Spain is threatening to oppose a deal on Britain`s withdrawal from the European Union unless it gets assurances over the disputed peninsula of Gibraltar. 
Unlike the much-discussed issue of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, not much has been said publicly about Gibraltar during tense months of Brexit talks.

Why has the very pro-European country come up with an 11th hour objection, and what impact could it have ahead of Sunday`s summit, where EU leaders meet to rubber-stamp the Brexit deal?

WHAT IS GIBRALTAR?

The small peninsula, a British territory since 1713 and known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty.

Gibraltar is due to leave the EU along with the United Kingdom at the end of March, even though 96 percent of its population voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the EU.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM NOW FOR MADRID?&nbsp;

Last week, Madrid had said it was happy with a protocol on the peninsula, but it now says there is a problem with the main body of the text.

Spain says it was not aware until a few days ago of Article 184 of the draft Brexit deal, which relates to negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and Britain, and says it is ambiguous on Gibraltar.&nbsp;

WHAT DOES SPAIN WANT?

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Foreign Minister Josep Borrell say the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration that goes with it must make clear that negotiations on the future relationship between Britain and the EU do not apply to Gibraltar. Madrid wants guarantees that alone can decide on the future of Gibraltar in direct talks with Britain.

WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM?

Crafting the tentative Brexit deal has taken a year and a half of difficult talks. EU states are determined not to open Pandora`s Box and the prospect of Britain and others making more requests to modify the text.&nbsp;

WHAT DO OTHERS SAY?

Diplomats in Brussels said they thought Sanchez was trying to score points with voters before a high-stakes regional election in Andalusia on December 2. The diplomats said the issue could be solved by the leaders and urged Madrid not to put the whole Brexit deal at risk.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN NOW?

According to EU rules, the withdrawal treaty is adopted by qualified majority and not unanimity, so a single state cannot block it. The leaders of the 28 members states minus Britain would, however, seek unity on this most politically sensitive matter.

British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Brussels on Wednesday to try to overcome this and other outstanding issues in talks with European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker.&nbsp;

More diplomatic back and forth will follow, with a meeting of the 27 national EU envoys in Brussels on Thursday and a meeting of EU leaders` main negotiators - or sherpas - on Friday. Then comes Sunday`s summit.

Any solution could refer to the fact that in April 2017, the EU 27 gave the European Commission guidelines for Brexit talks that said that no deal between Britain and the EU on their post-Brexit relationship may apply to Gibraltar without a specific agreement between Madrid and London.

Spain is threatening to oppose a deal on Britain`s withdrawal from the European Union unless it gets assurances over the disputed peninsula of Gibraltar. Unlike the much-discussed issue of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, not much has been said publicly about Gibraltar during tense months of Brexit talks.

Spain is threatening to oppose a deal on Britain`s withdrawal from the European Union unless it gets assurances over the disputed peninsula of Gibraltar. Unlike the much-discussed issue of avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, not much has been said publicly about Gibraltar during tense months of Brexit talks. Why has the very pro-European country come up with an 11th hour objection, and what impact could it have ahead of Sunday`s summit, where EU leaders meet to rubber-stamp the Brexit deal? WHAT IS GIBRALTAR? The small peninsula, a British territory since 1713 and known to its 30,000 residents as "the Rock", is a major point of contention in Anglo-Spanish relations. Spain has long claimed sovereignty. Gibraltar is due to leave the EU along with the United Kingdom at the end of March, even though 96 percent of its population voted in the 2016 referendum to remain in the EU. WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM NOW FOR MADRID? Last week, Madrid had said it was happy with a protocol on the peninsula, but it now says there is a problem with the main body of the text. Spain says it was not aware until a few days ago of Article 184 of the draft Brexit deal, which relates to negotiations on the future relationship between the EU and Britain, and says it is ambiguous on Gibraltar. WHAT DOES SPAIN WANT? Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Foreign Minister Josep Borrell say the withdrawal agreement and a political declaration that goes with it must make clear that negotiations on the future relationship between Britain and the EU do not apply to Gibraltar. Madrid wants guarantees that alone can decide on the future of Gibraltar in direct talks with Britain. WHY IS THAT A PROBLEM? Crafting the tentative Brexit deal has taken a year and a half of difficult talks. EU states are determined not to open Pandora`s Box and the prospect of Britain and others making more requests to modify the text. WHAT DO OTHERS SAY? Diplomats in Brussels said they thought Sanchez was trying to score points with voters before a high-stakes regional election in Andalusia on December 2. The diplomats said the issue could be solved by the leaders and urged Madrid not to put the whole Brexit deal at risk. WHAT CAN HAPPEN NOW? According to EU rules, the withdrawal treaty is adopted by qualified majority and not unanimity, so a single state cannot block it. The leaders of the 28 members states minus Britain would, however, seek unity on this most politically sensitive matter. British Prime Minister Theresa May travels to Brussels on Wednesday to try to overcome this and other outstanding issues in talks with European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker. More diplomatic back and forth will follow, with a meeting of the 27 national EU envoys in Brussels on Thursday and a meeting of EU leaders` main negotiators - or sherpas - on Friday. Then comes Sunday`s summit. Any solution could refer to the fact that in April 2017, the EU 27 gave the European Commission guidelines for Brexit talks that said that no deal between Britain and the EU on their post-Brexit relationship may apply to Gibraltar without a specific agreement between Madrid and London.

Explainer: What you need to know about Gibraltar in Brexit talks

Britain's parliament will not support a 'no-deal'&nbsp;Brexit, work and pensions minister Amber Rudd said on Wednesday, also playing down the prospect of a second referendum if lawmakers do not approve Prime Minister Theresa May`s Brexit deal.

May is heading to Brussels later on Wednesday to discuss a blueprint on post-Brexit ties with the European Union but faces substantial opposition at home over the draft withdrawal agreement she has already reached with the bloc.

Rudd, a former interior minister who returned to government after cabinet resignations over May's deal last week, urged lawmakers to back the deal, but said that parliament would not support no deal if they rejected the agreement.&nbsp;

"It is my view that parliament, the House of Commons, will stop "no deal"...??There isn`t a majority in the House of Commons to allow that to take place," Rudd told the BBC.

May has said that Britain faces a choice between her deal, no deal and no Brexit.

But Rudd also played down the idea of a future referendum to give Britons the chance to change their mind and stay in the European Union, having previously said a new vote was preferable to no deal.

"I don`t think we are looking at another referendum," she said.&nbsp;

"I think that what will happen is that people will take a careful look over the abyss... and I think the likelihood is, despite what people say, that the withdrawal agreement will get through."

Britain's parliament will not support a 'no-deal' Brexit, work and pensions minister Amber Rudd said on Wednesday, also playing down the prospect of a second referendum if lawmakers do not approve Prime Minister Theresa May`s Brexit deal.

Britain's parliament will not support a 'no-deal' Brexit, work and pensions minister Amber Rudd said on Wednesday, also playing down the prospect of a second referendum if lawmakers do not approve Prime Minister Theresa May`s Brexit deal. May is heading to Brussels later on Wednesday to discuss a blueprint on post-Brexit ties with the European Union but faces substantial opposition at home over the draft withdrawal agreement she has already reached with the bloc. Rudd, a former interior minister who returned to government after cabinet resignations over May's deal last week, urged lawmakers to back the deal, but said that parliament would not support no deal if they rejected the agreement. "It is my view that parliament, the House of Commons, will stop "no deal"...??There isn`t a majority in the House of Commons to allow that to take place," Rudd told the BBC. May has said that Britain faces a choice between her deal, no deal and no Brexit. But Rudd also played down the idea of a future referendum to give Britons the chance to change their mind and stay in the European Union, having previously said a new vote was preferable to no deal. "I don`t think we are looking at another referendum," she said. "I think that what will happen is that people will take a careful look over the abyss... and I think the likelihood is, despite what people say, that the withdrawal agreement will get through."

British lawmakers won't vote for no-deal Brexit, UK minister says

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is in disarray over Brexit but there is no majority in parliament for damaging the economy by leaving the EU without a deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance minister-in-waiting said on Wednesday.

"We just can't go on like this," Labour finance chief John McDonnell, 67, said in a speech at Reuters in London. "We just cannot go on with this instability, uncertainty that there is in government, day by day and sometimes hour by hour."

Since striking a deal with the EU last week, May has faced the most perilous crisis of her premiership with several ministers resigning, including her Brexit minister.

May has pledged to fight on, warning that toppling her risks delaying Britain's exit from the EU or leaving without a deal, a step that could thrust the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown.

McDonnell said there was not a majority in parliament for either May's deal or for leaving the European Union without a deal.

"I think an overwhelming majority oppose anything that smacks of being no deal," he said. He said the future was deeply uncertain with options including national election or parliamentary deadlock.

"Then we could be into a situation of a war of attrition within parliament of amendments to legislation taking place and uncertainty continuing," he said.

More than two years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, it is still unclear how, on what terms or even if it will leave as planned on March 29, 2019.

When asked if he was a Marxist or a capitalist, McDonnell said he was a socialist but that Marx was one of the best analysts of how capitalism actually works.

"I'm a socialist. I'm trying to rehabilitate the reading of [Das] Kapital," he said, giving an overview of the Labour Party's socialist intellectual roots. "But you have to insert Marx into that as well because I think it's one of the best analyses of how capitalism works."

Asked about how many Labour lawmakers might rebel and vote for May's deal, he indicated none would.

"I think we'll hold our side now. I really do, and we have done on the votes this week," he said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is in disarray over Brexit but there is no majority in parliament for damaging the economy by leaving the EU without a deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance minister-in-waiting said on Wednesday.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's government is in disarray over Brexit but there is no majority in parliament for damaging the economy by leaving the EU without a deal, the opposition Labour Party's finance minister-in-waiting said on Wednesday. "We just can't go on like this," Labour finance chief John McDonnell, 67, said in a speech at Reuters in London. "We just cannot go on with this instability, uncertainty that there is in government, day by day and sometimes hour by hour." Since striking a deal with the EU last week, May has faced the most perilous crisis of her premiership with several ministers resigning, including her Brexit minister. May has pledged to fight on, warning that toppling her risks delaying Britain's exit from the EU or leaving without a deal, a step that could thrust the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. McDonnell said there was not a majority in parliament for either May's deal or for leaving the European Union without a deal. "I think an overwhelming majority oppose anything that smacks of being no deal," he said. He said the future was deeply uncertain with options including national election or parliamentary deadlock. "Then we could be into a situation of a war of attrition within parliament of amendments to legislation taking place and uncertainty continuing," he said. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, it is still unclear how, on what terms or even if it will leave as planned on March 29, 2019. When asked if he was a Marxist or a capitalist, McDonnell said he was a socialist but that Marx was one of the best analysts of how capitalism actually works. "I'm a socialist. I'm trying to rehabilitate the reading of [Das] Kapital," he said, giving an overview of the Labour Party's socialist intellectual roots. "But you have to insert Marx into that as well because I think it's one of the best analyses of how capitalism works." Asked about how many Labour lawmakers might rebel and vote for May's deal, he indicated none would. "I think we'll hold our side now. I really do, and we have done on the votes this week," he said.

Labour's McDonnell says UK in disarray but parliament will block no-deal Brexit

Brexit-supporting rebel MPs in British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party blamed "tactical disagreement" Tuesday <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-theresa-may-battling-to-save-her-job-brexit-deal-after-4-ministers-quit-177575">for failing to unseat her</a> over the divorce deal with the EU, but warned they would try again.

Some members of the hardline European Research Group (ERG) had last week warned of an imminent vote of no confidence in her leadership, but the required 48 letters of support from MPs has so far failed to materialise.

Chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said many eurosceptics believed they should challenge May when parliament votes on the Brexit deal early next month.

"There are many people who are expecting to oppose the deal in the vote and they think that is the time to write letters rather than now," he told reporters.

"That's a perfectly reasonable thing for them to think. I'd also emphasise that I'm a backbench MP, I express my view and people can agree with it or disagree with it."

Rees-Mogg's announcement on Thursday that he had submitted his own letter came just hours after two ministers quit over May's Brexit deal, raising real fears the government could collapse.

ERG organiser Steve Baker, who quit as a junior Brexit minister earlier this year over May's approach, told AFP: "The challenge is a rolling one.

"There is tactical disagreement among various colleagues about whether to go now or after the meaningful vote has been lost.

"They're more likely to defeat the prime minister after she's lost the meaningful vote, and that's what's holding back a number of colleagues."

He claims more than 70 Conservative MPs oppose May's Brexit deal, while the opposition Labour and Scottish National Party have also pledged to reject it.

But May is hoping to win over some critics with the promise of a wide-ranging future trade deal with the EU, an outline agreement on which is currently being finalised in Brussels.

The immediate failure of the ERG challenge is also indicative of how Downing Street will likely pressure individual MPs to back the government.

One ERG source complained May's office had proved effective in persuading MPs not to submit letters of no confidence.

Their efforts were greeted with mockery among some Conservative MPs.

"Not being able to account for £350 million was a deliberate lie but not being able to account for 48 looks like incompetence as well," said MP Sarah Woolaston, referencing the widely-discredited figure used by Brexiteers of how much Britain would save leaving the EU.

Brexit-supporting rebel MPs in British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party blamed "tactical disagreement" Tuesday for failing to unseat her over the divorce deal with the EU, but warned they would try again.

Brexit-supporting rebel MPs in British Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative party blamed "tactical disagreement" Tuesday for failing to unseat her over the divorce deal with the EU, but warned they would try again. Some members of the hardline European Research Group (ERG) had last week warned of an imminent vote of no confidence in her leadership, but the required 48 letters of support from MPs has so far failed to materialise. Chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg said many eurosceptics believed they should challenge May when parliament votes on the Brexit deal early next month. "There are many people who are expecting to oppose the deal in the vote and they think that is the time to write letters rather than now," he told reporters. "That's a perfectly reasonable thing for them to think. I'd also emphasise that I'm a backbench MP, I express my view and people can agree with it or disagree with it." Rees-Mogg's announcement on Thursday that he had submitted his own letter came just hours after two ministers quit over May's Brexit deal, raising real fears the government could collapse. ERG organiser Steve Baker, who quit as a junior Brexit minister earlier this year over May's approach, told AFP: "The challenge is a rolling one. "There is tactical disagreement among various colleagues about whether to go now or after the meaningful vote has been lost. "They're more likely to defeat the prime minister after she's lost the meaningful vote, and that's what's holding back a number of colleagues." He claims more than 70 Conservative MPs oppose May's Brexit deal, while the opposition Labour and Scottish National Party have also pledged to reject it. But May is hoping to win over some critics with the promise of a wide-ranging future trade deal with the EU, an outline agreement on which is currently being finalised in Brussels. The immediate failure of the ERG challenge is also indicative of how Downing Street will likely pressure individual MPs to back the government. One ERG source complained May's office had proved effective in persuading MPs not to submit letters of no confidence. Their efforts were greeted with mockery among some Conservative MPs. "Not being able to account for £350 million was a deliberate lie but not being able to account for 48 looks like incompetence as well," said MP Sarah Woolaston, referencing the widely-discredited figure used by Brexiteers of how much Britain would save leaving the EU.

Brexit-supporting MPs say they will try again to unseat PM Theresa May

By Simon Usherwood

After a week of high drama, even by the usual standards of Brexit, we find ourselves with something of a conundrum. On the one hand, no one in parliament seems to like the text of the Withdrawal Agreement that Theresa May has brought back from her negotiations. On the other, the prime minister remains determined to ensure its ratification and implementation.

The criticism has come from all directions, something that partly explains the current situation.

For those who want to have a more emphatically clean break with the EU, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, the agreement contains much to cause concern. Most prominently, there are the backstop arrangements on Northern Ireland, which will come into effect if a new agreement cannot be signed by the UK and EU by the end of the transition period in December 2020. That backstop now involves maintaining both customs and regulatory alignment for the entire UK and it can only be removed by the mutual agreement of both parties – meaning the EU has a veto on ending it.

But there are other elements, including the suggestion that this customs aspect of the backstop would form the basis of the future relationship, potentially restricting the capacity of the UK to conclude new trade deals with other countries, one of the flagship benefits that Brexiters have been selling in recent months.

Emerging factions

For those who want a close relationship with the EU, the Withdrawal Agreement looks problematic for its lack of commitment to close economic integration and its ambivalence about the status of EU citizens in the EU and UK citizens in the EU.

The recent emergence of the “Norway for now” group, including the MPs Nick Boles and Michael Gove, further complicates matters. They are looking for language that allows for a temporary membership of the European Economic Area (EEA), despite the EU’s (and Norway’s) professed doubts about the possibility, given the disruption to the EEA it would cause.

In short, everyone is seeing what they don’t like in the text and want it changed.

Crucially, however, not one of these different opinions commands any more support in parliament than May’s own position. Each group is pulling in different directions, making it impossible to satisfy everyone by any change.

Remember too that the EU has indicated that it will not be open to renegotiation around the edges of this text – so the only likely route to getting back around the table will be due to a much more major shift in UK priorities, such as a fundamentally different future relationship.

