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LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May said Sunday that overthrowing her presidency might delay Brexit and that she would not let the debate on a leadership challenge distract her from a week of critical negotiations. .
British Prime Minister, Theresa May, leaves Sky Television Studios in West London, UK, on November 18, 2018. REUTERS / Henry Nicholls
Since the unveiling of her plans for a divorce with the European Union on Wednesday, the resignation of several ministers, including the Brexit minister and legislators from her own party seeking to oust him, has plunged the prime minister into crisis.
To trigger a vote of confidence, 48 of its Conservative Party lawmakers must submit a letter to the chairman of what is called the 1922 committee, Graham Brady.
More than 20 lawmakers have publicly stated to have submitted a letter, but others should have done so confidentially. Brady told BBC Radio Sunday that the threshold of 48 has not yet been reached.
"These next seven days will be critical, they are about the future of this country," May told Sky News. "I will not be distracted from the important work.
"A change of direction at this stage will not facilitate negotiations. This will mean that we risk delaying negotiations and that Brexit risks being delayed or frustrated. "
May said the bargaining teams were working "right now" and she was planning to go to Brussels to meet with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. She added that she will also address other European leaders before the EU summit to discuss the agreement on 25 November.
Several British newspapers have announced that five high-ranking Brexit-backed ministers were working together to pressure May so that it amends the agreement, but writing in the Sun Sunday, the May newspaper stated that she did not see any alternative plan on the table.
Former Brexit Minister Dominic Raab, who resigned Thursday to protest the deal, said he supported May as a leader, but that his contract was "badly flawed" and that He did not think it would be approved by Parliament. He said May must change course.
"I still think that an agreement could be reached but it's very late in the day and we have to change course," Raab told the BBC.
"The biggest risk of not agreeing is to make a bad deal in the House of Commons … it is very important to act now."
Opposition Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would vote against May's agreement in Parliament, but has moved away from calls for a so-called people vote on the final agreement.
"It's an option for the future, but it's not an option for today, because if we had a referendum tomorrow, what would happen? What is the question? Corbyn told Sky News.
Reportage of Kylie MacLellan; Edited by Janet Lawrence
