LONDON – British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday received support from her extremely divided government for a draft agreement on the exit of the European Union after months of stalled talks, quarrels and setbacks that threatened the chaotic divorce known as Brexit and the direction of May.

May got support from his cabinet for agreement with the EU after a "passionate" five-hour debate. May confirmed this development during a brief statement outside the number 10 Downing Street, the official residence of the British leader.

"I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this decision is in the UK's best interests," she said, citing her government's support as a "collective agreement". She did not say whether the operation had received unanimous support.

Getting cabinet approval was an important step for May, but the agreement still needs to be approved by the EU at a summit over the next few weeks. Then May will have to win the support of the British Parliament, where lawmakers in favor of Brexit and the European Union threaten to oppose it. A messy exit from the EU is always a possibility.

Britain must leave the bloc in March. On Tuesday, he broke a four-month deadlock with European negotiators on the terms of his withdrawal, including a plan to keep the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland open after Brexit .

But pro-Brexit MPs split in May are angry, saying the deal will leave Britain tied to the EU after leaving the bloc. Not having Cabinet support would have left May's leaders in doubt and Brexit in chaos.

"Theresa May's agreement on Brexit is the worst deal in history," commented Nigel Farage, a British politician and broadcaster who helped organize the June 2016 Brexit vote on Twitter. Farage represents Great Britain at the European Parliament in Brussels.

She herself told lawmakers earlier Wednesday that the draft agreement "brings us a lot closer to what the British voted for," after deciding to leave the bloc. She said the agreement meant that Britain would "regain control" of its laws and borders "while protecting the jobs, safety and integrity of our United Kingdom".

Former British Foreign Minister William Hague said that a failure of the draft agreement could have led to a new referendum on Brexit and even general elections.

"It would probably mean a different government," Hague said in an interview on BBC radio. He added that another referendum on Brexit "might not solve the problem" and that, if so, it would be "the most controversial and bitter political dispute in the country for 100 years and it would be very economically detrimental ".

Britain voted in favor of leaving the EU from 52% to 48% of the vote. Some survey data indicate that if there was a second vote on Brexit, a majority would choose to stay in the EU. May has repeatedly rejected the idea of ​​holding a second vote.

May should make a statement to Parliament on Thursday. Among the aspects of the agreement that will be detailed in the coming days are the trade relations between Great Britain and the EU and the rights that the 3.8 million living EU citizens will retain. in Britain after the divorce.

More: How much does Brexit cost the British? Many – and the tab continues to climb

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