As a result, May’s compromise has perhaps more stability than might be immediately apparent. The prime minister has neither the desire nor really the capacity to find a new agreement with the EU, even before the time constraints of Article 50 and the March 29,&nbsp;2019 deadline for the UK’s withdrawal are taken into account.

May’s way or the highway

Of course, this situation is partly by May’s design – holding off finalising the text until now left as little opportunity as possible for opponents to mobilise and plot, so she can sell it as “this deal or no deal”.

We’ll find out soon enough if this gambit can work. Already, it is clear that May has done little to try and placate the critics within her own party, instead of carving her own way through the negotiations and not opening up the process to contributions from colleagues.

It is in this context that politicians who campaigned for Leave, such as Gove or Andrea Leadsom, have chosen to remain in cabinet despite their clear doubts about the Withdrawal Agreement. Better, they argue, to be on the inside trying to shape May’s decisions, than on the outside, free to speak out but also excluded from the corridors of power.

Again, the success or failure of this will become clear before long, as the ratification process begins.

What we do know is that the Withdrawal Agreement is primarily a document about the past – about ending the UK’s membership of the EU. The accompanying political declaration says relatively little about the future relationship with the EU, which will be negotiated once the UK has left. For those who stay in cabinet, that might be the real moment for exerting their power and influence and changing the course of this process.

(Simon Usherwood is Reader in Politics, University of Surrey)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theresa-mays-brexit-deal-heres-how-the-factions-want-to-rewrite-it-107115">original article</a>)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

By Simon Usherwood After a week of high drama, even by the usual standards of Brexit, we find ourselves with something of a conundrum. On the one hand, no one in parliament seems to like the text of the Withdrawal Agreement that Theresa May has brought back from her negotiations.

By Simon Usherwood After a week of high drama, even by the usual standards of Brexit, we find ourselves with something of a conundrum. On the one hand, no one in parliament seems to like the text of the Withdrawal Agreement that Theresa May has brought back from her negotiations. On the other, the prime minister remains determined to ensure its ratification and implementation. The criticism has come from all directions, something that partly explains the current situation. For those who want to have a more emphatically clean break with the EU, such as Jacob Rees-Mogg, the agreement contains much to cause concern. Most prominently, there are the backstop arrangements on Northern Ireland, which will come into effect if a new agreement cannot be signed by the UK and EU by the end of the transition period in December 2020. That backstop now involves maintaining both customs and regulatory alignment for the entire UK and it can only be removed by the mutual agreement of both parties – meaning the EU has a veto on ending it. But there are other elements, including the suggestion that this customs aspect of the backstop would form the basis of the future relationship, potentially restricting the capacity of the UK to conclude new trade deals with other countries, one of the flagship benefits that Brexiters have been selling in recent months. Emerging factions For those who want a close relationship with the EU, the Withdrawal Agreement looks problematic for its lack of commitment to close economic integration and its ambivalence about the status of EU citizens in the EU and UK citizens in the EU. The recent emergence of the “Norway for now” group, including the MPs Nick Boles and Michael Gove, further complicates matters. They are looking for language that allows for a temporary membership of the European Economic Area (EEA), despite the EU’s (and Norway’s) professed doubts about the possibility, given the disruption to the EEA it would cause. In short, everyone is seeing what they don’t like in the text and want it changed. Crucially, however, not one of these different opinions commands any more support in parliament than May’s own position. Each group is pulling in different directions, making it impossible to satisfy everyone by any change. Remember too that the EU has indicated that it will not be open to renegotiation around the edges of this text – so the only likely route to getting back around the table will be due to a much more major shift in UK priorities, such as a fundamentally different future relationship. As a result, May’s compromise has perhaps more stability than might be immediately apparent. The prime minister has neither the desire nor really the capacity to find a new agreement with the EU, even before the time constraints of Article 50 and the March 29, 2019 deadline for the UK’s withdrawal are taken into account. May’s way or the highway Of course, this situation is partly by May’s design – holding off finalising the text until now left as little opportunity as possible for opponents to mobilise and plot, so she can sell it as “this deal or no deal”. We’ll find out soon enough if this gambit can work. Already, it is clear that May has done little to try and placate the critics within her own party, instead of carving her own way through the negotiations and not opening up the process to contributions from colleagues. It is in this context that politicians who campaigned for Leave, such as Gove or Andrea Leadsom, have chosen to remain in cabinet despite their clear doubts about the Withdrawal Agreement. Better, they argue, to be on the inside trying to shape May’s decisions, than on the outside, free to speak out but also excluded from the corridors of power. Again, the success or failure of this will become clear before long, as the ratification process begins. What we do know is that the Withdrawal Agreement is primarily a document about the past – about ending the UK’s membership of the EU. The accompanying political declaration says relatively little about the future relationship with the EU, which will be negotiated once the UK has left. For those who stay in cabinet, that might be the real moment for exerting their power and influence and changing the course of this process. (Simon Usherwood is Reader in Politics, University of Surrey) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Here's how the factions want to rewrite Theresa May's Brexit deal

British Prime Minister <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/getting-rid-of-me-risks-delaying-brexit-uk-pm-theresa-may-178041">Theresa May</a> will on Monday defend her draft Brexit deal to business leaders ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week.

May will tell the Confederation of British Industry, the UK's main business lobby group, that she is confident of striking a deal at the European Council in the run-up to Sunday's summit to sign Britain's divorce papers.

"During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship," she will say, according to Downing Street.

"I am confident that we can strike a deal at the Council that I can take back to the House of Commons."

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-may-says-leadership-challenge-threshold-not-met-as-far-as-i-know-178035">UK PM May says leadership challenge threshold not met 'as far as I know'</a>

The embattled premier, whose cabinet grudgingly approved her EU divorce draft last week, faces an uphill challenge to pass her deal through a sceptical parliament.&nbsp;

The Brussels negotiations will finalise a parallel political declaration setting out a road-map for post-Brexit negotiations on future EU-UK ties.

She will also tell the CBI gathering that her deal will deliver on the issues that matter to the British people.

"Control over our borders, by bringing an end to free movement, once and for all.

"Control of our money, so we can decide for ourselves how to spend it.

"Control of our laws, by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom and ensuring that our laws are made and enforced here in this country."

The CBI said on Sunday that May's draft deal was not perfect but a compromise that "takes no deal off the table" and opens the path to frictionless trade in the future.

Addressing the issue of immigration, a concern for many businesses who fear they will face skills gaps after Brexit, May will promise to introduce "more streamlined application processes" that will "attract the brightest and the best from around the world".

"But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here," she will say.

"It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi." 
&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Monday defend her draft Brexit deal to business leaders ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Monday defend her draft Brexit deal to business leaders ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week. May will tell the Confederation of British Industry, the UK's main business lobby group, that she is confident of striking a deal at the European Council in the run-up to Sunday's summit to sign Britain's divorce papers. "During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship," she will say, according to Downing Street. "I am confident that we can strike a deal at the Council that I can take back to the House of Commons." Also read: UK PM May says leadership challenge threshold not met 'as far as I know' The embattled premier, whose cabinet grudgingly approved her EU divorce draft last week, faces an uphill challenge to pass her deal through a sceptical parliament. The Brussels negotiations will finalise a parallel political declaration setting out a road-map for post-Brexit negotiations on future EU-UK ties. She will also tell the CBI gathering that her deal will deliver on the issues that matter to the British people. "Control over our borders, by bringing an end to free movement, once and for all. "Control of our money, so we can decide for ourselves how to spend it. "Control of our laws, by ending the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice in the United Kingdom and ensuring that our laws are made and enforced here in this country." The CBI said on Sunday that May's draft deal was not perfect but a compromise that "takes no deal off the table" and opens the path to frictionless trade in the future. Addressing the issue of immigration, a concern for many businesses who fear they will face skills gaps after Brexit, May will promise to introduce "more streamlined application processes" that will "attract the brightest and the best from around the world". "But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here," she will say. "It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi."

British PM Theresa May to defend draft Brexit deal to business leaders

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday won support from big business for her draft Brexit deal ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week.

May told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK's main business lobby group, that she was "determined to deliver" her Brexit deal as she prepares for Sunday's European Council summit to sign Britain's divorce papers.

"We now have an intense week of negotiations ahead of us," she told some 1,000 business leaders at the CBI annual conference in central London.

"During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship.

"I am confident that we can strike a deal at the Council that I can take back to the House of Commons."

The embattled premier, whose cabinet grudgingly approved her EU divorce draft last week, faces an uphill challenge to pass her deal through a sceptical parliament.

She admitted that the final phase "was always going to be the toughest."

The Brussels negotiations will finalise a parallel political declaration setting out a road-map for post-Brexit negotiations on future EU-UK ties.

'Step back from cliff-edge'

CBI chief Carolyn Fairbairn gave qualified support for May's draft deal, telling the conference that "it is not perfect, it is a compromise, but it is hard-won progress."

She earlier said that the deal would move Britain "one step away from the nightmare precipice of no deal.

"It offers that essential transitional period as a step back from the cliff-edge," she said.

Responding to reports that EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had raised the prospect of extending the transition deal until the end of 2022, May said it was "important that we are out of the implementation period by the next general election", scheduled for May 2022.

Addressing the issue of immigration, a concern for many businesses who fear they will face skills gaps after Brexit, May promised to introduce "more streamlined application processes" that will "attract the brightest and the best from around the world".

"But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here," she said.

"It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi."

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday won support from big business for her draft Brexit deal ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week.

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday won support from big business for her draft Brexit deal ahead of "intense negotiations" with Brussels in the coming week. May told the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the UK's main business lobby group, that she was "determined to deliver" her Brexit deal as she prepares for Sunday's European Council summit to sign Britain's divorce papers. "We now have an intense week of negotiations ahead of us," she told some 1,000 business leaders at the CBI annual conference in central London. "During that time I expect us to hammer out the full and final details of the framework that will underpin our future relationship. "I am confident that we can strike a deal at the Council that I can take back to the House of Commons." The embattled premier, whose cabinet grudgingly approved her EU divorce draft last week, faces an uphill challenge to pass her deal through a sceptical parliament. She admitted that the final phase "was always going to be the toughest." The Brussels negotiations will finalise a parallel political declaration setting out a road-map for post-Brexit negotiations on future EU-UK ties. 'Step back from cliff-edge' CBI chief Carolyn Fairbairn gave qualified support for May's draft deal, telling the conference that "it is not perfect, it is a compromise, but it is hard-won progress." She earlier said that the deal would move Britain "one step away from the nightmare precipice of no deal. "It offers that essential transitional period as a step back from the cliff-edge," she said. Responding to reports that EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had raised the prospect of extending the transition deal until the end of 2022, May said it was "important that we are out of the implementation period by the next general election", scheduled for May 2022. Addressing the issue of immigration, a concern for many businesses who fear they will face skills gaps after Brexit, May promised to introduce "more streamlined application processes" that will "attract the brightest and the best from around the world". "But the difference will be this: once we have left the EU, we will be fully in control of who comes here," she said. "It will no longer be the case that EU nationals, regardless of the skills or experience they have to offer, can jump the queue ahead of engineers from Sydney or software developers from Delhi."

Theresa May wins business support for draft Brexit deal

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/getting-rid-of-me-risks-delaying-brexit-uk-pm-theresa-may-178041">Getting rid of me risks delaying Brexit: UK PM Theresa May</a>

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-all-party-meet-underway-to-resolve-political-crisis-178043">Sri Lanka: All-party meet underway to resolve </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-all-party-meet-underway-to-resolve-political-crisis-178043">political</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/sri-lanka-crisis-all-party-meet-underway-to-resolve-political-crisis-178043"> crisis</a>

An all-party meet called by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is underway at the Capital in a bid to end the political turmoil after Sirisena ousted Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/amritsar-grenade-attack-appears-to-be-terrorist-act-punjab-police-178037">Amritsar grenade attack appears to be 'terrorist act': Punjab police</a>

Punjab police said Sunday the&nbsp;grenade attack&nbsp;on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a "terrorist act".

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/macrons-popularity-dips-as-french-fuel-tax-revolt-simmers-178047">Macron's popularity dips as French fuel tax revolt simmers</a>

Emmanuel Macron’s popularity took a further hit in recent weeks, according to a poll on Sunday, as fuel tax protests rumbled on across France in the latest sign of discontent with the president’s economic reforms.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/israels-netanyahu-in-crucial-talks-as-he-resists-snap-polls-178042">Israel PM Netanyahu in crucial talks as he resists snap polls</a>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resisted calls for snap polls Sunday, saying elections now would be "unnecessary and wrong", ahead of what he called last-ditch talks to hold his embattled coalition together.

Getting rid of me risks delaying Brexit: UK PM Theresa May British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations.

Getting rid of me risks delaying Brexit: UK PM Theresa May British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations. Sri Lanka: All-party meet underway to resolve political crisis An all-party meet called by Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena is underway at the Capital in a bid to end the political turmoil after Sirisena ousted Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa as prime minister. Amritsar grenade attack appears to be 'terrorist act': Punjab police Punjab police said Sunday the grenade attack on a religious congregation on the outskirts of Amritsar city appears to be a "terrorist act". Macron's popularity dips as French fuel tax revolt simmers Emmanuel Macron’s popularity took a further hit in recent weeks, according to a poll on Sunday, as fuel tax protests rumbled on across France in the latest sign of discontent with the president’s economic reforms. Israel PM Netanyahu in crucial talks as he resists snap polls Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resisted calls for snap polls Sunday, saying elections now would be "unnecessary and wrong", ahead of what he called last-ditch talks to hold his embattled coalition together.

News brief: Big stories of the day

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations.

Since unveiling a draft divorce deal with the European Union on Wednesday, May's premiership has been thrust into crisis by the resignation of several ministers, including her Brexit minister, and some lawmakers from her own party seeking to oust her.

To trigger a confidence vote, 48 of her Conservative Party lawmakers must submit a letter to the chairman of the so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady.

More than 20 lawmakers have said publicly that they have submitted a letter, but others are expected to have done so confidentially. Brady told BBC Radio on Sunday the 48 threshold had not yet been reached.

"These next seven days are going to be critical, they are about the future of this country," May told Sky News. "I am not going to be distracted from the important job.

"A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier ... what it will do is mean that there is a risk that actually we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated."

May said negotiating teams were working "as we speak" and she intended to go to Brussels and meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. She said she would also be speaking to other EU leaders ahead of an EU summit to discuss the deal on Nov. 25.

Several British newspapers reported that five senior pro-Brexit ministers were working together to pressure May to change the deal, but writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper May said she saw no alternative plan on the table.

Former Brexit minister Dominic Raab, who resigned on Thursday in protest at the deal, said he supported May as leader but her deal was "fatally flawed" and he did not think it would be approved by parliament. He said May must change course.

"I still think a deal could be done but it is very late in the day now and we need to change course," Raab told the BBC.

"The biggest risk of no deal is taking a bad deal to the House of Commons ... it is very important to take the action now."

Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would vote against May's deal when it came to parliament, but distanced himself from calls for a so-called people's 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's it going to be on? What's the question going to be?" Corbyn told Sky News.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations.

British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Sunday toppling her would risk delaying Brexit and she would not let talk of a leadership challenge distract her from a critical week of negotiations. Since unveiling a draft divorce deal with the European Union on Wednesday, May's premiership has been thrust into crisis by the resignation of several ministers, including her Brexit minister, and some lawmakers from her own party seeking to oust her. To trigger a confidence vote, 48 of her Conservative Party lawmakers must submit a letter to the chairman of the so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady. More than 20 lawmakers have said publicly that they have submitted a letter, but others are expected to have done so confidentially. Brady told BBC Radio on Sunday the 48 threshold had not yet been reached. "These next seven days are going to be critical, they are about the future of this country," May told Sky News. "I am not going to be distracted from the important job. "A change of leadership at this point isn't going to make the negotiations any easier ... what it will do is mean that there is a risk that actually we delay the negotiations and that is a risk that Brexit gets delayed or frustrated." May said negotiating teams were working "as we speak" and she intended to go to Brussels and meet European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. She said she would also be speaking to other EU leaders ahead of an EU summit to discuss the deal on Nov. 25. Several British newspapers reported that five senior pro-Brexit ministers were working together to pressure May to change the deal, but writing in the Sun on Sunday newspaper May said she saw no alternative plan on the table. Former Brexit minister Dominic Raab, who resigned on Thursday in protest at the deal, said he supported May as leader but her deal was "fatally flawed" and he did not think it would be approved by parliament. He said May must change course. "I still think a deal could be done but it is very late in the day now and we need to change course," Raab told the BBC. "The biggest risk of no deal is taking a bad deal to the House of Commons ... it is very important to take the action now." Opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said his party would vote against May's deal when it came to parliament, but distanced himself from calls for a so-called people's 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's it going to be on? What's the question going to be?" Corbyn told Sky News.

