LONDON, March 11 (NNN-AGENCIES) – British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected to reveal Monday what changes, if any, she has secured to her EU divorce deal, on the eve of a crucial vote in parliament less than three
weeks before Brexit day.
Two months ago, parliament overwhelmingly rejected the withdrawal agreement May has struck with the European Union, and sent her back to Brussels to renegotiate.
But as MPs prepare to vote again on the deal on Tuesday, the prime minister
has little to show for her efforts, prompting warnings of another humiliating defeat.
Failure means Britain could end 46 years of ties with its closest trading
partner on March 29 with no new arrangements in place, causing huge
disruption on both sides of the Channel.
British and European officials worked through the weekend to try to break
the deadlock, and May is ready to make a last-minute visit to Brussels if
necessary to seal the deal.
But the EU has already rejected most of her demands, suggesting that any
concessions she does get will not be enough to convince British lawmakers.
The opposition Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer on Sunday railed
against May for “eight weeks of failure”, saying she was coming back with
“exactly what was rejected”.
In the face of a cabinet revolt, May has promised that if MPs defeat her
plan, they will be able to vote this week on whether to leave the EU with no
deal, or seek a delay.
The deal was struck over more than a year of tough negotiations, and covers Britain’s financial settlement, expatriate rights, the Irish border and plans for a transition period.
But MPs on all sides in London were swift to condemn it for a variety of
reasons, and it was rejected in January by 432 votes to 202.
If the deal is rejected on Tuesday, May has promised a vote on Thursday on a short delay to Brexit, but warned MPs they could not put off taking a decision.
Any delay would have to be approved by the leaders of the other 27 nations,
who are next meeting at a Brussels summit on March 21-22 — a week before Brexit day. — NNN-AGENCIES
