Theresa May looks downcast on the front pages of most of the papers today, which all focus on the defeat of the Brexit deal in the House of Commons last night.
The Guardian reports the vote as “Another huge defeat for May. And just 16 days until Brexit”. The paper says the prime minister pleaded, “with her voice cracked and fading”, with the House of Commons to pass the deal and that its failure to do so was “humiliating”, a “crushing new blow” and “a catastrophic defeat” for May.
The Guardian front page, Wednesday 13 March 2019: Another huge defeat for May. And just 16 days until Brexit pic.twitter.com/fM1zuXRsA2
— The Guardian (@guardian) March 12, 2019
The Daily Mirror focuses on the uncertainty ahead for the country, which it says has been plunged into: “Brexit delay mayhem”. “May surrenders after another massive defeat leaving nation facing months of chaos,” the paper reports.
Tomorrow's front page: Brexit delay mayhem #tomorrowspaperstoday https://t.co/9pDVQqfl93 pic.twitter.com/qcjZYOigx6
— Daily Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 12, 2019
The FT goes with: “May loses control of Brexit after MPs throw out revamped deal”. The paper says May’s authority is “in shreds” after her “revamped exit deal was overwhelmingly rejected”.
Wednesday’s FT: “May loses control of Brexit after MPs throw out revamped deal” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday (via @AllieHBNews) pic.twitter.com/izXTYvq2HJ
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) March 12, 2019
The Daily Mail knows exactly who it blames for the situation, calling parliament: “The house of fools”. The staunchly pro-Brexit, pro-May paper says: “They vowed to deliver the Brexit Britain voted for – and had it in their grasp. But last night contemptuous MPs chose instead to plunge our despairing nation into chaos.”
Wednesday’s Daily MAIL: “The House Of Fools” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/3R3mq96J6E
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 12, 2019
The Times features a photograph of May in her car after she left parliament following the defeated vote, with the headline: “Driven to despair”. The paper reports: “Britain was plunged into political crisis last night as Theresa May all but lost control of Brexit after a second huge Commons defeat for her deal.
“The cabinet is meeting early today amid speculation that a delegation of senior Tories may ask Mrs May to resign this week, raising the prospect of another election to break the impasse.”
Wednesday’s TIMES: “Driven to despair” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/aWkg4rEkco
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 12, 2019
The i calls yesterday’s events: “Out of control”, with the paper assessing the Commons defeat as humiliating for the PM, adding that “May’s strategy lies in tatters after suffering second heavy loss”.
Wednesday’s i - “Out of control” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/BSMvT63Fbg
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) March 12, 2019
The Telegraph reports that “May clings on despite a second humiliating defeat”.
The pro-Brexit paper leads with the fact that “Theresa May is today set to vote to block a no-deal Brexit after she suffered another humiliating defeat which left her fighting for her premiership.”
It also runs an opinion column on the front page from Allison Pearson, under the uncharitable headline: “Like a dying soprano with a Dalek croak: painful to watch”.
“Like some interminable dying scene in an opera, with the soprano shrieking on and on, flailing about madly, coughing and clutching her throat, while the audience sits there, willing it to end, saying a silent prayer: ‘Please let it stop. Get her off! Please …’” writes Pearson.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph 'May clings on despite a second humiliating defeat' #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/BdOouQqBXI
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 12, 2019
The Sun also focuses on May losing her voice, splashing with: “Croaky horror show”. The paper says “May’s rejigged Brexit plan croaked last night after hardline Tory MPs inflicted another devastating defeat”, which “leaves Britain without any clear Brexit path”.
Tomorrow's front page: Theresa May's rejigged Brexit plan croaked after hardline Tory MP's inflicted another devastating defeat. https://t.co/NSLxFZWNbH pic.twitter.com/0YDHTyak2Q
— The Sun (@TheSun) March 12, 2019
The Express wonders “How much more of this can Britain take?” The paper, which has been advocating for Brexit since before the 2016 referendum, says “Nearly 1,000 days after the nation voted to quit the EU, May suffers another defeat which looks certain to delay Brexit and crush the hopes of 17.4m people”.
Here's tomorrow's @Daily_Express front page:
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 12, 2019
- How much more of this can Britain take? #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Oj6Ou8nb38