Getting rid of me risks delaying Brexit: UK PM Theresa May

UK Prime Minister Theresa May received support from prominent Brexiteers on Friday, a day after&nbsp;four&nbsp;ministers resigned&nbsp;from the cabinet over the draft Brexit deal,&nbsp;

Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox confirmed on Friday about their intention to stay with May.

Asked Friday if he had confidence in May, Gove said: "I absolutely do. It's absolutely vital that we focus on getting the right deal in the future."

After the environment minister in the British cabinet <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uks-michael-gove-wont-resign-over-pm-mays-brexit-plan-reports-177709">Michael Gove </a>expressed his assent to remain in the government, other ministers Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom also said they would stay in British Prime Minister Theresa May`s government.

"Gove, Fox, Grayling, Mordaunt and Leadsom have agreed collectively to stay and will work together "to get this in a better place" says a (very good) source," Tim Shipman, political editor of the Sunday Times, said in a tweet.

Despite the support from Gove and Fox, May could yet face a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-may-will-face-no-confidence-vote-next-week-report-177714">vote of no confidence</a> from her own MPs.

At least 48 Conservative MPs are required to submit letters of no confidence in the party leader to trigger a vote and 21 have publicly confirmed they had done so.

If May wins such a vote, she cannot be challenged for 12 months.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

UK Prime Minister Theresa May received support from prominent Brexiteers on Friday, a day after four ministers resigned from the cabinet over the draft Brexit deal, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox confirmed on Friday about their intention to stay with May.

UK Prime Minister Theresa May received support from prominent Brexiteers on Friday, a day after four ministers resigned from the cabinet over the draft Brexit deal, Environment Secretary Michael Gove and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox confirmed on Friday about their intention to stay with May. Asked Friday if he had confidence in May, Gove said: "I absolutely do. It's absolutely vital that we focus on getting the right deal in the future." After the environment minister in the British cabinet Michael Gove expressed his assent to remain in the government, other ministers Liam Fox, Chris Grayling, Penny Mordaunt and Andrea Leadsom also said they would stay in British Prime Minister Theresa May`s government. "Gove, Fox, Grayling, Mordaunt and Leadsom have agreed collectively to stay and will work together "to get this in a better place" says a (very good) source," Tim Shipman, political editor of the Sunday Times, said in a tweet. Despite the support from Gove and Fox, May could yet face a vote of no confidence from her own MPs. At least 48 Conservative MPs are required to submit letters of no confidence in the party leader to trigger a vote and 21 have publicly confirmed they had done so. If May wins such a vote, she cannot be challenged for 12 months. (With inputs from agencies)

Prominent Brexiteers back British PM Theresa May in Brexit battle

The British pound lay battered and bruised in Asia on Friday after a bout of political turmoil fanned fears the country could crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal.

Asian share markets fared better as hopes for a thaw in Sino-US trade relations gave Wall Street a fillip, though there were duelling reports on the prospects for an actual agreement.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was ahead 0.26 per cent in early trade, while Japan's Nikkei added 0.2 per cent.

Still, sterling stole the limelight after a rash of resignations rocked Prime Minister Theresa May's government and threw into doubt her long-awaited Brexit agreement just hours after it was unveiled.

Fears that May's hard-fought deal could collapse sent British markets into gyrations not seen since the June 2016 referendum on EU membership.

The pound suffered its biggest one-day loss against the euro since October 2016 and was last at 88.63 pence. Against the dollar, it was huddled at $1.2777 after shedding 1.6 per cent overnight.

Joseph Capurso, a senior currency strategist at CBA, listed just some of sterling's woes.

"If and when a vote on the withdrawal agreement occurs is uncertain. Whether the withdrawal bill is passed by both houses of Parliament is uncertain," Capurso said in a note.

"Whether the Prime Minister resigns or is challenged for the leadership is uncertain. And, whether there is a second referendum and/or an election is uncertain."

All of which helped British bonds rally sharply as investors wagered the political chaos and risk of a hard Brexit would deter the Bank of England from tightening anytime soon.

Yields on 5-year paper staged the largest one-day decline since the Brexit vote at almost 15 basis points.

DID HE? OR DIDN'T HE?

Absent the British drama, investors chose to be optimistic on the chance of progress on tariffs between the United States and China.

A Financial Times report said US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has told some industry executives that another round of US tariffs on Chinese imports has been put on hold.

CNBC later reported that Lighthizer's office had denied the story, but markets were cheered anyway.

The benchmark S&amp;P 500 index gained 1.06 per cent to snap five days of losses, while the Dow rose 0.83 per cent and the Nasdaq 1.72 per cent.&nbsp;

The plunge in sterling lifted the dollar against a basket of currencies to 97.06, even as the euro firmed a touch to $1.1328.

Also underwater was the cryptocurrency Bitcoin which hit a one-year trough overnight after tumbling 10 per cent early in the week when support at $6,000 gave way. It was last changing hands at $5,563.46 on the Bitstamp platform.

In commodity markets, gold was up a shade at $1,214.30.

Oil prices regained a little composure after their recent drubbing, helped by a decline in US fuel stockpiles and the possibility of a cut in OPEC output.&nbsp;

US crude was trading up 3 cents at $56.49. Brent crude was yet to trade but had ended Thursday up 58 cents at $66.70 a barrel.

The British pound lay battered and bruised in Asia on Friday after a bout of political turmoil fanned fears the country could crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal.

The British pound lay battered and bruised in Asia on Friday after a bout of political turmoil fanned fears the country could crash out of the European Union without a divorce deal. Asian share markets fared better as hopes for a thaw in Sino-US trade relations gave Wall Street a fillip, though there were duelling reports on the prospects for an actual agreement. MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan was ahead 0.26 per cent in early trade, while Japan's Nikkei added 0.2 per cent. Still, sterling stole the limelight after a rash of resignations rocked Prime Minister Theresa May's government and threw into doubt her long-awaited Brexit agreement just hours after it was unveiled. Fears that May's hard-fought deal could collapse sent British markets into gyrations not seen since the June 2016 referendum on EU membership. The pound suffered its biggest one-day loss against the euro since October 2016 and was last at 88.63 pence. Against the dollar, it was huddled at $1.2777 after shedding 1.6 per cent overnight. Joseph Capurso, a senior currency strategist at CBA, listed just some of sterling's woes. "If and when a vote on the withdrawal agreement occurs is uncertain. Whether the withdrawal bill is passed by both houses of Parliament is uncertain," Capurso said in a note. "Whether the Prime Minister resigns or is challenged for the leadership is uncertain. And, whether there is a second referendum and/or an election is uncertain." All of which helped British bonds rally sharply as investors wagered the political chaos and risk of a hard Brexit would deter the Bank of England from tightening anytime soon. Yields on 5-year paper staged the largest one-day decline since the Brexit vote at almost 15 basis points. DID HE? OR DIDN'T HE? Absent the British drama, investors chose to be optimistic on the chance of progress on tariffs between the United States and China. A Financial Times report said US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer has told some industry executives that another round of US tariffs on Chinese imports has been put on hold. CNBC later reported that Lighthizer's office had denied the story, but markets were cheered anyway. The benchmark S&P 500 index gained 1.06 per cent to snap five days of losses, while the Dow rose 0.83 per cent and the Nasdaq 1.72 per cent. The plunge in sterling lifted the dollar against a basket of currencies to 97.06, even as the euro firmed a touch to $1.1328. Also underwater was the cryptocurrency Bitcoin which hit a one-year trough overnight after tumbling 10 per cent early in the week when support at $6,000 gave way. It was last changing hands at $5,563.46 on the Bitstamp platform. In commodity markets, gold was up a shade at $1,214.30. Oil prices regained a little composure after their recent drubbing, helped by a decline in US fuel stockpiles and the possibility of a cut in OPEC output. US crude was trading up 3 cents at $56.49. Brent crude was yet to trade but had ended Thursday up 58 cents at $66.70 a barrel.

Sterling scarred by Brexit turmoil; Asia shares cling to trade hopes

In the wake of the wave of opposition and resignations from the government and the Parliament over the volatile issue of Brexit, British ruling Conservative Party suffered another jolt on Thursday (November 15) when its Vice Chairman and Prime Minister`s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Rehman Chishti, resigned from both portfolios.

Chishti is a Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham constituencies.

In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Theresa May on November 15, Rehman Chishti openly opposed her policy on Brexit and termed it absolute contradiction to the promises made to public in the election manifesto.

"At the outset, this, for me is about delivering on the promises that we made to the British people at the General Election last year in our manifesto, that leaving the European Union (EU) means leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union, that the UK will be taking back, control over our laws, our borders and our money...The terms of the backstop, in effect, amount in my view to a hybrid membership of the EU Customs Union and Single Market and further the EU would hold a veto over our ability to exit. The UK in effect will be part of a system where it will be a rule taker without any say on the rules," he stated.

The second point of his resignation letter was Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi`s case. He complained that the government has dealt with the case inappropriately.

"This is a case that I have worked on passionately since 2012, alongside Bishop Michael Nazir Ali (former Bishop of Rochester) to ensure that justice is done which was handed down by the Pakistan Supreme Court only recently", he wrote.

Rehman Chishti added, "What I found shocking, is that the British Government is failing to put into practice the core values that our country stands for; religious freedom, justice, morally doing the right thing and that when we see injustice where an individual`s life is in clear danger and they have been persecuted for their faith, we do all that we can to help them. The Government should not wait to see if another country offers sanctuary, we should have had the conviction to lead on this matter and offer sanctuary ourselves straight away".

Rehman Chishti aka `Ray Chishti` drew the attention of Prime Minister Theresa May towards his letter sent to her on November 13 and said the letter has now the support of 124 British Parliamentarians of both Houses.

He once again requested for her personal intervention in this case and to ensure that a morally right decision is finally made which takes into account of British core values, irrespective of the position that any other country may take on this.

Referring to his appointment as PM`s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Chishti said that he enjoyed this responsibility for the past 14 months for a country that he passionately cares about.

He added that the UK-Pakistan Trade Team has done fantastic work and the trade between the two countries has increased by over 10 per cent in the last year alone and now stands at £2.9 billion.&nbsp;

In the wake of the wave of opposition and resignations from the government and the Parliament over the volatile issue of Brexit, British ruling Conservative Party suffered another jolt on Thursday (November 15) when its Vice Chairman and Prime Minister`s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Rehman Chishti, resigned from both portfolios.

In the wake of the wave of opposition and resignations from the government and the Parliament over the volatile issue of Brexit, British ruling Conservative Party suffered another jolt on Thursday (November 15) when its Vice Chairman and Prime Minister`s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Rehman Chishti, resigned from both portfolios. Chishti is a Member of Parliament for Gillingham and Rainham constituencies. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Theresa May on November 15, Rehman Chishti openly opposed her policy on Brexit and termed it absolute contradiction to the promises made to public in the election manifesto. "At the outset, this, for me is about delivering on the promises that we made to the British people at the General Election last year in our manifesto, that leaving the European Union (EU) means leaving the Single Market and the Customs Union, that the UK will be taking back, control over our laws, our borders and our money...The terms of the backstop, in effect, amount in my view to a hybrid membership of the EU Customs Union and Single Market and further the EU would hold a veto over our ability to exit. The UK in effect will be part of a system where it will be a rule taker without any say on the rules," he stated. The second point of his resignation letter was Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi`s case. He complained that the government has dealt with the case inappropriately. "This is a case that I have worked on passionately since 2012, alongside Bishop Michael Nazir Ali (former Bishop of Rochester) to ensure that justice is done which was handed down by the Pakistan Supreme Court only recently", he wrote. Rehman Chishti added, "What I found shocking, is that the British Government is failing to put into practice the core values that our country stands for; religious freedom, justice, morally doing the right thing and that when we see injustice where an individual`s life is in clear danger and they have been persecuted for their faith, we do all that we can to help them. The Government should not wait to see if another country offers sanctuary, we should have had the conviction to lead on this matter and offer sanctuary ourselves straight away". Rehman Chishti aka `Ray Chishti` drew the attention of Prime Minister Theresa May towards his letter sent to her on November 13 and said the letter has now the support of 124 British Parliamentarians of both Houses. He once again requested for her personal intervention in this case and to ensure that a morally right decision is finally made which takes into account of British core values, irrespective of the position that any other country may take on this. Referring to his appointment as PM`s Trade Envoy to Pakistan, Chishti said that he enjoyed this responsibility for the past 14 months for a country that he passionately cares about. He added that the UK-Pakistan Trade Team has done fantastic work and the trade between the two countries has increased by over 10 per cent in the last year alone and now stands at £2.9 billion.

British MP Rehman Chishti resigns from UK top portfolios over Brexit, Asia Bibi case

Britain's Supreme Court said on Friday it would consider whether to hear an appeal from the British government which wants to stop Europe`s top court from examining a case seeking to determine whether the country can unilaterally reverse Brexit.

Scottish politicians who are opposed to Britain leaving the European Union want the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether London can withdraw its notification to leave without permission from the EU`s other member states.

Prime Minister Theresa May`s government, which on Tuesday announced it had agreed a draft divorce deal with the EU, had argued that whether or not Britain could reverse the decision was immaterial since ministers had no intention of doing so.

However, Scotland`s Court of Session ruled last week that the government could not prevent the ECJ from hearing the case on November 27.&nbsp;

The government has now taken its case to Britain`s Supreme Court which said it would now decide whether to hear an appeal.

"The court is aware of the urgency of this matter," Britain`s top court said in a statement.

The anti-Brexit petitioners aim to show that Britain has a legal unilateral option of staying in the EU, the world`s biggest trading bloc, once the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is known.

It is not clear when the ECJ might issue its ruling to clarify the interpretation of Article 50 of the EU treaty, under which London last year gave two years` notice of its departure.

May`s draft deal has faced opposition from many in her own Conservative Party as well as from the Northern Irish party which props up her minority government and opposition lawmakers.

She has said the country faces three options: backing her deal, leaving the EU in a disorderly "no deal" Brexit, which would be very disruptive for businesses and citizens, or no Brexit.

Pro-EU supporters who want a second referendum are hoping the case will give the option that Britain could change its mind in a second referendum and remain in the bloc after all.&nbsp;

Britain's Supreme Court said on Friday it would consider whether to hear an appeal from the British government which wants to stop Europe`s top court from examining a case seeking to determine whether the country can unilaterally reverse Brexit.

Britain's Supreme Court said on Friday it would consider whether to hear an appeal from the British government which wants to stop Europe`s top court from examining a case seeking to determine whether the country can unilaterally reverse Brexit. Scottish politicians who are opposed to Britain leaving the European Union want the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to clarify whether London can withdraw its notification to leave without permission from the EU`s other member states. Prime Minister Theresa May`s government, which on Tuesday announced it had agreed a draft divorce deal with the EU, had argued that whether or not Britain could reverse the decision was immaterial since ministers had no intention of doing so. However, Scotland`s Court of Session ruled last week that the government could not prevent the ECJ from hearing the case on November 27. The government has now taken its case to Britain`s Supreme Court which said it would now decide whether to hear an appeal. "The court is aware of the urgency of this matter," Britain`s top court said in a statement. The anti-Brexit petitioners aim to show that Britain has a legal unilateral option of staying in the EU, the world`s biggest trading bloc, once the outcome of the Brexit negotiations is known. It is not clear when the ECJ might issue its ruling to clarify the interpretation of Article 50 of the EU treaty, under which London last year gave two years` notice of its departure. May`s draft deal has faced opposition from many in her own Conservative Party as well as from the Northern Irish party which props up her minority government and opposition lawmakers. She has said the country faces three options: backing her deal, leaving the EU in a disorderly "no deal" Brexit, which would be very disruptive for businesses and citizens, or no Brexit. Pro-EU supporters who want a second referendum are hoping the case will give the option that Britain could change its mind in a second referendum and remain in the bloc after all.

Top UK court to consider government appeal in Brexit reversal case

The pound rebounded slightly Friday after Britain's currency was hammered by Brexit fears, while stock markets diverged and oil prices rallied once more.

Around 1145 GMT, the pound was up about 0.35 per cent against the dollar and euro.

The UK currency had slumped 1.7 per cent against the dollar on Thursday, the biggest drop for more than two years.

The same day, the euro jumped 1.9 per cent against the pound, its strongest performance since June 2016, or immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum.

"Stability in the pound... could be short-lived, with clamours for a vote of no confidence from Conservative Brexiteers meaning the political upheaval will continue as we end the week," noted Joshua Mahony, market analyst at IG trading group.

British Prime Minister Theresa May faced the public on Friday to defend her Brexit deal as she battles to salvage the agreement and her own political future.

May made a rare outing on a radio phone-in during which she faced a call to step down after a tumultuous Thursday in which ministers resigned and members of her own party plotted to oust her.

Brexiteer MPs fear the draft deal would keep Britain shackled to the Brussels, while EU supporters say it would leave the UK on worse terms than it has inside the bloc.

Elsewhere on Friday, European stock markets traded narrowly mixed.

European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Friday said that he saw "no reason" why growth in the eurozone should wither even after a sharp slowdown in the third quarter.

