[ad_1]
Theresa May's hope for her Brexit deal was hit again on Saturday night, as the EU warned the UK to pay around £ 10bn more for extra time for a smooth exit.
In advance of what Downing Street called a "critical" week for the Prime Minister, the ministers also exacerbated the pressures by publicly insisting that it amend the proposals. The pro-Brexit Minister, Andrea Leadsom, said that there was still "much work to be done" to achieve the Brexit "for which 17.4 million people voted".
Leadsom is part of a team of ministers – including Environment Secretary Michael Gove – who wants to amend the agreement, although Brussels insists that it can not be changed.
These include assurances that the so-called "backstop" that could keep Britain in a customs union with the European Union will never be necessary.
While the Prime Minister is trying to prevent a coup by the extremists, the Brexiters is determined to oust him by a vote of no confidence, she will talk with European leaders all week , in anticipation of the Brussels summit next Sunday.
Downing Street said May was fully focused on achieving Brexit – but sources seemed to recognize that the next few days could be decisive for her and her Brexit projects.
"The Prime Minister will not be distracted from the conclusion of the best possible agreement on Brexit," said a source No. 10. The next seven days are critical and all his attention is focused on the next stage of negotiations – the complete framework for the future – in time for the extraordinary summit next Sunday. This framework will provide a safer and more prosperous Britain. "
The last opinion poll for the Observer Sunday brings more bad news for May, with work opening a three-point lead. This shows that supporters of Tory Leave seem to abandon May's party en masse.
Compared with the previous month, the Conservatives lost five points to 36%, while the Labor Party gained three points to 39%. The proportion of leavers who support the Conservatives has dropped by 10 points in a month.
While May's allies defended her party and claimed that she "won the country," Brussels has laid a new keystone by stating that any extension of the 21-month transition period to facilitate the exit from the UK was to last at least a year after the end. end of December 2020.
Last month, May told a summit of EU leaders that she could ask for an additional "few months" deadline if that was what was needed to conclude a trade agreement between the US and the EU. United Kingdom and the United Kingdom and prevent the entry into force of Irish support.
But on Saturday night, Brussels made it clear that if the UK wanted a prolongation of the transition – during which it was tied to the EU economic system but with no influence on its rules – it had to last at least one year. additional year.
A one – year extension would cost about 10 billion pounds in addition to the $ 39 billion divorce bill already approved. Such a prospect will appeal to the Brexiters, who are already complaining that the UK will have to spend nearly two more years in the EU after Brexit on 29 March.
Michel Barnier's negotiators from the EU will insist that the maximum duration of a prorogation be set this week, before Sunday's summit. In the current state of affairs, the withdrawal agreement provides that a joint EU-UK committee "would adopt before 1 July 2020 a single decision extending the transitional period until the end of the year. at [31 December 20XX]".
N ° 10 sources insisted that despite the hard language, the details of any extension were "always part of an ongoing negotiation" and that the result could not be predicted.
Officials said the prime minister, ministers and senior officials would all be engaged in intense discussions with the EU for much of the week, which could involve May's visit to several European capitals, including including Brussels.
On Saturday night, May's suburbs rallied behind her, joining what they called a "massive reminder fight." Downing Street strongly denied claims that he was informed that Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee, had received the 48 letters necessary to elicit a vote of confidence among Conservative MPs.
Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the 1922 committee, said his colleagues who were trying to separate from May were seriously jeopardizing the party's future. "While respecting the point of view of all my colleagues on our future relations with the EU, if Conservative MPs plunge the party into an irresponsible leadership race at this time of such national importance and if the government put in place is under Jeremy Corbyn, the conservative party is ending as a viable political force. "
Downing Street again insisted last Saturday that there was no hope of ending the EU's divorce agreement. There is, however, little opportunity to modify a document setting out the potential future relationship with Brussels.
While May's agreement seems increasingly likely to be rejected in the House of Commons, supporters of a second referendum are stepping up their campaign to convince MPs to agree to put the issue back to the people.
The Citizen Vote campaign stated that it now has more than 170 groups in all regions, and that the activities of the constituency ensure that MPs receive a clear message. The campaign distributed 20,000 "strike and drop" surveys to groups to solicit and pressure their local MPs.
