LONDON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May promised on Tuesday that the members of parliament (MPs) would be given a choice to vote on no-deal Brexit or a delayed departure from the European Union (EU) if her deal is rejected in a meaningful vote in mid-March.
The prime minister, in her speech at the House of Commons, said "I do not want to see Article 50 to be extended."
"I know that members (of parliament) are worried that time is running out," May said. "I know too that members across the House are deeply concerned about the effect of the uncertainty on businesses."
May told the parliament that she is working hard to win a legally binding assurance on the backstop to avoid a hard border on the Irish Island after the planned exit on March 29.
The deal, reached by London and Brussels after months of painful negotiations, has been rejected by MPs, so the prime minister needs to talk to the unyielding EU leaders on a revised deal in order to get her agreement passed at the parliament.
"We will hold a second meaningful vote by Tuesday March 12 at the latest," May said.
According to May, once the government's Brexit plan fails to pass the March 12 vote, the government will table a motion to be voted on March 13 at the latest, "asking this House if it supports the EU without a withdrawal agreement and a framework for a future relationship on March 29."
And if the House rejects no-deal Brexit, the government will on March 14 "bring forward a motion on whether parliament wants to seek a short, limited extension to Article 50", said the PM.
The British government will ask the EU to approve the extension if the parliament votes for it, May said.
Accusing the prime minister of "running down the clock," opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbin said at the parliament that he wants a "decisive" second referendum on Brexit.
The British people voted in a June 2016 referendum to leave the EU. May, who rejected the ideal of a second referendum, said in her repeated public statements that her government is delivering the outcome of the referendum.
The prime minister said that her government has "clear and firm commitment" to hold future votes on Brexit options.