Asian stock markets meanwhile swung throughout Friday as investors weighed China-US trade speculation.

Hopes that the world's top two economies are making efforts to resolve their painful tariffs standoff provided support to global markets, though conflicting reports were keeping any optimism in check.

On Thursday it was reported that China had handed the US a number of trade concessions as part of a move to smooth relations ahead of a G20 summit where Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The Financial Times said the two sides were stepping up efforts and that US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had told business leaders the next round of tariffs would be put on hold. While Lighthizer's office denied that, observers said the news still provided some hope.

In commodities trading, oil prices rose strongly, having been hammered by oversupply and weak demand concerns earlier this week.

Despite data showing another jump in US stockpiles the commodity is enjoying some much-needed buying interest after kingpin Saudi Arabia said it plans to cut output and called on other producers to follow suit.

Adding to the upward pressure on crude futures are simmering tensions between Riyadh and Washington over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with the US imposing sanctions on several senior officials in the Saudi government.

Rob Thummel, managing director at Tortoise, said the imposition of the sanctions "puts some risk back into the market", which had been hit by a continuous build-up in US inventories.

Bitcoin meanwhile recovered to stand at $5,499.49.

Key figures around 1135 GMT

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2812 from $1.2778 at 2200 GMT

Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.43 pence from 88.64 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1329 from $1.1325&nbsp;

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 7,012.05 points

Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.1 per cent at 11,359.91

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 5,029.29

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 3,186.63&nbsp;

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 21,680.34 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.3 per cent at 26,183.53 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 per cent at 2,679.11 (close)

New York - Dow: UP 0.8 per cent at 25,290.39 (close)

Oil - Brent Crude: UP $1.13 at $67.75 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 92 cents at $57.38

The pound rebounded slightly Friday after Britain's currency was hammered by Brexit fears, while stock markets diverged and oil prices rallied once more. Around 1145 GMT, the pound was up about 0.

The pound rebounded slightly Friday after Britain's currency was hammered by Brexit fears, while stock markets diverged and oil prices rallied once more. Around 1145 GMT, the pound was up about 0.35 per cent against the dollar and euro. The UK currency had slumped 1.7 per cent against the dollar on Thursday, the biggest drop for more than two years. The same day, the euro jumped 1.9 per cent against the pound, its strongest performance since June 2016, or immediate aftermath of the Brexit referendum. "Stability in the pound... could be short-lived, with clamours for a vote of no confidence from Conservative Brexiteers meaning the political upheaval will continue as we end the week," noted Joshua Mahony, market analyst at IG trading group. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced the public on Friday to defend her Brexit deal as she battles to salvage the agreement and her own political future. May made a rare outing on a radio phone-in during which she faced a call to step down after a tumultuous Thursday in which ministers resigned and members of her own party plotted to oust her. Brexiteer MPs fear the draft deal would keep Britain shackled to the Brussels, while EU supporters say it would leave the UK on worse terms than it has inside the bloc. Elsewhere on Friday, European stock markets traded narrowly mixed. European Central Bank President Mario Draghi on Friday said that he saw "no reason" why growth in the eurozone should wither even after a sharp slowdown in the third quarter. Asian stock markets meanwhile swung throughout Friday as investors weighed China-US trade speculation. Hopes that the world's top two economies are making efforts to resolve their painful tariffs standoff provided support to global markets, though conflicting reports were keeping any optimism in check. On Thursday it was reported that China had handed the US a number of trade concessions as part of a move to smooth relations ahead of a G20 summit where Donald Trump is expected to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Financial Times said the two sides were stepping up efforts and that US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer had told business leaders the next round of tariffs would be put on hold. While Lighthizer's office denied that, observers said the news still provided some hope. In commodities trading, oil prices rose strongly, having been hammered by oversupply and weak demand concerns earlier this week. Despite data showing another jump in US stockpiles the commodity is enjoying some much-needed buying interest after kingpin Saudi Arabia said it plans to cut output and called on other producers to follow suit. Adding to the upward pressure on crude futures are simmering tensions between Riyadh and Washington over the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, with the US imposing sanctions on several senior officials in the Saudi government. Rob Thummel, managing director at Tortoise, said the imposition of the sanctions "puts some risk back into the market", which had been hit by a continuous build-up in US inventories. Bitcoin meanwhile recovered to stand at $5,499.49. Key figures around 1135 GMT Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2812 from $1.2778 at 2200 GMT Euro/pound: DOWN at 88.43 pence from 88.64 pence Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1329 from $1.1325 London - FTSE 100: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 7,012.05 points Frankfurt - DAX 30: UP 0.1 per cent at 11,359.91 Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 5,029.29 EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 3,186.63 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 21,680.34 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 0.3 per cent at 26,183.53 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 0.4 per cent at 2,679.11 (close) New York - Dow: UP 0.8 per cent at 25,290.39 (close) Oil - Brent Crude: UP $1.13 at $67.75 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: UP 92 cents at $57.38

Pound rebounds after Brexit upheaval rout

By Andy Price

The contrast between what Theresa May said and the way she said&nbsp;was stark. In a subdued, almost reticent way, Theresa May told the nation on the steps of 10 Downing Street on November 14 that she “believed with her head and her heart” in the draft withdrawal agreement she had negotiated with the EU. The cabinet also backed it, she told us.

As subsequent cabinet resignations have proven, there was no such agreement. The whole address looks increasingly like it could be the first part of a long and drawn out resignation letter.

It was also the culmination of May’s ultimate folly: the crumbling of her absurd red lines. These red lines – leaving the customs union and the single market, ending the jurisdiction of the ECJ – were never compatible with not having a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, nor with a smooth transition in general. More painfully, these red lines were almost totally unnecessary. These issues were not on the 2016 referendum ballot. History will be a harsh judge as to why May and her team – stand up, Nick Timothy – chose to go down this path.

It has been clear for a long time that there is little appetite for these red lines especially in light of the potential impacts (a border in Ireland and disruption to trade to name two). But the root of the problem is this: from the moment she became PM, May played to a particular gallery: the Hard Brexiteers within her own party. It was to these people, first and foremost, who May spoke. Despite appeals to the hallowed “will of the people”, it was the will of the Brexiteers that May appealed to from late 2016 onwards.

But now that approach has crumbled on contact with the reality of UK and EU politics. Not only does this deal achieve the remarkable feat of being both the product of her red lines and an immediate transgression of them, May’s appearance before parliament the day after the Withdrawal Agreement was published showed one thing clearly: her deal has not only divided her cabinet but has no support in the Commons.

What next?

The question now, then, is what happens next, and there are two areas to focus on. First, what happens to the government and the Conservative Party. With rumours that the 1922 Committee has the requisite number of letters (48) to trigger a leadership challenge circulating, and with rumours that even May and her team now realise that “no Brexit” is an option, one thing is clear: business as usual is not possible.

This could mean an eventual vote of no-confidence, ousting May, and even another general election (though the latter is unlikely given that it would require two-thirds of the Commons to vote for it). It could also mean that May hangs on, and the deal is voted down, and the UK careers towards an exit from the EU with no deal. One thing is for sure: parliamentary gridlock and uncertainty is a new reality.

The second area to consider is what the Labour Party will now choose to do. Will Jeremy Corbyn make the same mistake as May has done, and elevate the immediate politics of his party – including the politics of which Labour constituencies voted Leave – above the national interest? Or will he do the one thing the UK has so badly lacked over the last two years: put all personal and party politics aside and face the reality of just how difficult the implementation of the result of the 2016 referendum was.

If the Labour Party was to choose the latter course, it has to address three key issues head-on. First, just how flawed the idea of the 2016 referendum was in the first place – the binary Leave/Remain ballot paper on such a complex issue was asking for trouble. Second, how problematic the Leave campaign itself was. On top of the most egregious lies – the bus, the purported ascension of Turkey – we now know that there are criminal charges to be answered around the Leave campaigns, official and unofficial.

Finally, it must deal with a much more deep-seated and intractable issue in UK politics: the framing of the EU in the political community of the UK. Ever since joining in 1973, both sides of the political divide have misrepresented what the EU actually is and the idea that the UK is exceptional and worthy of special treatment. Worse, when politically expedient, they have blamed the EU for various domestic woes.

This litany of delusion on the part of the UK political establishment needs to be taken on by a party or a leader who has no ideological axe to grind, has no gallery to play to, has only the desire and the ability to lead in the greatest sense of the idea of leadership – taking many millions of people with you on a journey they may disagree with in the name of the national interest.

It remains to be seen whether Corbyn or Labour is up to this challenge. But there is no doubt that no matter what happens in the Commons in the next few days, in the long term, the emergence of a political figure or movement that can do exactly this is what the UK most desperately needs.

(Andy Price is Head of Politics, Sheffield Hallam University)

(This article was first published on The DNA. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/theresa-mays-brexit-deal-is-dead-in-the-water-now-what-for-britain-107029">original article</a>.)

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

By Andy Price The contrast between what Theresa May said and the way she said was stark. In a subdued, almost reticent way, Theresa May told the nation on the steps of 10 Downing Street on November 14 that she “believed with her head and her heart” in the draft withdrawal agreement she had negotiated with the EU.

By Andy Price The contrast between what Theresa May said and the way she said was stark. In a subdued, almost reticent way, Theresa May told the nation on the steps of 10 Downing Street on November 14 that she “believed with her head and her heart” in the draft withdrawal agreement she had negotiated with the EU. The cabinet also backed it, she told us. As subsequent cabinet resignations have proven, there was no such agreement. The whole address looks increasingly like it could be the first part of a long and drawn out resignation letter. It was also the culmination of May’s ultimate folly: the crumbling of her absurd red lines. These red lines – leaving the customs union and the single market, ending the jurisdiction of the ECJ – were never compatible with not having a border between Northern Ireland and the Republic, nor with a smooth transition in general. More painfully, these red lines were almost totally unnecessary. These issues were not on the 2016 referendum ballot. History will be a harsh judge as to why May and her team – stand up, Nick Timothy – chose to go down this path. It has been clear for a long time that there is little appetite for these red lines especially in light of the potential impacts (a border in Ireland and disruption to trade to name two). But the root of the problem is this: from the moment she became PM, May played to a particular gallery: the Hard Brexiteers within her own party. It was to these people, first and foremost, who May spoke. Despite appeals to the hallowed “will of the people”, it was the will of the Brexiteers that May appealed to from late 2016 onwards. But now that approach has crumbled on contact with the reality of UK and EU politics. Not only does this deal achieve the remarkable feat of being both the product of her red lines and an immediate transgression of them, May’s appearance before parliament the day after the Withdrawal Agreement was published showed one thing clearly: her deal has not only divided her cabinet but has no support in the Commons. What next? The question now, then, is what happens next, and there are two areas to focus on. First, what happens to the government and the Conservative Party. With rumours that the 1922 Committee has the requisite number of letters (48) to trigger a leadership challenge circulating, and with rumours that even May and her team now realise that “no Brexit” is an option, one thing is clear: business as usual is not possible. This could mean an eventual vote of no-confidence, ousting May, and even another general election (though the latter is unlikely given that it would require two-thirds of the Commons to vote for it). It could also mean that May hangs on, and the deal is voted down, and the UK careers towards an exit from the EU with no deal. One thing is for sure: parliamentary gridlock and uncertainty is a new reality. The second area to consider is what the Labour Party will now choose to do. Will Jeremy Corbyn make the same mistake as May has done, and elevate the immediate politics of his party – including the politics of which Labour constituencies voted Leave – above the national interest? Or will he do the one thing the UK has so badly lacked over the last two years: put all personal and party politics aside and face the reality of just how difficult the implementation of the result of the 2016 referendum was. If the Labour Party was to choose the latter course, it has to address three key issues head-on. First, just how flawed the idea of the 2016 referendum was in the first place – the binary Leave/Remain ballot paper on such a complex issue was asking for trouble. Second, how problematic the Leave campaign itself was. On top of the most egregious lies – the bus, the purported ascension of Turkey – we now know that there are criminal charges to be answered around the Leave campaigns, official and unofficial. Finally, it must deal with a much more deep-seated and intractable issue in UK politics: the framing of the EU in the political community of the UK. Ever since joining in 1973, both sides of the political divide have misrepresented what the EU actually is and the idea that the UK is exceptional and worthy of special treatment. Worse, when politically expedient, they have blamed the EU for various domestic woes. This litany of delusion on the part of the UK political establishment needs to be taken on by a party or a leader who has no ideological axe to grind, has no gallery to play to, has only the desire and the ability to lead in the greatest sense of the idea of leadership – taking many millions of people with you on a journey they may disagree with in the name of the national interest. It remains to be seen whether Corbyn or Labour is up to this challenge. But there is no doubt that no matter what happens in the Commons in the next few days, in the long term, the emergence of a political figure or movement that can do exactly this is what the UK most desperately needs. (Andy Price is Head of Politics, Sheffield Hallam University) (This article was first published on The DNA. Read the original article.) (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Theresa May’s Brexit deal is dead in the water – now what for Britain?

Prime Minister Theresa May will face a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/factbox-who-has-submitted-letters-of-no-confidence-in-uk-pm-may-177703">no-confidence vote</a> next week with Conservative lawmakers expected to submit the 48 letters required to trigger a leadership contest on Friday, a reporter at the Daily Telegraph said.

May could face the no-confidence vote on Tuesday, Telegraph Chief Political Correspondent Christopher Hope said on Twitter, citing Brexiteer sources.

Some lawmakers in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the British leader.

A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters to the chairman of the party`s so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady.

May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her.

Brady has not said how many letters have been submitted. It is not clear how he would announce any vote.

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Theresa May will face a no-confidence vote next week with Conservative lawmakers expected to submit the 48 letters required to trigger a leadership contest on Friday, a reporter at the Daily Telegraph said.

Prime Minister Theresa May will face a no-confidence vote next week with Conservative lawmakers expected to submit the 48 letters required to trigger a leadership contest on Friday, a reporter at the Daily Telegraph said. May could face the no-confidence vote on Tuesday, Telegraph Chief Political Correspondent Christopher Hope said on Twitter, citing Brexiteer sources. Some lawmakers in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the British leader. A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters to the chairman of the party`s so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady. May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her. Brady has not said how many letters have been submitted. It is not clear how he would announce any vote.

UK PM May will face no confidence vote next week: Report

Prominent Brexiteer Michael Gove will not quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government, reports clarified on Friday.

The clarification came amid reports that speculated his resignation after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/britains-work-and-pensions-minister-mcvey-quits-over-brexit-deal-177518">four ministers quit the British cabinet </a>on Thursday.

Michael Gove who is the environment minister in the British cabinet will remain in the government.

"Michael is staying at Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)," a source close to Gove told the Times. "He thinks it is important to continue working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the best outcome for the country."

The Spectator magazine was the first to report that he would stay and the BBC also said he would remain in his job.

As the European Council president Donald Tusk announced&nbsp;the date to&nbsp;formalise the Brexit Deal, junior Northern Ireland minister&nbsp;Shailesh Vara resigned from the British government on Thursday.

Three other ministers including&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-secretary-raab-resigns-thrusting-mays-government-into-turmoil-177508">British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab</a>,&nbsp;Britain's Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey and Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman too resigned in protest.

Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum.

Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prominent Brexiteer Michael Gove will not quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government, reports clarified on Friday. The clarification came amid reports that speculated his resignation after four ministers quit the British cabinet on Thursday.

Prominent Brexiteer Michael Gove will not quit Prime Minister Theresa May's government, reports clarified on Friday. The clarification came amid reports that speculated his resignation after four ministers quit the British cabinet on Thursday. Michael Gove who is the environment minister in the British cabinet will remain in the government. "Michael is staying at Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)," a source close to Gove told the Times. "He thinks it is important to continue working with Cabinet colleagues to ensure the best outcome for the country." The Spectator magazine was the first to report that he would stay and the BBC also said he would remain in his job. As the European Council president Donald Tusk announced the date to formalise the Brexit Deal, junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara resigned from the British government on Thursday. Three other ministers including British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Britain's Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey and Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman too resigned in protest. Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum. Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament. (With inputs from agencies)

UK's Michael Gove won't resign over PM May's Brexit plan: Reports

British Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting for survival on Friday after a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/europe/european-council-to-meet-on-november-25th-to-formalise-brexit-agreement-northern-ireland-minister-resigns-from-mays-cabinet-177484">draft divorce deal with the European Union</a> provoked the resignations of senior ministers and mutiny in her party.

More than <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-protests-outside-downing-street-as-uk-ministers-debate-deal-177387">two years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU</a>, it is still unclear how, on what terms or even if it will leave the EU as planned on March 29, 2019.

May, who won the top job in the turmoil that followed the 2016 referendum, has sought to negotiate a Brexit deal that ensures that the United Kingdom leaves in the smoothest way possible.

But Brexit minister Dominic Raab <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-theresa-may-battling-to-save-her-job-brexit-deal-after-4-ministers-quit-177575">resigned on Thursday</a> over her deal, sending the pound tumbling. Mutinous lawmakers in her own party openly sought to challenge her leadership and bluntly told her that the Brexit deal would not pass parliament.

