Donald Tusk suggests staying in EU the only positive solution for UK

The only positive solution after the British Parliament decisively rejected an agreement on withdrawal from the EU negotiated by Prime Minister Theresa May is for Britain to stay in the EU, the chairman of EU leaders Donald Tusk said on Tuesday after May lost the Brexit vote in Parliament.

Meanwhile, the European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said the "risk of a disorderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom has increased" following the government's defeat.

He said in his tweet: "take note with regret of the outcome of the vote in the @HouseofCommons this evening. I urge the #UK to clarify its intentions as soon as possible. Time is almost up."

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a vote of no confidence in the government which will be voted on Wednesday, after May suffered a historic defeat in Parliament on Tuesday when members voted 432 to 202 against the government's Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.

Corbyn said the vote will allow Parliament to "give its verdict on the sheer incompetence of this government".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan on Twitter: "Now MPs have rejected this bad Brexit deal, it's vital the PM withdraws Article 50 to avoid a no-deal Brexit and the disastrous consequences for London. The public must be allowed to decide what happens next."

The UK is now in a state of further limbo regarding the nature of its exit from the European Union, which was voted for by members of the public in a 2016 referendum.

Currently, the UK is legally bound to leave the EU on March 29 under Article 50 of European law. But the EU has indicated that Article 50 could be extended which would allow time for a second vote and for Parliament to pass related legislation.

The UK also now faces the possibility of exiting the EU in late March without a deal in place and trading under World Trade Organization rules.

Contact the writers at angus@mail.chinadailyuk.com

Reuters contributed to this story.