It was the first time that the government faced a defeat by the parliament since the beginning of discussions last February on the bill on leaving the EU.
Some considered the vote as a decision by the parliament to impose its authority on the path of leaving the EU.
It is an uncomfortable defeat to Prime Minister Theresa May, who meets some EU leaders in Brussels Thursday to discuss the upcoming period of withdrawal negotiations.
The government was seeking to get an approval on the blueprint without adding the proposed item in order to avoid any complications in the way of implementing the final agreement with Brussels. (end) mrn.hm