May, who has vowed to stay on as prime minister, was asked by a caller on an LBC radio phone-in on Friday to "respectfully stand down". She did not immediately address that part of the caller's question.

"I haven't appointed a new Brexit Secretary yet but of course I will be doing that over the course of the next day or so," May said when asked if she had offered it to Michael Gove, the most prominent Brexit-supporting minister in her government.

Gove, 51, gave no comment when asked outside his house whether he would support May. The BBC said May had offered him the job of Brexit minister but he had rejected the job.

Media reports, citing sources close to Gove who torpedoed former foreign minister Boris Johnson's leadership bid in 2016 at the last minute, will stay as environment minister.

Sterling, which has see-sawed on Brexit news since the referendum, was flat at $1.2783 on Friday, down almost three cents since a deal was struck on Tuesday.

Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. Many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China.

Amid the deepest political turmoil since the Suez canal crisis, when in 1956 Britain was forced by the United States to withdraw its troops from Egypt, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain.

Brexit challenge

Scenarios include May's deal ultimately winning approval; May losing her job; Britain leaving the bloc with no agreement; or even another referendum.

To leave the EU on the terms of her deal, May would need to get the backing of about 320 of parliament's 650 lawmakers. The deal is due to be discussed at an EU summit on November 25.

Some lawmakers in May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence. When 48 letters are submitted to the party's so-called 1922 committee, she will face a leadership challenge.

Politicians, officials and diplomats in London openly questioned how long May had left as speculation swirled around London that a leadership challenge could come soon.

Sky said government whips, who enforce discipline in the party, had been summoned to parliament as a challenge was close. If a confidence vote is called among her lawmakers, May would need a simple majority of the total votes in order to win.

By seeking to preserve the closest possible ties with the EU, May has upset her party's many advocates of a clean break, and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the DUP had demanded May be replaced as prime minister.

"Oh I haven't had a testy exchange with Arlene," May said. "They've raised some questions with us, they've raised some concerns with us and yes we are looking at those.

"We are still working with the DUP," she said.

Nightmare for business?

The EU and Britain need an agreement to keep trade flowing between the world's biggest trading bloc and the United Kingdom, home to the biggest international financial centre.

May said she felt the threat of a no deal Brexit personally as she was Type 1 diabetic: "I depend on insulin every day. My insulin is produced by a country elsewhere in the European Union."

British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce said it was continuing with its contingency plans.

The plans include "buffer stocks so that we have all the logistical capacity that we need to carry on running our business," said Chief Executive Warren East.

Supporters of Brexit say that while the divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and also enable deeper EU integration without such a powerful reluctant member.

Meanwhile, proponents of closer relations with the EU in her own party and the Labour opposition say the deal squanders the advantages of membership for little gain.

"It is ... mathematically impossible to get this deal through the House of Commons. The stark reality is that it was dead on arrival," said Conservative Brexit-supporting lawmaker Mark Francois.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting for survival on Friday after a draft divorce deal with the European Union provoked the resignations of senior ministers and mutiny in her party.

British Prime Minister Theresa May was fighting for survival on Friday after a draft divorce deal with the European Union provoked the resignations of senior ministers and mutiny in her party. More than two years after the United Kingdom voted to leave the EU, it is still unclear how, on what terms or even if it will leave the EU as planned on March 29, 2019. May, who won the top job in the turmoil that followed the 2016 referendum, has sought to negotiate a Brexit deal that ensures that the United Kingdom leaves in the smoothest way possible. But Brexit minister Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday over her deal, sending the pound tumbling. Mutinous lawmakers in her own party openly sought to challenge her leadership and bluntly told her that the Brexit deal would not pass parliament. May, who has vowed to stay on as prime minister, was asked by a caller on an LBC radio phone-in on Friday to "respectfully stand down". She did not immediately address that part of the caller's question. "I haven't appointed a new Brexit Secretary yet but of course I will be doing that over the course of the next day or so," May said when asked if she had offered it to Michael Gove, the most prominent Brexit-supporting minister in her government. Gove, 51, gave no comment when asked outside his house whether he would support May. The BBC said May had offered him the job of Brexit minister but he had rejected the job. Media reports, citing sources close to Gove who torpedoed former foreign minister Boris Johnson's leadership bid in 2016 at the last minute, will stay as environment minister. Sterling, which has see-sawed on Brexit news since the referendum, was flat at $1.2783 on Friday, down almost three cents since a deal was struck on Tuesday. Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown. Many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with both the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. Amid the deepest political turmoil since the Suez canal crisis, when in 1956 Britain was forced by the United States to withdraw its troops from Egypt, the ultimate outcome remains uncertain. Brexit challenge Scenarios include May's deal ultimately winning approval; May losing her job; Britain leaving the bloc with no agreement; or even another referendum. To leave the EU on the terms of her deal, May would need to get the backing of about 320 of parliament's 650 lawmakers. The deal is due to be discussed at an EU summit on November 25. Some lawmakers in May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence. When 48 letters are submitted to the party's so-called 1922 committee, she will face a leadership challenge. Politicians, officials and diplomats in London openly questioned how long May had left as speculation swirled around London that a leadership challenge could come soon. Sky said government whips, who enforce discipline in the party, had been summoned to parliament as a challenge was close. If a confidence vote is called among her lawmakers, May would need a simple majority of the total votes in order to win. By seeking to preserve the closest possible ties with the EU, May has upset her party's many advocates of a clean break, and Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up her minority government. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported that the DUP had demanded May be replaced as prime minister. "Oh I haven't had a testy exchange with Arlene," May said. "They've raised some questions with us, they've raised some concerns with us and yes we are looking at those. "We are still working with the DUP," she said. Nightmare for business? The EU and Britain need an agreement to keep trade flowing between the world's biggest trading bloc and the United Kingdom, home to the biggest international financial centre. May said she felt the threat of a no deal Brexit personally as she was Type 1 diabetic: "I depend on insulin every day. My insulin is produced by a country elsewhere in the European Union." British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce said it was continuing with its contingency plans. The plans include "buffer stocks so that we have all the logistical capacity that we need to carry on running our business," said Chief Executive Warren East. Supporters of Brexit say that while the divorce might bring some short-term instability, in the longer term it will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and also enable deeper EU integration without such a powerful reluctant member. Meanwhile, proponents of closer relations with the EU in her own party and the Labour opposition say the deal squanders the advantages of membership for little gain. "It is ... mathematically impossible to get this deal through the House of Commons. The stark reality is that it was dead on arrival," said Conservative Brexit-supporting lawmaker Mark Francois.

UK PM Theresa May fights for survival after Brexit deal sparks crisis

Some lawmakers in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the British leader.

A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters to the chairman of the party`s so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady. May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her.

Brady has not said how many letters have been submitted. It is not clear how he would announce any vote.

Lawmakers do not have to reveal publicly whether they have written a letter, but those below have chosen to do so:&nbsp;

1) JACOB REES-MOGG - submitted his letter on Thursday 
"It is of considerable importance that politicians stick to their commitments or do not make such commitments in the first place. Regrettably, this is not the situation," he said in his letter.

2) HENRY SMITH - tweeted a picture of his letter on Thursday 
"With regret, I have to inform you I have lost confidence in Theresa May as leader of the Conservative Party and British Prime Minister," it said.

3) SHERYLL MURRAY - said on Thursday she had submitted a letter. 
"I have lost confidence in the Brexit policy of the Prime Minister and have therefore written to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee asking for a vote to take place over her leadership," she said on Twitter.

4) ANNE MARIE-MORRIS - said on Thursday she had submitted a letter 
"I feel that with Theresa, she is the wrong leader at this time, and I`ve put in my letter asking for a vote of no confidence. I am not alone and I do it with a heavy heart but now it`s the country that matter more than absolutely anything else," she told the BBC.

5) LEE ROWLEY - said on Thursday he had submitted a letter 
"I`ve written that because sadly I have come to the conclusion that the prime minister isn`t going to change her policy and I wish she would," he told ITV news.

6) STEVE BAKER - submitted his letter on Oct. 22 after an article by May in the Sun newspaper persuaded him "we could not separate the person from the policy" 
"While I am clear these (proposals) will be defeated in the commons, there seems little point allowing the Captain to continue running the ship towards the rocks and so I write with regret to request a vote of no confidence in our leader."

7) SIMON CLARKE - "My letter is in," he told reporters on Thursday outside a meeting of the influential ERG eurosceptic group of Conservative lawmakers.

8) JAMES DUDDRIDGE - announced he had submitted his letter just minutes before May took to the stage for her speech at the Conservative annual conference in October 
"I don`t know any Conservative MPs that expect Theresa May to be leading us in the next general election ... Given that`s the case, let`s get on, let`s make the change now and let`s get someone that believes in Brexit delivering Brexit," he told Sky News at the time.

9) ANDREA JENKYNS - submitted her letter in June 
"She can fight it. But I am confident she will not win it. Time to save Brexit and our party with a new leader," she said on Twitter.

10) ANDREW BRIDGEN - submitted his letter in July 
"All we have asked from the Prime Minister, is that she sticks to what she has promised on repeated occasions when she declared that `Brexit means Brexit` and pledged to take back control of our money, borders and laws. But it now appears those promises are all a pretence and a charade intended to dupe the electorate," he said in his letter, according to media reports.

11) PHILIP DAVIES - submitted his letter in July 
"Politics is all about trust and once it is lost it is impossible to win back. Many people have told me that as a result of this they have lost trust in the PM to properly and fully deliver the referendum result. It is with much sadness that I have to say that I have also lost trust in her to deliver the referendum result too," he said in a letter to constituents.

12) PETER BONE - submitted his letter some time ago 
"I’ve always wanted the policy to change not necessarily the prime minister but when the prime minister won’t change the policy the only way to change the policy is to change the prime minister," he told the BBC on Thursday.&nbsp;

13) NADINE DORRIES - submitted her letter some weeks ago 
"The writing has been on the wall for some time," she said on Twitter on Thursday.

14) MARTIN VICKERS - submitted his letter in July 
"It was clear at that time further concessions were inevitable &amp; now we have a much worse agreement that fails to deliver what my constituents voted for in the referendum when they delivered a considered verdict that we should leave," he told a local newspaper reporter.

15) ADAM HOLLOWAY - submitted his letter on Thursday 
"My letter of no confidence has now been delivered - with regret. Mrs May is a remarkable woman - just look at her fortitude today in the House of Commons, even more please remember her long career of public service."

16) JOHN WHITTINGDALE - told the BBC on Friday&nbsp; 
"Yes, I have sent a letter to Graham Brady"

17) LAURENCE ROBERTSON - told the BBC his letter was submitted months ago 
"I was concerned at the direction Theresa May was taking these negotiations and was dragging them out, and I wrote that letter some months ago." 
&nbsp;

Some lawmakers in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the British leader. A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters to the chairman of the party`s so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady.

Some lawmakers in Prime Minister Theresa May's Conservative Party have said they have submitted letters of no confidence in the British leader. A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters to the chairman of the party`s so-called 1922 committee, Graham Brady. May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her. Brady has not said how many letters have been submitted. It is not clear how he would announce any vote. Lawmakers do not have to reveal publicly whether they have written a letter, but those below have chosen to do so: 1) JACOB REES-MOGG - submitted his letter on Thursday "It is of considerable importance that politicians stick to their commitments or do not make such commitments in the first place. Regrettably, this is not the situation," he said in his letter. 2) HENRY SMITH - tweeted a picture of his letter on Thursday "With regret, I have to inform you I have lost confidence in Theresa May as leader of the Conservative Party and British Prime Minister," it said. 3) SHERYLL MURRAY - said on Thursday she had submitted a letter. "I have lost confidence in the Brexit policy of the Prime Minister and have therefore written to the Chairman of the 1922 Committee asking for a vote to take place over her leadership," she said on Twitter. 4) ANNE MARIE-MORRIS - said on Thursday she had submitted a letter "I feel that with Theresa, she is the wrong leader at this time, and I`ve put in my letter asking for a vote of no confidence. I am not alone and I do it with a heavy heart but now it`s the country that matter more than absolutely anything else," she told the BBC. 5) LEE ROWLEY - said on Thursday he had submitted a letter "I`ve written that because sadly I have come to the conclusion that the prime minister isn`t going to change her policy and I wish she would," he told ITV news. 6) STEVE BAKER - submitted his letter on Oct. 22 after an article by May in the Sun newspaper persuaded him "we could not separate the person from the policy" "While I am clear these (proposals) will be defeated in the commons, there seems little point allowing the Captain to continue running the ship towards the rocks and so I write with regret to request a vote of no confidence in our leader." 7) SIMON CLARKE - "My letter is in," he told reporters on Thursday outside a meeting of the influential ERG eurosceptic group of Conservative lawmakers. 8) JAMES DUDDRIDGE - announced he had submitted his letter just minutes before May took to the stage for her speech at the Conservative annual conference in October "I don`t know any Conservative MPs that expect Theresa May to be leading us in the next general election ... Given that`s the case, let`s get on, let`s make the change now and let`s get someone that believes in Brexit delivering Brexit," he told Sky News at the time. 9) ANDREA JENKYNS - submitted her letter in June "She can fight it. But I am confident she will not win it. Time to save Brexit and our party with a new leader," she said on Twitter. 10) ANDREW BRIDGEN - submitted his letter in July "All we have asked from the Prime Minister, is that she sticks to what she has promised on repeated occasions when she declared that `Brexit means Brexit` and pledged to take back control of our money, borders and laws. But it now appears those promises are all a pretence and a charade intended to dupe the electorate," he said in his letter, according to media reports. 11) PHILIP DAVIES - submitted his letter in July "Politics is all about trust and once it is lost it is impossible to win back. Many people have told me that as a result of this they have lost trust in the PM to properly and fully deliver the referendum result. It is with much sadness that I have to say that I have also lost trust in her to deliver the referendum result too," he said in a letter to constituents. 12) PETER BONE - submitted his letter some time ago "I’ve always wanted the policy to change not necessarily the prime minister but when the prime minister won’t change the policy the only way to change the policy is to change the prime minister," he told the BBC on Thursday. 13) NADINE DORRIES - submitted her letter some weeks ago "The writing has been on the wall for some time," she said on Twitter on Thursday. 14) MARTIN VICKERS - submitted his letter in July "It was clear at that time further concessions were inevitable & now we have a much worse agreement that fails to deliver what my constituents voted for in the referendum when they delivered a considered verdict that we should leave," he told a local newspaper reporter. 15) ADAM HOLLOWAY - submitted his letter on Thursday "My letter of no confidence has now been delivered - with regret. Mrs May is a remarkable woman - just look at her fortitude today in the House of Commons, even more please remember her long career of public service." 16) JOHN WHITTINGDALE - told the BBC on Friday "Yes, I have sent a letter to Graham Brady" 17) LAURENCE ROBERTSON - told the BBC his letter was submitted months ago "I was concerned at the direction Theresa May was taking these negotiations and was dragging them out, and I wrote that letter some months ago."

Factbox: Who has submitted letters of no confidence in UK PM May?

Prime Minister Theresa May battled on Thursday to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest and eurosceptic lawmakers stepped up efforts to topple her.

A day after May announced that her team of top ministers had agreed to the terms of the draft deal, Brexit minister Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey resigned.

Lawmakers suggested other ministers would quit and eurosceptics in May's Conservative Party said they had submitted letters calling for a no confidence vote in her leadership.

Two junior ministers and two ministerial aides also quit and the resignations and hostility to the deal from ruling party and opposition lawmakers in parliament left May's Brexit strategy in doubt and raised the risk of Britain leaving the EU on March 29 without a deal.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of a Conservative eurosceptic group in parliament, submitted his letter calling for a vote of no confidence in May, saying the draft deal was "worse than anticipated".

A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters. May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her.

One eurosceptic lawmaker said more colleagues were either putting in letters or were increasingly minded to do so.

But the prime minister showed <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theresa-may-says-no-brexit-is-an-alternative-to-draft-deal-177526">little sign of backing down</a>. She told parliament: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated."

Her spokesman said May would fight any confidence vote and she intended to be prime minister when Britain leaves the bloc next year.

Boris Johnson, a leading critic of May's Brexit plans who has done little to hide his political ambition, attended a meeting of the European Research Group, where Rees-Mogg and members discussed how many no-confidence letters had gone in.

Rees-Mogg told journalists the next prime minister should be a person who believed in Brexit.

STRATEGY IN DOUBT

In the markets, sterling fell to a day's low against the eruo and shares in British companies were hit.

British financial regulators called major banks asking for feedback on market conditions because of sharp falls in the pound and shares, sources said.

In parliament, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties spent three hours mostly rubbishing the draft deal, agreed with the EU on Tuesday, which May must get approved by the House of Commons. Many said it made Britain a "vassal" state, beholden to the bloc's rules even after leaving.

Others said an agreement on the so-called backstop would tear Britain apart, leaving Northern Ireland all but in the EU's single market.

