British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt is the other candidate left in the race to replace Prime Minister Theresa May, alongside the fervent Brexit campaigner Boris Johnson who is odds-on favourite to win next month.

Hunt in final days of battle with Johnson to become UK

'Swim or sink!': Leave voters fed up with parliament's Brexit paralysis

Jaguar Land Rover's owner Tata Motors Ltd stunned markets by posting the biggest-ever quarterly loss in Indian corporate history of about $4 billion on slumping China sales, sending its shares crashing as much as 30 per cent.

Tata Motors also warned that the<a href="http://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tata-motors-jaguar-land-rover-to-halt-production-amid-brexit-disruption-192756"> Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) unit</a>, which brings in most of its revenue, would swing to an operating loss in the year to March versus an earlier projection for breakeven, given weak sales at the luxury British carmaker.

JLR's China retail sales almost halved in the December quarter as overall demand in the world's biggest auto market contracted last year for the first time since the 1990s. The firm has also been buffeted by Brexit woes and weaker business for diesel cars that account for the bulk of its sales in Europe.

Tata Motors turned in a third-quarter loss of 269.93 billion rupees ($3.8 billion) on Thursday, more than half its current market capitalisation of $6.1 billion, mostly due to a massive impairment at JLR. Analysts were expecting a profit.

"We are now taking clear and decisive actions in JLR to step up its competitiveness, reduce costs and improve cash flows and make the business fit for the future," Chief Financial Officer PB Balaji told reporters on a conference call on Thursday.

JLR has taken steps to address the slide in China sales by changing its strategy to focus on profits for dealers instead of sales and incentivising retail sales over wholesale, he said.

"We are encouraged by continued demand for the refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport," JLR Chief Commercial Officer Felix Brautigam said in a statement.

"With deliveries of the new Evoque due to start later this quarter, we look forward to building momentum."

But analysts expect JLR to struggle to generate profit with China's economy projected to slow further this year after growth eased to its weakest pace in almost three decades in 2018.

JLR's overall retail sales in January plunged 11 per cent.

BROKERAGE SLASH PRICE TARGETS

The dour numbers prompted Tata investors to make a beeline for the exits as markets opened on Friday, with shares of the company skidding to their lowest in nine years at one point.

The stock was down about 20 per cent by 0720 GMT near 150 rupees, on track for its sharpest drop since 2003.

At least four brokerages cut their price target for Tata Motors shares after its quarterly loss.

Analysts at Jefferies pegged the stock at 250 rupees, versus an earlier target of 300 rupees, citing weak performance at JLR.

Tata Motors took a non-cash charge of 278.38 billion rupees for impairment at JLR in the quarter. Changes in market conditions, especially in China, technology disruptions and the rising cost of debt led to the charge.

JLR, Britain's biggest carmaker, also faces disruption due to persistent uncertainty over a Brexit deal and has decided to halt production for a couple of weeks in April.

British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected in parliament last month and the government is trying to make changes to win the support of lawmakers even as the date for Britain's departure from the European Union looms less than two months away.

Jaguar Land Rover's owner Tata Motors Ltd stunned markets by posting the biggest-ever quarterly loss in Indian corporate history of about $4 billion on slumping China sales, sending its shares crashing as much as 30 per cent.

