France activated its no-deal Brexit plans following UK Prime Minister Theresa May's historic defeat in the British parliament earlier this week, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Thursday.
"I made a decision to activate the preparations for the scenario in which Brexit will be reached without an agreement," he said, adding that it was necessary to protect French nationals.
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"I can confirm to the house that the statement and the motion on the government's next steps under section 13 of the EU Withdrawal Act will be tabled on Monday. A full day's debate on the motion will take place on Tuesday, January 29, subject to the agreement of the house," Leadsom told the parliament.
The comments were made after on Tuesday, parliament voted down PM May's withdrawal plan. After the defeat, the House of Commons expressed support for May's government despite voting down the Brexit deal the day before — a total of 325 MPs voted against the no-confidence motion, while 306 lawmakers voted in favour of it.
Later on Wednesday, the British prime minister stated that the government would bring forward a new plan on Brexit to the House of Commons next week.
The deal's rejection further stoked fears of a no-deal scenario as there is only a couple of months left before the March 29 deadline, after which Britain will pull out of the EU.