"It is ... mathematically impossible to get this deal through the House of Commons. The stark reality is that it was dead on arrival," Conservative lawmaker Mark Francois said.

It was the backstop arrangement, which would see Britain and the EU establishing a single customs territory, that spurred most of the criticism.

"I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," Raab said.

EU leaders are ready to meet on Nov. 25 to sign off on the divorce deal, or Withdrawal Agreement, but French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe summed up the uncertainty when he said events in London raised concerns about whether it would be ratified.

"We need to prepare ourselves for a no-deal Brexit," he said.

A group of EU states also raised objections to what has been agreed so far on fishing between the EU and UK after Brexit, diplomatic sources said.

'DEAD IN THE WATER'

Britain's opposition Labour Party said the government was "falling apart".

"Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her cabinet, let alone parliament and the people of our country," said Jon Trickett, a member of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's senior team.

Raab, 44, was appointed to the role of Brexit secretary in July after the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy.

At the heart of Raab's criticism of May's deal was the belief that the pursuit of a customs union with the EU would be the "starting point" for talks on the future relationship with the bloc, "severely prejudicing" what Britain could achieve.

He said May's plan threatened the integrity of Britain and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement.

The backstop arrangement, to come into force if a future trade deal does not prevent the return of a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland, has been the main obstacle to a deal with the bloc and the agreement of her ministers.

Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May in parliament, had threatened to pull its support from the minority government if the backstop meant the province was treated differently from the rest of mainland Britain.

"No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," Raab said in his resignation letter.

Eurosceptics in May's party have long feared the prime minister was leading Britain towards a customs union with the EU, something that, they say, would mean a Brexit in name only.

Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party's leader in the House of Commons, said the deal was "dead in the water".

Prime Minister Theresa May battled on Thursday to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest and eurosceptic lawmakers stepped up efforts to topple her.

Prime Minister Theresa May battled on Thursday to save a draft divorce deal with the European Union after her Brexit secretary and other ministers quit in protest and eurosceptic lawmakers stepped up efforts to topple her. A day after May announced that her team of top ministers had agreed to the terms of the draft deal, Brexit minister Dominic Raab and work and pensions minister Esther McVey resigned. Lawmakers suggested other ministers would quit and eurosceptics in May's Conservative Party said they had submitted letters calling for a no confidence vote in her leadership. Two junior ministers and two ministerial aides also quit and the resignations and hostility to the deal from ruling party and opposition lawmakers in parliament left May's Brexit strategy in doubt and raised the risk of Britain leaving the EU on March 29 without a deal. Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of a Conservative eurosceptic group in parliament, submitted his letter calling for a vote of no confidence in May, saying the draft deal was "worse than anticipated". A leadership challenge is triggered if 48 Conservatives write such letters. May could be toppled if 158 of her 315 lawmakers vote against her. One eurosceptic lawmaker said more colleagues were either putting in letters or were increasingly minded to do so. But the prime minister showed little sign of backing down. She told parliament: "The choice is clear. We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all, or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated." Her spokesman said May would fight any confidence vote and she intended to be prime minister when Britain leaves the bloc next year. Boris Johnson, a leading critic of May's Brexit plans who has done little to hide his political ambition, attended a meeting of the European Research Group, where Rees-Mogg and members discussed how many no-confidence letters had gone in. Rees-Mogg told journalists the next prime minister should be a person who believed in Brexit. STRATEGY IN DOUBT In the markets, sterling fell to a day's low against the eruo and shares in British companies were hit. British financial regulators called major banks asking for feedback on market conditions because of sharp falls in the pound and shares, sources said. In parliament, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties spent three hours mostly rubbishing the draft deal, agreed with the EU on Tuesday, which May must get approved by the House of Commons. Many said it made Britain a "vassal" state, beholden to the bloc's rules even after leaving. Others said an agreement on the so-called backstop would tear Britain apart, leaving Northern Ireland all but in the EU's single market. "It is ... mathematically impossible to get this deal through the House of Commons. The stark reality is that it was dead on arrival," Conservative lawmaker Mark Francois said. It was the backstop arrangement, which would see Britain and the EU establishing a single customs territory, that spurred most of the criticism. "I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," Raab said. EU leaders are ready to meet on Nov. 25 to sign off on the divorce deal, or Withdrawal Agreement, but French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe summed up the uncertainty when he said events in London raised concerns about whether it would be ratified. "We need to prepare ourselves for a no-deal Brexit," he said. A group of EU states also raised objections to what has been agreed so far on fishing between the EU and UK after Brexit, diplomatic sources said. 'DEAD IN THE WATER' Britain's opposition Labour Party said the government was "falling apart". "Theresa May has no authority left and is clearly incapable of delivering a Brexit deal that commands even the support of her cabinet, let alone parliament and the people of our country," said Jon Trickett, a member of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's senior team. Raab, 44, was appointed to the role of Brexit secretary in July after the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy. At the heart of Raab's criticism of May's deal was the belief that the pursuit of a customs union with the EU would be the "starting point" for talks on the future relationship with the bloc, "severely prejudicing" what Britain could achieve. He said May's plan threatened the integrity of Britain and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement. The backstop arrangement, to come into force if a future trade deal does not prevent the return of a hard border between the British province of Northern Ireland and EU-member Ireland, has been the main obstacle to a deal with the bloc and the agreement of her ministers. Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which props up May in parliament, had threatened to pull its support from the minority government if the backstop meant the province was treated differently from the rest of mainland Britain. "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," Raab said in his resignation letter. Eurosceptics in May's party have long feared the prime minister was leading Britain towards a customs union with the EU, something that, they say, would mean a Brexit in name only. Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party's leader in the House of Commons, said the deal was "dead in the water".

UK PM Theresa May battles to save her job, Brexit deal after 4 ministers quit

Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered 16 resignations from her government since last November, eight of which have been related to her approach to Brexit. Here is the list:

1) Michael Fallon&nbsp; 
Resigned as defence minister in November 2017 after a journalist accused him of sexual harassment.

2) Priti Patel&nbsp; 
The aid minister also resigned in November 2017 over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials.

3) Damian Green&nbsp; 
Quit in December 2017 from his role as May`s effective deputy after an internal investigation found he had made misleading comments about pornography on computers in his parliamentary office.

4) Justine Greening&nbsp; 
She resigned in January after refusing to take a new job in a cabinet reshuffle.

5) Amber Rudd&nbsp; 
Stepped down as Home Secretary (interior minister) in April over the government`s treatment of some long-term Caribbean residents who were wrongly labelled illegal immigrants.&nbsp;

6) Greg Hands 
The junior trade minister resigned from the government in June to oppose its plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport

7) Phillip Lee&nbsp; 
A junior justice minister, Lee resigned over the government`s handling of Brexit in June.

8) David Davis 
He quit as Brexit Secretary in July in protest at May`s "Chequers" plan to keep close trade ties with the EU after Brexit.

9) Steve Baker 
He resigned as a junior Brexit minister in July, also over the Chequers plan.

10) Boris Johnson 
Resigned as foreign secretary in July over the Chequers plan.

11) Andrew Griffiths 
The minister for small businesses resigned over allegations around a sex-text scandal in July.

12) Guto Bebb 
A junior defence minister, he resigned in July after voting against a government-backed Brexit amendment.

13) Tracey Crouch 
She resigned as sports minister earlier this month, accusing the government of delaying a proposed reform of gambling regulations. The government later changed its mind.

&nbsp;14) Jo Johnson 
The junior transport minister, younger brother of Boris, resigned last week, calling for another referendum to avoid the vassalage or chaos that he said May`s Brexit plan would unleash. Unlike his brother, Jo Johnson campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU in the 2016 referendum.

15) Shailesh Vara 
The junior Northern Ireland minister resigned from the government on Thursday after the cabinet approved a draft divorce deal, saying this will leave the UK "in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation."&nbsp;

16) Dominic Raab Britain`s Brexit minister resigned on Thursday in protest at the government`s plans for leaving the European Union, saying that the Irish "backstop" arrangement was now the starting point for discussions on future ties, which could severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered 16 resignations from her government since last November, eight of which have been related to her approach to Brexit. Here is the list: 1) Michael Fallon Resigned as defence minister in November 2017 after a journalist accused him of sexual harassment.

Prime Minister Theresa May has suffered 16 resignations from her government since last November, eight of which have been related to her approach to Brexit. Here is the list: 1) Michael Fallon Resigned as defence minister in November 2017 after a journalist accused him of sexual harassment. 2) Priti Patel The aid minister also resigned in November 2017 over undisclosed meetings with Israeli officials. 3) Damian Green Quit in December 2017 from his role as May`s effective deputy after an internal investigation found he had made misleading comments about pornography on computers in his parliamentary office. 4) Justine Greening She resigned in January after refusing to take a new job in a cabinet reshuffle. 5) Amber Rudd Stepped down as Home Secretary (interior minister) in April over the government`s treatment of some long-term Caribbean residents who were wrongly labelled illegal immigrants. 6) Greg Hands The junior trade minister resigned from the government in June to oppose its plans to build a third runway at London’s Heathrow Airport 7) Phillip Lee A junior justice minister, Lee resigned over the government`s handling of Brexit in June. 8) David Davis He quit as Brexit Secretary in July in protest at May`s "Chequers" plan to keep close trade ties with the EU after Brexit. 9) Steve Baker He resigned as a junior Brexit minister in July, also over the Chequers plan. 10) Boris Johnson Resigned as foreign secretary in July over the Chequers plan. 11) Andrew Griffiths The minister for small businesses resigned over allegations around a sex-text scandal in July. 12) Guto Bebb A junior defence minister, he resigned in July after voting against a government-backed Brexit amendment. 13) Tracey Crouch She resigned as sports minister earlier this month, accusing the government of delaying a proposed reform of gambling regulations. The government later changed its mind. 14) Jo Johnson The junior transport minister, younger brother of Boris, resigned last week, calling for another referendum to avoid the vassalage or chaos that he said May`s Brexit plan would unleash. Unlike his brother, Jo Johnson campaigned for Britain to stay in the EU in the 2016 referendum. 15) Shailesh Vara The junior Northern Ireland minister resigned from the government on Thursday after the cabinet approved a draft divorce deal, saying this will leave the UK "in a half-way house with no time limit on when we will finally be a sovereign nation." 16) Dominic Raab Britain`s Brexit minister resigned on Thursday in protest at the government`s plans for leaving the European Union, saying that the Irish "backstop" arrangement was now the starting point for discussions on future ties, which could severely prejudice the second phase of negotiations.

Factbox: A year of resignations from UK PM May's government

The pound dived Thursday as a string of British government resignations appeared to put a draft Brexit deal in serious jeopardy, dealers said.

The UK currency was pummelled as ministers, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, quit in protest against the DRAFT EU exit deal, sparking concern that Prime Minister Theresa May could face a no-confidence vote.

"This departure (of Raab) could put at risk the Brexit deal and traders are selling the British currency due to growing uncertainty about the future of the UK," said ActivTrades analyst Carlo Alberto De Casa.

The pound plunged more than 1.5 per cent to a one-month low at $1.2777, while the euro jumped to a two-week peak at 88.52 pence.

"The performance of the pound seems to perfectly reflect the mood in parliament and everywhere else right now. Even the weather is grey and gloomy," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP.

May had been preparing to sell her Brexit deal to parliament, boosted by news that Europe is preparing a rapid summit to sign off on the agreement.

However, her efforts unravelled spectacularly as Raab resigned along with work and pensions secretary Esther McVey and junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara.

'Dead duck'

"The pound is under heavy pressure... as the UK-EU deal begins to look like a dead duck," noted IG analyst Chris Beauchamp.

"As the steady drip of resignations hits the government, the UK's deal with the EU appears to be dead in the water already."

The British currency was hit also by news that retail sales slid by 0.5 per cent in October compared with September.

However, London's FTSE 100 index of major companies edged ahead on the weaker pound, which boosts London-listed multinationals whose earnings abroad are converted back into sterling.

"The FTSE has long had an inverse relationship with the pound, most notably in the aftermath of Brexit, due to the significant proportion of profits that are generated abroad by those within it," said Erlam.

Nevertheless, Europe's other major stock markets languished in the red, amid uncertainty surrounding Brexit and Italy's fiscal troubles.

Asian equities mostly rose Thursday, with Hong Kong and Shanghai rallying on hopes for an easing of the China-US trade war, while energy firms also enjoyed a much-needed bounce as oil prices stabilised.

Elsewhere, bitcoin extend a sharp descent to stand around $5,400.

Key figures around 1145 GMT

Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2796 from $1.2977 Wednesday at 2200 GMT

Euro/pound: UP at 88.39 pence from 87.05 pence

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1311 from $1.1310

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.46 yen from 113.63 yen

London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 per cent at 7,045.60

Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 11,406.32

Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 5,049.73

Milan - FTSE MIB: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 18,971.47 points

EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 3,199.13&nbsp;

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 21,803.62 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.8 per cent at 26,103.34 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.4 per cent at 2,668.17 (close)

New York - Dow: DOWN 0.8 per cent at 25,080.50 (close)

Oil - Brent Crude: UP 25 cents at $66.37 per barrel

Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 17 cents at $56.08&nbsp;

The pound dived Thursday as a string of British government resignations appeared to put a draft Brexit deal in serious jeopardy, dealers said. The UK currency was pummelled as ministers, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, quit in protest against the DRAFT EU exit deal, sparking concern that Prime Minister Theresa May could face a no-confidence vote.

The pound dived Thursday as a string of British government resignations appeared to put a draft Brexit deal in serious jeopardy, dealers said. The UK currency was pummelled as ministers, including Brexit secretary Dominic Raab, quit in protest against the DRAFT EU exit deal, sparking concern that Prime Minister Theresa May could face a no-confidence vote. "This departure (of Raab) could put at risk the Brexit deal and traders are selling the British currency due to growing uncertainty about the future of the UK," said ActivTrades analyst Carlo Alberto De Casa. The pound plunged more than 1.5 per cent to a one-month low at $1.2777, while the euro jumped to a two-week peak at 88.52 pence. "The performance of the pound seems to perfectly reflect the mood in parliament and everywhere else right now. Even the weather is grey and gloomy," Oanda analyst Craig Erlam told AFP. May had been preparing to sell her Brexit deal to parliament, boosted by news that Europe is preparing a rapid summit to sign off on the agreement. However, her efforts unravelled spectacularly as Raab resigned along with work and pensions secretary Esther McVey and junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara. 'Dead duck' "The pound is under heavy pressure... as the UK-EU deal begins to look like a dead duck," noted IG analyst Chris Beauchamp. "As the steady drip of resignations hits the government, the UK's deal with the EU appears to be dead in the water already." The British currency was hit also by news that retail sales slid by 0.5 per cent in October compared with September. However, London's FTSE 100 index of major companies edged ahead on the weaker pound, which boosts London-listed multinationals whose earnings abroad are converted back into sterling. "The FTSE has long had an inverse relationship with the pound, most notably in the aftermath of Brexit, due to the significant proportion of profits that are generated abroad by those within it," said Erlam. Nevertheless, Europe's other major stock markets languished in the red, amid uncertainty surrounding Brexit and Italy's fiscal troubles. Asian equities mostly rose Thursday, with Hong Kong and Shanghai rallying on hopes for an easing of the China-US trade war, while energy firms also enjoyed a much-needed bounce as oil prices stabilised. Elsewhere, bitcoin extend a sharp descent to stand around $5,400. Key figures around 1145 GMT Pound/dollar: DOWN at $1.2796 from $1.2977 Wednesday at 2200 GMT Euro/pound: UP at 88.39 pence from 87.05 pence Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1311 from $1.1310 Dollar/yen: DOWN at 113.46 yen from 113.63 yen London - FTSE 100: UP 0.2 per cent at 7,045.60 Frankfurt - DAX 30: DOWN 0.1 per cent at 11,406.32 Paris - CAC 40: DOWN 0.4 per cent at 5,049.73 Milan - FTSE MIB: DOWN 0.6 per cent at 18,971.47 points EURO STOXX 50: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 3,199.13 Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 0.2 per cent at 21,803.62 (close) Hong Kong - Hang Seng: UP 1.8 per cent at 26,103.34 (close) Shanghai - Composite: UP 1.4 per cent at 2,668.17 (close) New York - Dow: DOWN 0.8 per cent at 25,080.50 (close) Oil - Brent Crude: UP 25 cents at $66.37 per barrel Oil - West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 17 cents at $56.08

Brexit turmoil hammers pound but stocks hold steady

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theresa-may-says-no-brexit-is-an-alternative-to-draft-deal-177526">UK PM May says 'no Brexit' is alternative to draft deal after 4 ministers quit</a>

Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels.

"We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament, to cheers from some lawmakers when she mentioned the possibility of no Brexit.

