UK PM May vows to stick to Brexit deal as
opponents seek formal challenge
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[November 19, 2018]
By Kylie MacLellan and William James
LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister
Theresa May vowed on Monday to stick to her contentious draft European
Union divorce deal as dissenting lawmakers in her own party tried to
trigger a leadership challenge.
Since striking a deal on Tuesday, May has faced the most perilous crisis
of her premiership with several ministers, including her Brexit
minister, resigning.
May has pledged to fight on, warning that toppling her risks delaying
Britain's exit from the EU or leaving without a deal, a step that could
thrust the world's fifth largest economy unto the unknown.
"We have in view a deal a that will work for the UK and, let no one be
in any doubt, I am determined to deliver it," May said in a speech to
Britain's premier business lobby, the CBI, which drew loud applause. "We
are not talking about political theory but the reality of people's lives
and livelihoods."
"While the world is changing fast, our geography is not: Europe will
always be our most proximate goods market, and ensuring we have
free-flowing borders is crucial," May said, citing the importance of the
automotive industry.
The EU is due to hold a summit to discuss the draft deal on Nov. 25.
Some Brexit-supporting ministers are reported to want to rewrite parts
of it, though Germany has ruled this out.
The EU's Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the draft deal was
"fair and balanced".
BREXIT "WRECKING BALL"
More than two years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, it
is still unclear how, on what terms or even if it will leave as planned
on March 29, 2019.
Many business chiefs and investors fear politics could scupper an
agreement, thrusting the economy into a no-deal Brexit that they say
would weaken the West, spook financial markets and silt up the arteries
of trade.
CBI President John Allan said such a Brexit would be a "wrecking ball"
for Britain's economy while CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn said
politicians playing a high-stakes game that could lead to an accidental
'no-deal' departure.
"Surely, surely, we can do better than this," she said.
Asked about the unpopularity of her deal among many in her party, May
said voters should listen to business.
However, rebels in her own Conservative Party who say the deal will
leave Britain in indefinite subjugation to the EU are attempting to
trigger a vote of no confidence in her leadership.
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John Allan, President of the Confederation of British Industry
(CBI), speaks at their annual conference in London, Britain,
November 19, 2018. REUTERS/Toby Melville
The chairman of the party's "1922 Committee", Graham Brady, said on
Sunday that the threshold of 48 letters from lawmakers had not yet
been reached. He also said if there were a vote, May would win.
The Sun newspaper said the rebels were six letters short.
One of them, Simon Clarke, told BBC radio: "This day must be the
point at which ... action is taken."
BREXIT UNCERTAINTY
May's biggest challenge will be getting the deal through parliament.
The DUP, a small Northern Irish party that props up her minority
government, has threatened to pull its support because the deal
could end up treating Northern Ireland differently to the rest of
the United Kingdom.
Also speaking at the CBI conference, opposition Labour leader Jeremy
Corbyn was set to describe the deal as "a botched,
worst-of-all-worlds deal which is bad for Britain, leaving the
country in an indefinite halfway house without a real say".
Corbyn, who has said his party will oppose May's deal in parliament,
was due to say Labour's plan for Brexit would include a new,
comprehensive and permanent customs union, and a "strong
single-market relationship".
"The government is trying to force a bad deal that doesn't meet our
country's needs by threatening us all with the chaos and serious
damage to our economy of a no deal outcome," an advance text of his
speech said.
Business minister Greg Clark said London would be open to extending
a transition period between Britain leaving the bloc and the start
of a new trading relationship until 2022.
(Writing by Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Kevin
Liffey)
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