The British government's plans for Brexit have been thrown into further confusion by a controversial ruling from Parliamentary speaker John Bercow. The Speaker has said that, constitutionally, UK Prime Minister Theresa May will be prevented from putting her EU Withdrawal plan before the House of Commons for a third time. As Richard Bestic reports from London, it's made an already difficult task for the government substantially harder.

RICHARD BESTIC LONDON "The Prime Minister's Brexit deal had already been twice overwhelmingly rejected by Parliament, Britain's beleaguered Premier struggling to drum up the numbers needed to get a third attempt over the line. Locked in intensive talks with those lined up against her, the last thing Theresa May needed was a surprise intervention by speaker John Bercow. Citing precedents dating back more than 400 years he told Parliament the government couldn't just bring the same old deal back time and again, unless it's substantially changed."

JOHN BERCOW UK PARLIAMENTARY SPEAKER "This ruling should not be regarded as my last word on the subject, it is simply meant to indicate the test which the government must meet in order for me to rule that a third meaningful vote can legitimately be held in this parliamentary session."

All this on the eve of May's trip to Brussels to ask a summit of European Union leaders for an extension to Brexit beyond the March 29th deadline. It's more than just embarrassing for the Prime Minister, it leaves her in a position where the EU may insist Brexit is put on hold for anything up to two years while the UK sorts itself out, effectively kicking the entire project deep into the long grass. As for John Bercow, the backlash has begun with accusations the Speaker's ruling is breaking the British constitution. RB, CGTN, London.