 
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Five Saudi officials face the death penalty for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved, the prosecutor said Thursday.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-double-murder-after-killing-3-accused-went-to-police-station-confessed-177525">Delhi double murder: After killing, 3 accused went to </a><a class="gr-progress" href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-double-murder-after-killing-3-accused-went-to-police-station-confessed-177525">police</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-double-murder-after-killing-3-accused-went-to-police-station-confessed-177525"> station &amp; confessed</a>

Fashion designer Mala Lakhani and her domestic help Bahadhur were murdered late Wednesday night in Delhi's Vasant Kunj.&nbsp;

Three men have been arrested for the murder. Police said the men murdered Lakhani and Bahadur and robbed valuables from her home.&nbsp;

"Lakhani had set up a workshop in her house for cutting and tailoring. Accused Rahul was working as a tailor master there. He along with his associates Rahmat and Wasim made a plan to murder. They stole valuables from the house," Delhi Police told ANI.&nbsp;

 
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A year after the Doklam standoff, top defence officials of India and China have agreed on the importance of maintaining peace in the border areas while implementing the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/france-is-us-ally-not-vassal-state-macron-hits-back-at-trump-177519">France is US ally, not vassal state: Macron hits back at Trump</a>

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the US president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured.

UK PM May says 'no Brexit' is alternative to draft deal after 4 ministers quit Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels.

UK PM May says 'no Brexit' is alternative to draft deal after 4 ministers quit Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels. "We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament, to cheers from some lawmakers when she mentioned the possibility of no Brexit. Khashoggi killing: Saudi Arabia says Crown Prince Salman was not involved, 5 others face death penalty Five Saudi officials face the death penalty for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was dismembered inside the kingdom's Istanbul consulate, but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was not involved, the prosecutor said Thursday. Delhi double murder: After killing, 3 accused went to police station & confessed Fashion designer Mala Lakhani and her domestic help Bahadhur were murdered late Wednesday night in Delhi's Vasant Kunj. Three men have been arrested for the murder. Police said the men murdered Lakhani and Bahadur and robbed valuables from her home. "Lakhani had set up a workshop in her house for cutting and tailoring. Accused Rahul was working as a tailor master there. He along with his associates Rahmat and Wasim made a plan to murder. They stole valuables from the house," Delhi Police told ANI. India, China agree on importance of maintaining peace along border A year after the Doklam standoff, top defence officials of India and China have agreed on the importance of maintaining peace in the border areas while implementing the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping at Wuhan. France is US ally, not vassal state: Macron hits back at Trump President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday told Donald Trump that France was the United States' ally and not a vassal state after the US president attacked him in a series of tweets that demonstrated how much their relationship had soured.

A series of resignations followed over Brexit deal on Thursday after the&nbsp;junior Northern Ireland minister<a href="http://www.wionews.com/europe/european-council-to-meet-on-november-25th-to-formalise-brexit-agreement-northern-ireland-minister-resigns-from-mays-cabinet-177484">&nbsp;Shailesh Vara quit the British government</a>.

The second minister to resign over the deal was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-secretary-raab-resigns-thrusting-mays-government-into-turmoil-177508">British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab</a>.&nbsp;

Raab resigned from the cabinet claiming that&nbsp;May's plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU held a veto over Britain's ability to exit.&nbsp;

"Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election, This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. I cannot support the proposed deal, " Raab said.

After Raab, Britain's work and pensions minister Esther McVey quit Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet.

"The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum", McVey wrote in a letter to May.
<img alt="Britain's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey leaves 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain October 16, 2018. " data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba22d616-b3e1-4bea-bbbf-a7963e675676" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018-11-15T101008Z_1_LYNXNPEEAE0QL_RTROPTP_4_BRITAIN-EU%20%281%29.JPG" />
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Britain's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey.&nbsp;

Junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman became the fourth British government minister to resign on Thursday in protest at a draft withdrawal agreement with Brussels.

Braverman said in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May that "concessions" made to Brussels in the framework deal "do not respect the will of the people".

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A series of resignations followed over Brexit deal on Thursday after the junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara quit the British government. The second minister to resign over the deal was British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab.

A series of resignations followed over Brexit deal on Thursday after the junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara quit the British government. The second minister to resign over the deal was British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab. Raab resigned from the cabinet claiming that May's plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU held a veto over Britain's ability to exit. "Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election, This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust. I cannot support the proposed deal, " Raab said. After Raab, Britain's work and pensions minister Esther McVey quit Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet. "The deal you put before the Cabinet yesterday does not honour the result of the referendum", McVey wrote in a letter to May. Britain's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Esther McVey. Junior Brexit minister Suella Braverman became the fourth British government minister to resign on Thursday in protest at a draft withdrawal agreement with Brussels. Braverman said in a letter to Prime Minister Theresa May that "concessions" made to Brussels in the framework deal "do not respect the will of the people". (With inputs from agencies)

UK: Four ministers resign over draft Brexit deal

Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels.

"We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament, to cheers from some lawmakers when she mentioned the possibility of no Brexit.

A day earlier, May had said&nbsp;after a gruelling five-hour meeting that she had the "collective" backing of her cabinet to move Britain out of the European Union.&nbsp;

The summit to formalise the Brexit deal will be held on November 25,&nbsp;European Council president Donald Tusk said on Thursday.

As the announcement was made by Tusk, junior Northern Ireland minister&nbsp;Shailesh Vara quit the British government over the Brexit deal.

Three other ministers including&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-secretary-raab-resigns-thrusting-mays-government-into-turmoil-177508">British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab</a>,&nbsp;Britain's Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey and Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman resigned in protest.

Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum.

Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels.

Prime Minister Theresa May told British MPs Thursday that they faced the possibility of Britain exiting the EU with no deal or no Brexit at all if they failed to back her draft agreement with Brussels. "We can choose to leave with no deal, we can risk no Brexit at all or we can choose to unite and support the best deal that can be negotiated," May told parliament, to cheers from some lawmakers when she mentioned the possibility of no Brexit. A day earlier, May had said after a gruelling five-hour meeting that she had the "collective" backing of her cabinet to move Britain out of the European Union. The summit to formalise the Brexit deal will be held on November 25, European Council president Donald Tusk said on Thursday. As the announcement was made by Tusk, junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara quit the British government over the Brexit deal. Three other ministers including British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Britain's Work and Pensions Minister Esther McVey and Junior Brexit Minister Suella Braverman resigned in protest. Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum. Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament. (With inputs from agencies)

UK PM May says 'no Brexit' is alternative to draft deal after 4 ministers quit

A day after British <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-may-hails-brexit-deal-but-her-mps-says-it-threatens-uks-unity-177389">Prime Minister Theresa May declared she</a> had won the support of her cabinet on Brexit, European Council president Donald Tusk said today that the summit will formalise the Brexit deal on November 25th.

"If nothing extraordinary happens, we will hold a European Council meeting in order to finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement. It will take place on Sunday, the 25th of November at 9:30 am," Tusk announced.

As the announcement was made by Tusk, junior Northern Ireland minister&nbsp;Shailesh Vara quit the British government over the Brexit deal.

"With respect, prime minister, this agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU, however, it is worded," he wrote.

"We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart," he said.

"We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," he added.

European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had said earlier that “decisive progress” has been made in Brexit talks with Britain. Barnier's statement was taken up by the president of the European Council Tusk who called for an extraordinary summit.

Theresa May had said yesterday that she had the "collective" backing of her cabinet to move Britain out of the Europen Union after a gruelling five-hour meeting. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had said he expected the 28 leaders to meet on November 25.

"The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," May had said. The draft, however, needs to be passed by the Parliament.

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had tweeted that he had sent Tusk a letter recommending that he "find that decisive progress has been made in the negotiations on the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union."

However, there are still several points of contention including the status of Northern Ireland which is likely to have "special status" aligning it to the &nbsp;European single market which was resisted by Scotland politicians who have questioned the deal.

Nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon had asked why Northern Ireland should have a special status that would keep it in the European single market while Scotland is forced out along with the entire country.

Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum.

Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament.

A day after British Prime Minister Theresa May declared she had won the support of her cabinet on Brexit, European Council president Donald Tusk said today that the summit will formalise the Brexit deal on November 25th.

A day after British Prime Minister Theresa May declared she had won the support of her cabinet on Brexit, European Council president Donald Tusk said today that the summit will formalise the Brexit deal on November 25th. "If nothing extraordinary happens, we will hold a European Council meeting in order to finalise and formalise the Brexit agreement. It will take place on Sunday, the 25th of November at 9:30 am," Tusk announced. As the announcement was made by Tusk, junior Northern Ireland minister Shailesh Vara quit the British government over the Brexit deal. "With respect, prime minister, this agreement does not provide for the United Kingdom being a sovereign, independent country leaving the shackles of the EU, however, it is worded," he wrote. "We are a proud nation and it is a sad day when we are reduced to obeying rules made by other countries who have shown that they do not have our best interests at heart," he said. "We can and must do better than this. The people of the UK deserve better," he added. European Union's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier had said earlier that “decisive progress” has been made in Brexit talks with Britain. Barnier's statement was taken up by the president of the European Council Tusk who called for an extraordinary summit. Theresa May had said yesterday that she had the "collective" backing of her cabinet to move Britain out of the Europen Union after a gruelling five-hour meeting. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar had said he expected the 28 leaders to meet on November 25. "The collective decision of cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration," May had said. The draft, however, needs to be passed by the Parliament. EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker had tweeted that he had sent Tusk a letter recommending that he "find that decisive progress has been made in the negotiations on the orderly withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union." However, there are still several points of contention including the status of Northern Ireland which is likely to have "special status" aligning it to the European single market which was resisted by Scotland politicians who have questioned the deal. Nationalist leader Nicola Sturgeon had asked why Northern Ireland should have a special status that would keep it in the European single market while Scotland is forced out along with the entire country. Britain has been part of the European Union for the past 46 years but British citizen had decided to pull the country out of the European Union two years in an open referendum. Last week, The European Union and the British government had jointly published a 585-page detailed draft agreement of their Brexit deal that needed the approval of EU leaders and the British parliament.

European Council to meet on November 25th to formalise Brexit; Northern Ireland minister quits PM May's cabinet

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday thrusting <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-may-hails-brexit-deal-but-her-mps-says-it-threatens-uks-unity-177389">Prime Minister Theresa May</a>'s government into turmoil just two days after she clinched an EU divorce deal that was mauled by opponents, allies and mutinous members of her party.

"Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," Raab said.

"This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust," Raab said. "I cannot support the proposed deal."

The resignation of such a senior minister thrusts the United Kingdom into a political crisis just as May was attempting to garner support for a Brexit deal which her opponents have warned could sink her premiership.

It also throws the future course of Brexit into uncertainty: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially ending her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum.

Raab said May's plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU held a veto over Britain's ability to exit.

"No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," Raab said in his resignation letter.

The 44-year-old was appointed to the role of Brexit minister in July this year following the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy.

European Union leaders will meet on <a href="http://www.wionews.com/europe/european-council-to-meet-on-november-25th-to-formalise-brexit-agreement-northern-ireland-minister-resigns-from-mays-cabinet-177484">November 25 </a>to endorse the divorce deal.

British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in May's leadership. There was no confirmation.

ITV reporter Robert Peston said enough demands for a no confidence vote could be lodged by lunchtime on Thursday.

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday thrusting Prime Minister Theresa May's government into turmoil just two days after she clinched an EU divorce deal that was mauled by opponents, allies and mutinous members of her party.

British Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday thrusting Prime Minister Theresa May's government into turmoil just two days after she clinched an EU divorce deal that was mauled by opponents, allies and mutinous members of her party. "Above all, I cannot reconcile the terms of the proposed deal with the promises we made to the country in our manifesto at the last election," Raab said. "This is, at its heart, a matter of public trust," Raab said. "I cannot support the proposed deal." The resignation of such a senior minister thrusts the United Kingdom into a political crisis just as May was attempting to garner support for a Brexit deal which her opponents have warned could sink her premiership. It also throws the future course of Brexit into uncertainty: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially ending her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum. Raab said May's plan threatened the integrity of the United Kingdom and he could not support an indefinite backstop arrangement where the EU held a veto over Britain's ability to exit. "No democratic nation has ever signed up to be bound by such an extensive regime, imposed externally without any democratic control over the laws to be applied, nor the ability to decide to exit the arrangement," Raab said in his resignation letter. The 44-year-old was appointed to the role of Brexit minister in July this year following the resignation of his predecessor David Davis, who also quit in protest at May's Brexit strategy. European Union leaders will meet on November 25 to endorse the divorce deal. British journalists said anger among Brexit-supporting Conservative lawmakers was so high that they might call for a vote of no confidence in May's leadership. There was no confirmation. ITV reporter Robert Peston said enough demands for a no confidence vote could be lodged by lunchtime on Thursday.

Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigns leaving UK PM Theresa May's government in turmoil

British Prime Minister Theresa May will seek her cabinet's approval Wednesday for a long-awaited divorce deal with the EU, but hardline Brexiteer MPs warned they will seek to block it in parliament.

After months of talks, May announced late Tuesday that negotiators had finally struck a draft agreement on the terms of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union next March.

The pound surged on currency markets following the news, which came as Brussels stepped up preparations for a potentially catastrophic "no deal" exit.

But diplomats and officials warned the technical agreement, which runs to hundreds of pages, still needs political approval.

Ambassadors from the other 27 EU member states will meet later in Brussels, while May's cabinet convenes at 1400 GMT.

If they approve the text, London is hoping for a special summit of EU leaders later this month to seal the deal.

But May has faced constant criticism from her Conservative MPs over her approach, and the deal had barely been announced, when they took to the airwaves to denounce it.

Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who quit the cabinet over Brexit in July, said the deal would leave Britain a "vassal state" and urged his former colleagues to "chuck it out".

Former Brexit minister David Davis, who quit at the same time, said: "Cabinet and all Conservative MPs should stand up, be counted and say no to this capitulation."

Most ominously for May, the Northern Irish party which props up her government threatened to break their alliance over reports of a special arrangement for the British province.

"If this is the shape of the deal, we are probably ending up with no agreement," Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) told Sky News television.

All eyes were on whether eurosceptic ministers including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab may join the chorus of disapproval and resign.

"We are clearly not out of the woods yet," the London-based Capital Economics research group said in a note to clients.

Irish backstop&nbsp;

British and EU negotiators had stepped up their talks ahead of a deadline on Wednesday to get a deal in time to call the special summit for later this month.

Failure would delay the final settlement until a formal Brussels summit in mid-December, leaving little time for May to get the deal and associated legislation through parliament.

The talks were stuck for months on how to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, if and until London strikes a new trade deal with Brussels.

Ireland's RTE broadcaster reported that the final deal includes a so-called "backstop" arrangement in which the whole United Kingdom remained in a customs arrangement with the EU.

It provides for additional "deeper" provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations, risking anger from the DUP.

But it also reportedly allows for a review mechanism that Britain could use to try to leave the backstop arrangement -- a key demand of Conservative eurosceptics.

Pro-Brexit MPs like Johnson fear Britain could end up being tied to the EU indefinitely.

May's deputy David Lidington had earlier promised the government would publish legal analysis on the deal following pressure from Tories and the main opposition Labour party.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would wait for details, but suggested the agreement was "unlikely to be a good deal for the country".

Other elements of the divorce already agreed include Britain's exit bill of around £39 billion (45 billion euros, $50 billion) as well as a guarantee on EU citizens' rights.

It also provides for a 21-month transition after Brexit during which London would follow EU rules, for both sides to negotiate a new trade relationship.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will seek her cabinet's approval Wednesday for a long-awaited divorce deal with the EU, but hardline Brexiteer MPs warned they will seek to block it in parliament.

British Prime Minister Theresa May will seek her cabinet's approval Wednesday for a long-awaited divorce deal with the EU, but hardline Brexiteer MPs warned they will seek to block it in parliament. After months of talks, May announced late Tuesday that negotiators had finally struck a draft agreement on the terms of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union next March. The pound surged on currency markets following the news, which came as Brussels stepped up preparations for a potentially catastrophic "no deal" exit. But diplomats and officials warned the technical agreement, which runs to hundreds of pages, still needs political approval. Ambassadors from the other 27 EU member states will meet later in Brussels, while May's cabinet convenes at 1400 GMT. If they approve the text, London is hoping for a special summit of EU leaders later this month to seal the deal. But May has faced constant criticism from her Conservative MPs over her approach, and the deal had barely been announced, when they took to the airwaves to denounce it. Former foreign secretary Boris Johnson, who quit the cabinet over Brexit in July, said the deal would leave Britain a "vassal state" and urged his former colleagues to "chuck it out". Former Brexit minister David Davis, who quit at the same time, said: "Cabinet and all Conservative MPs should stand up, be counted and say no to this capitulation." Most ominously for May, the Northern Irish party which props up her government threatened to break their alliance over reports of a special arrangement for the British province. "If this is the shape of the deal, we are probably ending up with no agreement," Sammy Wilson of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) told Sky News television. All eyes were on whether eurosceptic ministers including Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab may join the chorus of disapproval and resign. "We are clearly not out of the woods yet," the London-based Capital Economics research group said in a note to clients. Irish backstop British and EU negotiators had stepped up their talks ahead of a deadline on Wednesday to get a deal in time to call the special summit for later this month. Failure would delay the final settlement until a formal Brussels summit in mid-December, leaving little time for May to get the deal and associated legislation through parliament. The talks were stuck for months on how to avoid border checks between British Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland, if and until London strikes a new trade deal with Brussels. Ireland's RTE broadcaster reported that the final deal includes a so-called "backstop" arrangement in which the whole United Kingdom remained in a customs arrangement with the EU. It provides for additional "deeper" provisions for Northern Ireland on customs and regulations, risking anger from the DUP. But it also reportedly allows for a review mechanism that Britain could use to try to leave the backstop arrangement -- a key demand of Conservative eurosceptics. Pro-Brexit MPs like Johnson fear Britain could end up being tied to the EU indefinitely. May's deputy David Lidington had earlier promised the government would publish legal analysis on the deal following pressure from Tories and the main opposition Labour party. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he would wait for details, but suggested the agreement was "unlikely to be a good deal for the country". Other elements of the divorce already agreed include Britain's exit bill of around £39 billion (45 billion euros, $50 billion) as well as a guarantee on EU citizens' rights. It also provides for a 21-month transition after Brexit during which London would follow EU rules, for both sides to negotiate a new trade relationship.