Jaguar Land Rover's owner Tata Motors Ltd stunned markets by posting the biggest-ever quarterly loss in Indian corporate history of about $4 billion on slumping China sales, sending its shares crashing as much as 30 per cent. Tata Motors also warned that the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) unit, which brings in most of its revenue, would swing to an operating loss in the year to March versus an earlier projection for breakeven, given weak sales at the luxury British carmaker. JLR's China retail sales almost halved in the December quarter as overall demand in the world's biggest auto market contracted last year for the first time since the 1990s. The firm has also been buffeted by Brexit woes and weaker business for diesel cars that account for the bulk of its sales in Europe. Tata Motors turned in a third-quarter loss of 269.93 billion rupees ($3.8 billion) on Thursday, more than half its current market capitalisation of $6.1 billion, mostly due to a massive impairment at JLR. Analysts were expecting a profit. "We are now taking clear and decisive actions in JLR to step up its competitiveness, reduce costs and improve cash flows and make the business fit for the future," Chief Financial Officer PB Balaji told reporters on a conference call on Thursday. JLR has taken steps to address the slide in China sales by changing its strategy to focus on profits for dealers instead of sales and incentivising retail sales over wholesale, he said. "We are encouraged by continued demand for the refreshed Range Rover and Range Rover Sport," JLR Chief Commercial Officer Felix Brautigam said in a statement. "With deliveries of the new Evoque due to start later this quarter, we look forward to building momentum." But analysts expect JLR to struggle to generate profit with China's economy projected to slow further this year after growth eased to its weakest pace in almost three decades in 2018. JLR's overall retail sales in January plunged 11 per cent. BROKERAGE SLASH PRICE TARGETS The dour numbers prompted Tata investors to make a beeline for the exits as markets opened on Friday, with shares of the company skidding to their lowest in nine years at one point. The stock was down about 20 per cent by 0720 GMT near 150 rupees, on track for its sharpest drop since 2003. At least four brokerages cut their price target for Tata Motors shares after its quarterly loss. Analysts at Jefferies pegged the stock at 250 rupees, versus an earlier target of 300 rupees, citing weak performance at JLR. Tata Motors took a non-cash charge of 278.38 billion rupees for impairment at JLR in the quarter. Changes in market conditions, especially in China, technology disruptions and the rising cost of debt led to the charge. JLR, Britain's biggest carmaker, also faces disruption due to persistent uncertainty over a Brexit deal and has decided to halt production for a couple of weeks in April. British Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal was rejected in parliament last month and the government is trying to make changes to win the support of lawmakers even as the date for Britain's departure from the European Union looms less than two months away.

Tata Motors posts record $4 billion loss on Jaguar woes, shares crash

With just 50 days to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, the chances of British Prime Minister resurrecting a deal with the bloc hangs by a thread.

The United Kingdom is on course to leave the EU on March 29 without a deal unless <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/government-wants-to-urgently-work-with-eu-may-on-brexit-plan-195694">Prime Minister Theresa May</a> can convince the bloc to reopen the divorce agreement she reached in November and then sell it to sceptical British lawmakers.

Frustration runs deep among European leaders over the British parliament's rejection of the divorce deal and May's demands that the EU now give up on key principles or face disruption in just 50 days.

As companies and governments across Europe step up preparations for a disorderly no-deal exit, diplomats and officials said Britain now faces three main options: a no-deal exit, a last-minute deal or a delay to Brexit.

For May, failure to deliver a revised deal would shatter the fragile unity in her Conservative Party, leaving her already-diminished authority in tatters, and ramping up uncertainty in financial markets over the fate of the British economy, the world's fifth largest.

The United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU has strained ties between its constituent parts: England and Wales voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay.

May has said she will seek an alternative arrangement which avoids the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland, or legally binding changes to the backstop to introduce a time limit or create an exit mechanism.

Brexit has snagged on the 310-mile (500-km) frontier because there is disagreement on how to monitor trade without physical checks on the border, which was marked by military checkpoints before the Good Friday peace agreement.

Under the divorce deal agreed in November, the 'backstop' would come into effect if the two sides failed to come up with a better idea to keep the border open.

EU officials are asking May to embrace a proposal by the opposition Labour Party to join a permanent customs union with the bloc.

Such a move could remove the need for the backstop and, some in the EU believe, may win approval in Britain's parliament. But officials have low expectations ahead of the prime minister's visit to Brussels on Thursday.

With just 50 days to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, the chances of British Prime Minister resurrecting a deal with the bloc hangs by a thread.

