British MPs launch new bid to avert no-deal Brexit

Lawmakers in Britain's House of Commons announced Tuesday that they plan a new bid to block a no-deal Brexit.

A cross-party group of MPs announced they plan to attempt to force Prime Minister Theresa May to ask Brussels for a further Brexit delay in a bid to rule out Britain leaving the European Union (EU) without a deal.

Current legislation means that unless there is an agreed Brexit deal or a negotiated delay, Britain will crash out of the EU on April 12 with no deal.

Conservative MP Oliver Letwin and Labour MP Yvette Cooper unveiled draft legislation on Tuesday that will force the prime minister to ask Brussels for an extension of Article 50, the process that sets Britain's departure date from the bloc.

They aim to get the measure debated in the House of Commons Wednesday, with a fast-track legislative process through both houses of parliament if it wins backing from MPs.

MPs would have to vote Wednesday to pave the way for a full debate in the House of Commons.

"We are now in a really dangerous situation with a serious and growing risk of No Deal in 10 days' time," Cooper told the media, adding that "The Prime Minister has a responsibility to prevent that happening. She needs to put forward a proposal, including saying how long an extension she thinks we need to sort things out."

Letwin said: "This is a last-ditch attempt to prevent our country being exposed to the risks inherent in a no deal exit. We realise this is difficult. But it is definitely worth trying."

Letwin was the politician who put forward the proposal that enabled MPs to hold a series of indicative votes as a way of ending the deadlock over May's under-fire Brexit deal which has been rejected three times.

Although a range of options have been voted on by MPs, none have won majority backing.