UK PM May takes Brexit deal to cabinet as MPs revolt

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed her draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday but must convince ministers to back her plan amid open hostility from some of her own members of parliament who say it threatens the United Kingdom's unity.

Her minority government means May is the weakest British leader in a generation, yet she must try to get her Brexit deal, struck after more than a year of talks with the EU, approved by parliament before leaving the bloc on March 29, 2019.

"I'm confident that this takes us significantly closer to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/british-pm-theresa-may-addresses-parliament-on-brexit-says-deal-delivers-on-vote-of-british-people-177347">delivering on what the British people voted for</a> in the referendum," May told parliament. Britons voted 52-48 percent in favour of leaving the EU in 2016.

The British cabinet began meeting at 1400 GMT to discuss the accord. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported two ministers who strongly supported Brexit would quit.

May's plan is an attempt to forge a balance between those who want Britain to maintain close links to the world's biggest trading bloc while having full control over issues such as immigration and judicial oversight.

"We will take back control of our borders, our laws and our money, leave the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, while protecting jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom," May said of the deal.

But Brexit campaigners in May's Conservative Party, which for three decades has been divided over Europe, said it was a surrender to the EU and they would vote it down.

The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's government, said it would not back any deal that treated the British province differently from the rest of the United Kingdom. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called it a "botched deal".

At the heart of May's difficulties has been the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to avoid a return to controls between the British province and EU-member Ireland which could threaten the 1998 peace accord which ended 30 years of violence.

EU sources said the draft accord envisaged a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to safeguard an open Irish border after the post-Brexit transition runs its course if a new trade deal is not in place.

If not, Britain would have to extend the transition period once beyond December 2020, possibly until the end of 2021, or go into a customs arrangement that would cover all of the United Kingdom but in which Northern Ireland would be aligned more closely with the EU's customs rules and production standards.

Treating Northern Ireland differently risks alienating the DUP who warn it could risk the integrity of the United Kingdom, while Brexit-supporting members of parliament argue it could leave Britain subject to EU rules indefinitely.

NOT WHAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR

"If the media reports about the EU agreement are in any way accurate, you are not delivering the Brexit people voted for, and today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters across the country," Conservative lawmaker Peter Bone said.

Sterling, which has seesawed since reaching $1.50 just before the 2016 referendum, fell to 1.2944 on news of possible ministerial resignations after briefly jumping more than 1 percent after the deal was announced.

For the EU, reeling from successive crises over debt and immigration, the loss of Britain is the biggest blow yet to 60 years of efforts to forge European unity in the wake of two world wars.

EU leaders could meet on Nov. 25 for a summit to seal the Brexit deal if May's cabinet approves the text, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said.

The ultimate outcome for the United Kingdom remains uncertain: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially sinking her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum.

May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the turmoil following the referendum, has staked her future on a deal which she hopes will solve the Brexit riddle: leaving the EU while preserving the closest possible ties.

EU supporters say the deal leaves Britain worse off and subject to the bloc's rules without any say in them. Scottish nationalists have demanded that Scotland, where voters backed staying in the EU, get the same special treatment as Northern Ireland.

Conservative lawmakers have to factor in the implications of defeating the deal which could topple May, delay Brexit, pave the way for a national election or lead to a new referendum.

The government has yet to give details of the Brexit deal, which runs to hundreds of pages, although a statement to parliament was likely on Thursday.

Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown and many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China.

Supporters argue that in the longer term Brexit will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and strike global trade deals.

Some business chiefs were positive about May's deal.

"My gut feeling is we need to get behind it and we need to make this deal work. What we need is certainty," said Juergen Maier, the UK CEO of German engineering giant Siemens.

But James Stewart, head of Brexit at accounting firm KPMG said: "Until there is broader political alignment and fewer risks, business leaders have little option but to continue to assume that the quest for a deal could yet be derailed."

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed her draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday but must convince ministers to back her plan amid open hostility from some of her own members of parliament who say it threatens the United Kingdom's unity.

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed her draft European Union divorce deal on Wednesday but must convince ministers to back her plan amid open hostility from some of her own members of parliament who say it threatens the United Kingdom's unity. Her minority government means May is the weakest British leader in a generation, yet she must try to get her Brexit deal, struck after more than a year of talks with the EU, approved by parliament before leaving the bloc on March 29, 2019. "I'm confident that this takes us significantly closer to delivering on what the British people voted for in the referendum," May told parliament. Britons voted 52-48 percent in favour of leaving the EU in 2016. The British cabinet began meeting at 1400 GMT to discuss the accord. The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported two ministers who strongly supported Brexit would quit. May's plan is an attempt to forge a balance between those who want Britain to maintain close links to the world's biggest trading bloc while having full control over issues such as immigration and judicial oversight. "We will take back control of our borders, our laws and our money, leave the Common Fisheries Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, while protecting jobs, security and the integrity of the United Kingdom," May said of the deal. But Brexit campaigners in May's Conservative Party, which for three decades has been divided over Europe, said it was a surrender to the EU and they would vote it down. The Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) which props up May's government, said it would not back any deal that treated the British province differently from the rest of the United Kingdom. Opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn called it a "botched deal". At the heart of May's difficulties has been the so-called Northern Irish backstop, an insurance policy to avoid a return to controls between the British province and EU-member Ireland which could threaten the 1998 peace accord which ended 30 years of violence. EU sources said the draft accord envisaged a July 2020 decision on what would have to be done to safeguard an open Irish border after the post-Brexit transition runs its course if a new trade deal is not in place. If not, Britain would have to extend the transition period once beyond December 2020, possibly until the end of 2021, or go into a customs arrangement that would cover all of the United Kingdom but in which Northern Ireland would be aligned more closely with the EU's customs rules and production standards. Treating Northern Ireland differently risks alienating the DUP who warn it could risk the integrity of the United Kingdom, while Brexit-supporting members of parliament argue it could leave Britain subject to EU rules indefinitely. NOT WHAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR "If the media reports about the EU agreement are in any way accurate, you are not delivering the Brexit people voted for, and today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters across the country," Conservative lawmaker Peter Bone said. Sterling, which has seesawed since reaching $1.50 just before the 2016 referendum, fell to 1.2944 on news of possible ministerial resignations after briefly jumping more than 1 percent after the deal was announced. For the EU, reeling from successive crises over debt and immigration, the loss of Britain is the biggest blow yet to 60 years of efforts to forge European unity in the wake of two world wars. EU leaders could meet on Nov. 25 for a summit to seal the Brexit deal if May's cabinet approves the text, Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said. The ultimate outcome for the United Kingdom remains uncertain: scenarios range from a calm divorce to rejection of May's deal, potentially sinking her premiership and leaving the bloc with no agreement, or another referendum. May, an initial opponent of Brexit who won the top job in the turmoil following the referendum, has staked her future on a deal which she hopes will solve the Brexit riddle: leaving the EU while preserving the closest possible ties. EU supporters say the deal leaves Britain worse off and subject to the bloc's rules without any say in them. Scottish nationalists have demanded that Scotland, where voters backed staying in the EU, get the same special treatment as Northern Ireland. Conservative lawmakers have to factor in the implications of defeating the deal which could topple May, delay Brexit, pave the way for a national election or lead to a new referendum. The government has yet to give details of the Brexit deal, which runs to hundreds of pages, although a statement to parliament was likely on Thursday. Brexit will pitch the world's fifth largest economy into the unknown and many fear it will divide the West as it grapples with the unconventional U.S. presidency of Donald Trump and growing assertiveness from Russia and China. Supporters argue that in the longer term Brexit will allow the United Kingdom to thrive and strike global trade deals. Some business chiefs were positive about May's deal. "My gut feeling is we need to get behind it and we need to make this deal work. What we need is certainty," said Juergen Maier, the UK CEO of German engineering giant Siemens. But James Stewart, head of Brexit at accounting firm KPMG said: "Until there is broader political alignment and fewer risks, business leaders have little option but to continue to assume that the quest for a deal could yet be derailed."

British PM Theresa May hails Brexit deal but her MPs say it threatens UK's unity

Brexit supporters and opponents rallied near Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office on Wednesday as her cabinet debated the draft divorce deal inside.

Pro-Brexit campaigners urged her to scrap the tentative agreement and make a clean break with European Union without paying a penny more into the EU budget.

"It sells out the country completely. We will be a vassal state of the EU," said Lucy Harris, founder the Leavers of London pro-Brexit group.

Around 100 demonstrators gathered opposite the Downing Street entrance gates, chanting "Theresa May, don't betray!" and "What do we want? Brexit. When do we want it? Now!".

They held painted placards reading "Ditch May's deal", "Let's take back control" and "Save Brexit".

"We're in a serious situation. It's a fork in the road. If this passes then we're in big trouble as an independent country," said Harris.

Niall McCrae, a lecturer in mental health at King's College London university, said the purported deal was a "stitch-up".

"How can they ask for our votes in future when they have told us our vote doesn't count?

"These votes have been annulled by our selfish political class."

'Nobody voted for that'

Britain voted by 52 per cent in favour of leaving the EU in a referendum in 2016 that exposed deep divisions in British society.

At another small rally near Downing Street, pro-EU demonstrators chanted "People's Vote", calling for a second Brexit referendum.

They accepted they had some common ground with the Brexiteers across the street: neither is happy with the way things are going.

"Brexit is a losing proposition all round. I think it's all madness. I'd say we're even more unhappy," said Nicky Gardner, 32, a student from London with two EU flags on a giant pole.

"Brexit has been failing all along and it's a matter of time before it hits the rocks."

Helen Campbell, 45, brought a toy unicorn with her to symbolise Brexit.

"It doesn't exist, it's a complete fantasy and can never be delivered," the freelance writer said.

"There is a lot of concern about what it actually means overall, and that we will be taking instructions from Brussels on a lot of our laws without any say in them, and nobody voted for that at all."

Brexit supporters and opponents rallied near Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office on Wednesday as her cabinet debated the draft divorce deal inside.

Brexit supporters and opponents rallied near Prime Minister Theresa May's Downing Street office on Wednesday as her cabinet debated the draft divorce deal inside. Pro-Brexit campaigners urged her to scrap the tentative agreement and make a clean break with European Union without paying a penny more into the EU budget. "It sells out the country completely. We will be a vassal state of the EU," said Lucy Harris, founder the Leavers of London pro-Brexit group. Around 100 demonstrators gathered opposite the Downing Street entrance gates, chanting "Theresa May, don't betray!" and "What do we want? Brexit. When do we want it? Now!". They held painted placards reading "Ditch May's deal", "Let's take back control" and "Save Brexit". "We're in a serious situation. It's a fork in the road. If this passes then we're in big trouble as an independent country," said Harris. Niall McCrae, a lecturer in mental health at King's College London university, said the purported deal was a "stitch-up". "How can they ask for our votes in future when they have told us our vote doesn't count? "These votes have been annulled by our selfish political class." 'Nobody voted for that' Britain voted by 52 per cent in favour of leaving the EU in a referendum in 2016 that exposed deep divisions in British society. At another small rally near Downing Street, pro-EU demonstrators chanted "People's Vote", calling for a second Brexit referendum. They accepted they had some common ground with the Brexiteers across the street: neither is happy with the way things are going. "Brexit is a losing proposition all round. I think it's all madness. I'd say we're even more unhappy," said Nicky Gardner, 32, a student from London with two EU flags on a giant pole. "Brexit has been failing all along and it's a matter of time before it hits the rocks." Helen Campbell, 45, brought a toy unicorn with her to symbolise Brexit. "It doesn't exist, it's a complete fantasy and can never be delivered," the freelance writer said. "There is a lot of concern about what it actually means overall, and that we will be taking instructions from Brussels on a lot of our laws without any say in them, and nobody voted for that at all."

Brexit protests outside Downing Street as UK ministers debate deal

An emergency European Union summit to sign off the Brexit deal between London and Brussels could take place on November 25, Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Wednesday.

If British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet agrees to the deal, then the EU could publish a text later Wednesday "with the probability of an EU council on 25 November," he told Irish lawmakers.

British Prime Minister Theresa May defended her anguished divorce deal with the European Union before rowdy lawmakers on Wednesday before trying to win the backing of her splintered cabinet.

On one of the biggest days of her political career and with the fate of her government at stake, a determined and composed May told parliament she had secured the best deal possible for Britain.

"What we have been negotiating is a deal that does deliver on the vote of the British people," she told MPs in her first public comments since EU and UK negotiators finally settled on a draft Tuesday.

The deal "protects jobs, protects the integrity of our United Kingdom and protects the security of people in this country," May said to jeers.

The framework agreement capped a year and a half of complex and bitter negotiations aimed at unwinding nearly 46 years of British EU membership.

Suffering economic uncertainty in the wake of the global financial crisis and fearing an influx of migrants, Britons voted by a 52-48 margin in June 2016 to regain independence from Brussels.

Should May survive a cabinet session that started later on Wednesday in which ministers were expected to either back the framework deal or quit, Britain and the bloc will hold a Brexit summit on November 25.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the date was agreed pending the UK cabinet's approval, which will be followed Wednesday by the draft's publication.

The pound surged following Tuesday's initial announcement, which came just as the EU stepped up preparations for a potentially catastrophic "no deal" breakup on March 29.

But it has since pared some of those gains as the strength of the resistance to May became apparent -- both from those who want a clean break with the bloc and those who want to preserve the alliance.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party who is seeking early elections, called the entire negotiations process "shambolic".

"This government spent two years negotiating a bad deal that will leave the country in an indefinite half-way house," he said.

And Conservative Party MP Peter Bone, a leading pro-Brexit lawmaker, accused May of "not delivering the Brexit people voted for".

"Today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters," he warned the British leader.

An emergency European Union summit to sign off the Brexit deal between London and Brussels could take place on November 25, Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Wednesday.

An emergency European Union summit to sign off the Brexit deal between London and Brussels could take place on November 25, Ireland's Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said Wednesday. If British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet agrees to the deal, then the EU could publish a text later Wednesday "with the probability of an EU council on 25 November," he told Irish lawmakers. British Prime Minister Theresa May defended her anguished divorce deal with the European Union before rowdy lawmakers on Wednesday before trying to win the backing of her splintered cabinet. On one of the biggest days of her political career and with the fate of her government at stake, a determined and composed May told parliament she had secured the best deal possible for Britain. "What we have been negotiating is a deal that does deliver on the vote of the British people," she told MPs in her first public comments since EU and UK negotiators finally settled on a draft Tuesday. The deal "protects jobs, protects the integrity of our United Kingdom and protects the security of people in this country," May said to jeers. The framework agreement capped a year and a half of complex and bitter negotiations aimed at unwinding nearly 46 years of British EU membership. Suffering economic uncertainty in the wake of the global financial crisis and fearing an influx of migrants, Britons voted by a 52-48 margin in June 2016 to regain independence from Brussels. Should May survive a cabinet session that started later on Wednesday in which ministers were expected to either back the framework deal or quit, Britain and the bloc will hold a Brexit summit on November 25. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said the date was agreed pending the UK cabinet's approval, which will be followed Wednesday by the draft's publication. The pound surged following Tuesday's initial announcement, which came just as the EU stepped up preparations for a potentially catastrophic "no deal" breakup on March 29. But it has since pared some of those gains as the strength of the resistance to May became apparent -- both from those who want a clean break with the bloc and those who want to preserve the alliance. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party who is seeking early elections, called the entire negotiations process "shambolic". "This government spent two years negotiating a bad deal that will leave the country in an indefinite half-way house," he said. And Conservative Party MP Peter Bone, a leading pro-Brexit lawmaker, accused May of "not delivering the Brexit people voted for". "Today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPs and millions of voters," he warned the British leader.

EU Brexit summit could be held on November 25: Irish PM

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