With just 50 days to go until Britain is due to leave the European Union, the chances of British Prime Minister resurrecting a deal with the bloc hangs by a thread. The United Kingdom is on course to leave the EU on March 29 without a deal unless Prime Minister Theresa May can convince the bloc to reopen the divorce agreement she reached in November and then sell it to sceptical British lawmakers. Frustration runs deep among European leaders over the British parliament's rejection of the divorce deal and May's demands that the EU now give up on key principles or face disruption in just 50 days. As companies and governments across Europe step up preparations for a disorderly no-deal exit, diplomats and officials said Britain now faces three main options: a no-deal exit, a last-minute deal or a delay to Brexit. For May, failure to deliver a revised deal would shatter the fragile unity in her Conservative Party, leaving her already-diminished authority in tatters, and ramping up uncertainty in financial markets over the fate of the British economy, the world's fifth largest. The United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU has strained ties between its constituent parts: England and Wales voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to stay. May has said she will seek an alternative arrangement which avoids the need for a hard border on the island of Ireland, or legally binding changes to the backstop to introduce a time limit or create an exit mechanism. Brexit has snagged on the 310-mile (500-km) frontier because there is disagreement on how to monitor trade without physical checks on the border, which was marked by military checkpoints before the Good Friday peace agreement. Under the divorce deal agreed in November, the 'backstop' would come into effect if the two sides failed to come up with a better idea to keep the border open. EU officials are asking May to embrace a proposal by the opposition Labour Party to join a permanent customs union with the bloc. Such a move could remove the need for the backstop and, some in the EU believe, may win approval in Britain's parliament. But officials have low expectations ahead of the prime minister's visit to Brussels on Thursday.

Timeline 50 days ahead of Brexit

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/government-wants-to-urgently-work-with-eu-may-on-brexit-plan-195694">Prime Minister Theresa May</a>, offering to support her Brexit deal if she makes five legally binding commitments – including joining a customs union.

Below are Labour's five demands for supporting her deal:

- A permanent customs union. This would include a say in future trade deals

- Close alignment with the EU's single market. This would be underpinned by shared institutions and obligations

- A pledge to keep workers rights in line with those in the EU&nbsp;

- Commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes, including in areas such as the environment, education, and industrial regulation

- Agreements on the detail of future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to Prime Minister Theresa May, offering to support her Brexit deal if she makes five legally binding commitments – including joining a customs union.

Britain's opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has written to Prime Minister Theresa May, offering to support her Brexit deal if she makes five legally binding commitments – including joining a customs union. Below are Labour's five demands for supporting her deal: - A permanent customs union. This would include a say in future trade deals - Close alignment with the EU's single market. This would be underpinned by shared institutions and obligations - A pledge to keep workers rights in line with those in the EU - Commitments on participation in EU agencies and funding programmes, including in areas such as the environment, education, and industrial regulation - Agreements on the detail of future security arrangements, including access to the European Arrest Warrant

UK opposition Labour Party sets terms for backing May on Brexit

Britain may need<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/brexit-represents-only-way-to-ensure-orderly-uk-withdrawal-ireland-foreign-minister-coveney-193943"> to delay Brexit </a>to pass legislation to implement the split with the European Union, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday.

As the March 29 withdrawal date looms, the government is still trying to convince MPs to support a version of the divorce deal it has agreed with the bloc.

Even if it is passed, legislation putting the treaty into effect would then have to go through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

"If we ended up approving a deal in the days before March 29, then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation," Hunt told BBC radio.

"But if we are able to make progress sooner then that might not be necessary. We can't know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen."

The government is considering extending parliamentary hours and cancelling the February holiday of MPs to allow more time to debate Brexit legislation.

But there are still eight laws needed to prepare for Brexit, not just on the deal but also covering issues such as trade, agriculture and immigration.

Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, had previously suggested Britain could probably secure "a couple of extra weeks" if needed.

Any delay must be agreed by the other 27 EU countries.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/theresa-mays-brexit-deal-finally-wins-majority-support-in-parliament-193817">Prime Minister Theresa May</a> has promised to return to Brussels to try to secure changes to the deal that would enable MPs to support it, but the EU has warned it does not want to reopen the agreement.

Without the deal, Britain runs the risk of severing ties with its closest trading partner on March 29 with no new arrangements in place.

Britain may need to delay Brexit to pass legislation to implement the split with the European Union, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday. As the March 29 withdrawal date looms, the government is still trying to convince MPs to support a version of the divorce deal it has agreed with the bloc.

