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LONDON / LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday told her ministers that they were going to sign a Brexit deal if they called for a united front, calling for a demonstration of unity. to silence those who urge her to rethink her exit strategy from the European Union.
British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street in London on October 15, 2018, in Britain. REUTERS / Peter Nicholls
One day before going to Brussels for a summit, May wishes to show that she enjoys the support of her cabinet after being pressured by members of her conservative party and the EU to change course on Brexit, the biggest change in British politics for over 40 years. .
Less than six months before Britain leaves the EU, the Brexit talks ended in a stalemate over so-called Irish support, a retreat plan to ensure there will be no return at a difficult border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.
The stalemate has increased the possibility for Britain to leave the bloc without an agreement, a Brexit "without agreement" that could potentially disrupt trade, delay the movement of goods and deprive the world's fifth largest economy of investment.
May's spokeswoman said the cabinet had held "a very detailed and thorough discussion" on the border issue, with the team being united to reject any deal that would separate the UK and could "trap" Britain indefinitely.
"The prime minister has said that there will undoubtedly be difficult times ahead, which is in the nature of the negotiations. She said she was determined to get a Brexit that responds to the results of the referendum, protects jobs and security, and preserves our union, "his spokesman told reporters.
Quoting May directly, he told his ministers, "I am convinced that if we, as a government, remain united and stand firm, we can achieve that goal."
He added that the ministers had expressed their concerns about the backstop, thus downplaying the "pizza summit" in which eight of them attended Monday night to discuss Brexit and decide to support the Prime Minister's strategy. . The meeting had prompted information on possible resignations.
When asked if a minister had indicated that he was planning to resign, he replied, "They did not do it."
TENSIONS
Both parties say that much of the withdrawal agreement, which sets the conditions for divorce for the departure of Britain, has been accepted, but there are still outstanding issues, mainly in regarding support.
The EU has respected its position: a backstop to prevent the return of a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland can not be limited in time and can not include the ## 147 ## 39, all of the United Kingdom remaining in the customs union.
Under pressure from the legislators of her conservative party and her parliamentary partner, the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland, to stay firm, May must try to convince her critics that she can keep her promises.
His spokesman said the ministers had discussed a possible solution to overcome the stalemate: "a mechanism to clearly define the end of this support".
The President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, said that he may ask at the Wednesday summit if she had any new proposals to break the stalemate. "For us to make a breakthrough in addition to goodwill, we need new facts," he said.
EU chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, said the two sides would work "calmly and seriously" in the coming weeks to try to reach an agreement on the support.
He added that the withdrawal agreement with Britain was to be "ordered for all and all subjects, including Ireland".
Written by Elizabeth Piper; Edited by Janet Lawrence
