BUENOS AIRES: British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday said she was focused on persuading lawmakers to back her Brexit deal at a vote in parliament on December 11 rather than preparing a ” Plan B”.
May secured an agreement with European Union leaders on Sunday. The deal has been criticized by both eurosceptics and europhiles among her own Conservative Party lawmakers. Opposition parties and the small Northern Irish party which props up May’s minority government have all said they plan to vote against it.
“The focus of myself and the government is on the vote that is taking place on Dec. 11. We will be explaining to members of Parliament why we believe that this is a good deal for UK,” May said.
“I ask every member of the Parliament to think about delivering on the Brexit vote and doing it in a way that is in the national interest and in the interest of their constituents”
May has said that if lawmakers reject the deal it could see the world’s fifth-largest economy leaving the bloc without a deal, or even not leaving at all.
Asked which of those two options was more likely if her deal does not pass, she said: “We haven’t had the vote yet. Let’s focus on the deal that we have negotiated with the European Union.”
Parliament will begin five days of debate on the deal on Dec 4, with the final vote due to be held on Dec. 11.Many lawmakers hope that if the deal is rejected, May will will go back to Brussels to seek further concessions, but the EU has been clear there is very little appetite to reopen negotiations.
May has said that if the deal is rejected by parliament it will lead to greater division and uncertainty.