Britain may need to delay Brexit to pass legislation to implement the split with the European Union, foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday. As the March 29 withdrawal date looms, the government is still trying to convince MPs to support a version of the divorce deal it has agreed with the bloc. Even if it is passed, legislation putting the treaty into effect would then have to go through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords. "If we ended up approving a deal in the days before March 29, then we might need some extra time to pass critical legislation," Hunt told BBC radio. "But if we are able to make progress sooner then that might not be necessary. We can't know at this stage exactly which of those scenarios would happen." The government is considering extending parliamentary hours and cancelling the February holiday of MPs to allow more time to debate Brexit legislation. But there are still eight laws needed to prepare for Brexit, not just on the deal but also covering issues such as trade, agriculture and immigration. Andrea Leadsom, the leader of the House of Commons, had previously suggested Britain could probably secure "a couple of extra weeks" if needed. Any delay must be agreed by the other 27 EU countries. Prime Minister Theresa May has promised to return to Brussels to try to secure changes to the deal that would enable MPs to support it, but the EU has warned it does not want to reopen the agreement. Without the deal, Britain runs the risk of severing ties with its closest trading partner on March 29 with no new arrangements in place.

May need to delay Brexit to pass legislation to implement split with EU: Britain

Campaigners demand 'people's vote' with Titanic Brexit stunt

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray.

Her address at the ruling Conservative Party's annual gathering comes with May buffeted from all directions and Europeans increasingly anxious that the two sides are heading for a messy divorce.

The potentially calamitous impact a no-deal Brexit would have on trade prompted France's budget minister to admit on Tuesday that Paris was preparing "for the worst".

But May's immediate concerns will be to regain the confidence of her party and present a semblance of a united front in crucial negotiations with Brussels over the next two weeks.

"I passionately believe that our best days lie ahead of us and that our future is full of promise," May said in pre-released extracts of her speech.

Irish headache&nbsp;

Eurosceptic MPs led by former foreign minister Boris Johnson have held a string of packed fringe meetings to argue against May's proposal for Britain to follow EU trade rules on goods after it leaves.

Johnson and others say such a close partnership would still see Britain follow EU rules and ignore the wishes of voters who backed the Brexit referendum in 2016.

The EU instead argues that May is asking for too much -- "cherry-picking" the benefits a union brings to trade while still leaving the bloc.

May argues her proposal is the only way to protect jobs and cross-border trade while also avoiding physical checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland.

She has however promised new proposals on a plan B -- a backstop -- to keep the frontier open if and until the new trade deal could be agreed with the EU.

Speculation is growing that London may accept some checks on goods passing between British-ruled Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain.

These are meant to avoid them on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland itself -- something all sides want to avoid.

But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Tuesday appeared to reject the idea outright.

"NO border in the Irish Sea will ever be acceptable to unionists throughout the UK... regulatory or otherwise," DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted after meeting May on Tuesday.

May's party depends on Foster's small party for its majority in the House of Commons. MPs must approve any final Brexit deal.

A rebellion by the DUP -- or indeed by even a small number of Conservative MPs -- could be enough to kill any arrangement May reaches with the EU.

Foster seemed to leave some room for compromise by telling the BBC on Wednesday that she did not want to vote against May's government.

"What is important is to make sure that whatever is agreed doesn't damage Northern Ireland in terms of its economy," Foster said.

May's plan 'dangerous'

May's hold on power has been fragile since last year's disastrous snap election when the Conservatives lost their Commons majority.

Barely a month has gone by when there is not speculation of a plot against her, much of it focused around Johnson, a leading Brexit campaigner and former mayor of London.

He told a 1,500-strong crowd on Tuesday that May's trade plan was "dangerous", saying it undermined the hopes of Brexit voters.

Johnson's speech also ranged from health to housing and crime, in what was widely viewed as a pitch for his party's leadership.

But May has surprised many observers by surviving this far, and many delegates at the conference -- whatever their feelings on Brexit -- are wary of a change at the top now.

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray.

