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By Kylie MacLellan and William James
LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday promised to stick to her plan to divorce the EU while dissident MPs from her own party were trying to spark a challenge to the leadership. .
Since the conclusion of an agreement with the European Union on Tuesday, May has been confronted with the most perilous crisis of its mandate with the resignation of several cabinet ministers, including the Brexit Minister.
May promised to continue fighting, warning that his overthrow might delay Britain's exit from the EU or leave without an agreement, a step that could propel the world's fifth-largest economy into the world. 39; unknown.
Even if it remains in place, the opposition level of Eurosceptics in its conservative ranks has shown how difficult it will be to get the agreement through Parliament.
"We have in mind an agreement that will work for the UK and, no doubt, I am determined to introduce it," said May in a speech to the UK's first business lobby, CBI, under a thunder d & # 39; applause. "We are not talking about political theory but about the reality of life and people's livelihoods.
"While the world is changing rapidly, our geography is not: Europe will always be our closest property market and it is essential to ensure the smooth flow of borders," said May, citing the Importance of the automotive industry.
"EQUITABLE AND BALANCED"
The EU is due to hold a summit on 25 November to discuss the draft agreement. Some Eurosceptic cabinet ministers in May would like to rewrite some parts of it, although European governments have largely dismissed it.
EU negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier, called the project "fair and balanced" and proposed the orderly exit of March which would serve as a basis for a future trade agreement.
May said she hoped that any transition to Brexit, during which Britain will remain a member except for name and voting rights, be completed by the time of the next national elections scheduled for 2022 The EU said it could accept Britain's extension of the transition. up to two years from December 2020.
Barnier met in Brussels with the ministers of the 27 European governments who were trying to finalize a separate and non-binding "declaration" on plans for trade and security relations with Britain, according to which May would agree at from a summit in Brussels on Sunday.
Diplomats said that many people had advocated for the inclusion of national interests, for example France in the area of fishing rights, or Spain's claim on Gibraltar. But there was little concern, they might scare a text ready for Tuesday.
In case of disagreement between the 27, they said, the problems would be set aside until talks begin with Britain next year. May announced that she would travel to Brussels to discuss the statement by Sunday.
More than two years after the UK voted 52-48% to leave the EU, we still do not know how, under what conditions or even if it will leave as planned on March 29, 2019.
A large number of business leaders and investors are concerned that politics can torpedo an agreement, plunging the economy into a "no deal" that they believe will weaken the West. , would scare the financial markets and hinder trade.
CBI President John Allan said such a Brexit would be a "mess ball" for the UK economy, while CBI CEO Carolyn Fairbairn said politicians were playing very risky game that could lead to accidental departure without agreement.
"We can certainly do better than that," she said.
Asked about the unpopularity of his agreement among many members of his conservative party, May said voters should listen to businesses.
However, conservative rebels who say that the agreement will leave Britain subject to the European Union for an indefinite period, partly through a customs union continues for a period of time. uncertain, trying to elicit a vote of no confidence in its leaders.
CHALLENGE?
The chairman of the party's "1922 Committee," Graham Brady, said Sunday that the threshold of 48 MPs had not yet been reached. He also said that if there was a vote, May would win.
The Sun newspaper said the rebels had six letters.
One of them, Simon Clarke, told BBC radio: "That day must be the moment when … steps are taken."
But at 4 pm (16:00 GMT) on Monday, there was no trace of a formal challenge. Sterling, which fluctuated widely in response to the political turmoil, remained unchanged at $ 1.2860.
Since she's won the first position in the turmoil that followed the 2016 Brexit referendum, May's premiership has been characterized by her stubbornness at frequent crises.
His biggest challenge will be to get the agreement through Parliament. The DUP, a small party in Northern Ireland that supports its minority government, has threatened to withdraw its support because the deal could end up treating Northern Ireland – considering the fact that it is not possible. objective of maintaining its land border with Ireland, member of the EU, – differently from the others of the United Kingdom.
(Additional features of Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton and James Davey in London and Gabriela Baczynska, Jan Strupczewski, Alastair Macdonald and Robin Emmott in Brussels, Writing of Michael Holden and Guy Faulconbridge, Mark Heinrich Edition)
