LONDON, Feb 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Prime Minister Theresa May faced mounting pressure from her own government to delay Brexit after the main opposition Labour Party raised the prospect of a second referendum.
May has steadfastly argued that she must keep the prospect of Britain
crashing out the bloc without an agreement on March 29 on the table in order to wrest essential concessions from Brussels.
But her talks with European leaders on Sunday and Monday in Egypt achieved no breakthrough and the 46-year relationship is approaching a messy breakup that could wreak havoc on global markets and create border chaos.
That possibility is prompting a growing chorus of ministers to call on May
to propose a short Brexit delay.
“We implore the government to take that step this week,” three junior
ministers wrote in Tuesday’s Daily Mail newspaper.
“We must act immediately to ensure that we are not swept over the
precipice on March 29,” they wrote.
Culture and media minister Margot James told BBC radio she signed the
letter because “we felt honour-bound to actually do something to help prevent such catastrophe”.
It was co-written by business minister Richard Harrington and energy
minister Claire Perry.
Three more senior cabinet members published a similar letter over the
weekend.
The Daily Mail said as many as 15 ministers were “said to be ready to
resign”.
The rebel ministers are all backing a proposed parliamentary amendment
that would force May to set a new Brexit date if she fails to get better
terms on the disputed issue of the Irish border.
Lawmakers will get a chance to vote on the emergency measure on Wednesday.
Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer said the party on Wednesday would put its own Brexit deal proposal up for a parliament vote. — NNN-AGENCIES