Prime Minister Theresa May will seek Wednesday to rally her splintered party behind her with just six months to go until Britain leaves the European Union and negotiations in a state of disarray. Her address at the ruling Conservative Party's annual gathering comes with May buffeted from all directions and Europeans increasingly anxious that the two sides are heading for a messy divorce. The potentially calamitous impact a no-deal Brexit would have on trade prompted France's budget minister to admit on Tuesday that Paris was preparing "for the worst". But May's immediate concerns will be to regain the confidence of her party and present a semblance of a united front in crucial negotiations with Brussels over the next two weeks. "I passionately believe that our best days lie ahead of us and that our future is full of promise," May said in pre-released extracts of her speech. Irish headache Eurosceptic MPs led by former foreign minister Boris Johnson have held a string of packed fringe meetings to argue against May's proposal for Britain to follow EU trade rules on goods after it leaves. Johnson and others say such a close partnership would still see Britain follow EU rules and ignore the wishes of voters who backed the Brexit referendum in 2016. The EU instead argues that May is asking for too much -- "cherry-picking" the benefits a union brings to trade while still leaving the bloc. May argues her proposal is the only way to protect jobs and cross-border trade while also avoiding physical checks on Britain's land border with EU member Ireland. She has however promised new proposals on a plan B -- a backstop -- to keep the frontier open if and until the new trade deal could be agreed with the EU. Speculation is growing that London may accept some checks on goods passing between British-ruled Northern Ireland and the rest of Britain. These are meant to avoid them on the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland itself -- something all sides want to avoid. But Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) on Tuesday appeared to reject the idea outright. "NO border in the Irish Sea will ever be acceptable to unionists throughout the UK... regulatory or otherwise," DUP leader Arlene Foster tweeted after meeting May on Tuesday. May's party depends on Foster's small party for its majority in the House of Commons. MPs must approve any final Brexit deal. A rebellion by the DUP -- or indeed by even a small number of Conservative MPs -- could be enough to kill any arrangement May reaches with the EU. Foster seemed to leave some room for compromise by telling the BBC on Wednesday that she did not want to vote against May's government. "What is important is to make sure that whatever is agreed doesn't damage Northern Ireland in terms of its economy," Foster said. May's plan 'dangerous' May's hold on power has been fragile since last year's disastrous snap election when the Conservatives lost their Commons majority. Barely a month has gone by when there is not speculation of a plot against her, much of it focused around Johnson, a leading Brexit campaigner and former mayor of London. He told a 1,500-strong crowd on Tuesday that May's trade plan was "dangerous", saying it undermined the hopes of Brexit voters. Johnson's speech also ranged from health to housing and crime, in what was widely viewed as a pitch for his party's leadership. But May has surprised many observers by surviving this far, and many delegates at the conference -- whatever their feelings on Brexit -- are wary of a change at the top now.

UK's May seeks to rally party as Brexit pressures mount

Prime Minister Theresa May called on her party on Sunday to unite behind her plan to leave the European Union, making a direct appeal to critics by saying their desire for a free trade deal was at the heart of her own Brexit proposals.

At the start of what is set to be one of the Conservative Party's stormiest annual conferences, May's plans were once again attacked by two former ministers, with former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, calling them "deranged".

Just six months before Britain is due to leave the EU in the country's biggest shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years, the debate over how to leave the bloc is still raging in the centre-right Conservative Party, and even in the government.

May's already fragile leadership was put under further pressure this month when the EU rejected parts of the so-called Chequers plan. But she put a positive spin on those talks, saying she was ready to consider to the EU's concerns.

"My message to my party is let's come together and get the best deal for Britain," May told the BBC in the central English city of Birmingham.

"At the heart of the Chequers plan is a free trade deal, a free trade area and frictionless trade ... Chequers at the moment is the only plan on the table that delivers on the Brexit vote ... and also delivers for the people of Northern Ireland."

May has shown little sign of shifting away from her Chequers plan, named after her country residence where she hashed out an agreement on Brexit with her ministers in July, despite growing criticism that her proposals offer the worst of all worlds.

Johnson, who quit May's cabinet after Chequers was agreed, called her plans "deranged" and attacked the prime minister for not believing in Brexit.

"Unlike the prime minister I campaigned for Brexit," Johnson, the bookmakers' favourite to succeed May, told the Sunday Times newspaper.

