UK says delayed Brexit vote to be held by Jan 21

(AP) – British Prime Minister Theresa May’s spokesman says the government intends to hold a postponed vote in Parliament on her Brexit deal by Jan. 21.

James Slack says the government will bring the divorce deal back to lawmakers once May has obtained “reassurances” from the European Union about a provision on common customs rules that had drawn widespread resistance from parliamentarians.

He said that would be before Jan. 21, previously seen as a deadline for the government to inform Parliament of its Brexit plan.

May delayed the vote, planned for Tuesday, at the last minute, acknowledging the deal would be rejected “by a significant margin” in Parliament. She is meeting EU leaders to seek new wording on the main sticking point, the so-called “backstop,” that could reassure Parliament.

The “backstop” is designed as an insurance policy to ensure an open border between the U.K.’s Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland. But many lawmakers worry that Britain might be stuck in it indefinitely.