The Guardian view on Theresa May’s defeat: three strikes and out

Theresa May’s third successive Brexit defeat leaves Britain in a situation that is precarious yet full of possibilities. Friday’s Commons defeat was smaller than those which had preceded it on 15 January and 12 March – the majority against Mrs May was 58 rather than the previous 230 and 149. It was also confined to the withdrawal agreement part of the EU-UK deal she made in November, rather than extending to the deal as a whole. But the verdict is clear. Three strikes and out.

This was in all but name the Commons’ third “meaningful vote” on the Brexit deal this year. All three have had the same result. In her comments after the latest defeat, Mrs May appeared to leave open the possibility that she might try for a fourth time. This would be madness. There has to be a limit to the number of times that the deal can be put before parliament before no really must mean no. That limit has been reached. Mrs May’s deal is dead. It must now be buried.