"Unlike the prime minister I fought for this, I believe in it, I think it's the right thing for our country and I think that what is happening now is, alas, not what people were promised in 2016."

Davis, who like Johnson resigned in protest said her plan was "just wrong", but he also said he thought it was 80-90 percent likely that the government would strike an exit deal with the EU.

TESTY CONFERENCE

May's team hoped the party's conference would give her a platform to renew her pledge to help those people who are "just about managing", trying to pull the focus away from Brexit and on to a domestic agenda.

But her first announcement - for an additional levy on foreign home buyers - did little to reset the conversation, with Sunday dominated again with Brexit, a possible leadership campaign and the prospect of an early election.

Johnson's interview in the Sunday Times was seen by many in the party to be the start of a campaign to unseat May - something that angered some Conservatives who are critical of the former foreign minister.

May refused to be drawn on his comments, and did not refer to him by name in a lengthy interview with the BBC. But her response was sharp.

"I do believe in Brexit," she said.

"But crucially I believe in delivering Brexit in a way that respects the vote and delivers on the vote of the British people while also protecting our union, protecting jobs and ensuring that we make a success of Brexit for the future."And she did find some support.

Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said she still believed May could still manage to win a deal with the EU, and her party chairman, Brandon Lewis, said he believed she could lead into the next election, due in 2022.

Davidson told Sky News that the EU summit in Salzburg had actually "slightly cleared the air actually, we know that officials are working very closely together."

"I think there is still a basis there for a deal to be done."

Prime Minister Theresa May called on her party on Sunday to unite behind her plan to leave the European Union, making a direct appeal to critics by saying their desire for a free trade deal was at the heart of her own Brexit proposals.

Prime Minister Theresa May called on her party on Sunday to unite behind her plan to leave the European Union, making a direct appeal to critics by saying their desire for a free trade deal was at the heart of her own Brexit proposals. At the start of what is set to be one of the Conservative Party's stormiest annual conferences, May's plans were once again attacked by two former ministers, with former foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, calling them "deranged". Just six months before Britain is due to leave the EU in the country's biggest shift in foreign and trade policy in more than 40 years, the debate over how to leave the bloc is still raging in the centre-right Conservative Party, and even in the government. May's already fragile leadership was put under further pressure this month when the EU rejected parts of the so-called Chequers plan. But she put a positive spin on those talks, saying she was ready to consider to the EU's concerns. "My message to my party is let's come together and get the best deal for Britain," May told the BBC in the central English city of Birmingham. "At the heart of the Chequers plan is a free trade deal, a free trade area and frictionless trade ... Chequers at the moment is the only plan on the table that delivers on the Brexit vote ... and also delivers for the people of Northern Ireland." May has shown little sign of shifting away from her Chequers plan, named after her country residence where she hashed out an agreement on Brexit with her ministers in July, despite growing criticism that her proposals offer the worst of all worlds. Johnson, who quit May's cabinet after Chequers was agreed, called her plans "deranged" and attacked the prime minister for not believing in Brexit. "Unlike the prime minister I campaigned for Brexit," Johnson, the bookmakers' favourite to succeed May, told the Sunday Times newspaper. "Unlike the prime minister I fought for this, I believe in it, I think it's the right thing for our country and I think that what is happening now is, alas, not what people were promised in 2016." Davis, who like Johnson resigned in protest said her plan was "just wrong", but he also said he thought it was 80-90 percent likely that the government would strike an exit deal with the EU. TESTY CONFERENCE May's team hoped the party's conference would give her a platform to renew her pledge to help those people who are "just about managing", trying to pull the focus away from Brexit and on to a domestic agenda. But her first announcement - for an additional levy on foreign home buyers - did little to reset the conversation, with Sunday dominated again with Brexit, a possible leadership campaign and the prospect of an early election. Johnson's interview in the Sunday Times was seen by many in the party to be the start of a campaign to unseat May - something that angered some Conservatives who are critical of the former foreign minister. May refused to be drawn on his comments, and did not refer to him by name in a lengthy interview with the BBC. But her response was sharp. "I do believe in Brexit," she said. "But crucially I believe in delivering Brexit in a way that respects the vote and delivers on the vote of the British people while also protecting our union, protecting jobs and ensuring that we make a success of Brexit for the future."And she did find some support. Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said she still believed May could still manage to win a deal with the EU, and her party chairman, Brandon Lewis, said he believed she could lead into the next election, due in 2022. Davidson told Sky News that the EU summit in Salzburg had actually "slightly cleared the air actually, we know that officials are working very closely together." "I think there is still a basis there for a deal to be done."

'Let's come together,' UK PM Theresa May makes Brexit appeal to party

Soldiers will be deployed to key sites in Britain to boost security as the country raised its terror threat to the highest level of &quot;critical&quot; following a suicide attack in Manchester that killed 22 people, including children.

Police on Tuesday said they believed British-born Salman Abedi, aged 22, carried out Britain&#39;s deadliest bombing in nearly 12 years and Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent.

U.S. security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan origin.

May said it was possible a wider group was linked to the bombing at a crowded concert hall, prompting the increase in security a little more than two weeks before a national election.

An independent body which sets the threat level recommended it be raised to &quot;critical&quot; from &quot;severe&quot; for the first time since June 2007.

&quot;This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent,&quot; May said in a televised statement from her Downing Street Office after a meeting of the government&#39;s crisis response committee.

&quot;Armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces ... You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches.&quot;

Britain&#39;s top anti-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said events would only go ahead when it was safe to do so and the decision to raise the threat level had been made on a &quot;precautionary basis&quot; due to gaps in police knowledge while the investigation continues.

He told reporters he hoped that, as has previously been the case, the level would not stay at critical for a long period.

The Times newspaper reported that Abedi had arrived back in Britain from Libya recently. He is believed to have travelled by train from London before the attack, U.S. officials said.

The attacker set off his improvised bomb as crowds streamed out of the Manchester Arena after a pop concert by Ariana Grande, a U.S. singer especially popular with teenage girls.

Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against &quot;Crusaders.&quot; But there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation.

FRANTIC SEARCHES

Witnesses related the horror of the blast, which unleashed a stampede just as the concert ended at Europe&#39;s largest indoor arena, full to its capacity of 21,000.

&quot;We ran and people were screaming around us and pushing on the stairs to go outside and people were falling down, girls were crying, and we saw these women being treated by paramedics having open wounds on their legs ... it was just chaos,&quot; said Sebastian Diaz, 19. &quot;It was literally just a minute after it ended, the lights came on and the bomb went off.&quot;

A video posted on Twitter showed fans, many of them young, screaming and running from the venue. Dozens of parents frantically searched for their children, posting photos and pleading for information on social media.

Singer Grande, 23, said on Twitter she was devastated: &quot;broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don&#39;t have words.&quot; She returned to the United States on Tuesday, Britain&#39;s Daily Mail newspaper reported, as questions lingered over whether she would continue her European tour.

The attack was the deadliest in the UK since four British Muslims killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London&#39;s transport system in 2005. But it will have reverberations far beyond British shores.

Attacks in cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St Petersburg, Berlin and London have shocked Europeans already anxious over security challenges from mass immigration and pockets of domestic Islamist radicalism. Islamic State has repeatedly called for attacks as retaliation for Western involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq.

While claiming responsibility on its Telegram account, the group appeared to contradict the police description of a suicide bomber. It suggested explosive devices were placed &quot;in the midst of the gatherings of the Crusaders&quot;.

&quot;What comes next will be more severe on the worshippers of the cross,&quot; the Telegram posting said.

It did not name the bomber, as it usually does in attacks it has ordered, and appeared also to contradict a posting on another Islamic State account, Amaq, which spoke of &quot;a group of attackers&quot;. That reference, however, was later removed.

&quot;DEPRAVED&quot;

May described the attack as an act of &quot;sickening cowardice&quot;. Campaigning for the June 8 election, which opinion polls suggest May&#39;s Conservative Party is on track to win, has been suspended as a mark of respect.

May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children&#39;s hospital in Manchester.

The White House said Trump had agreed with May during their telephone conversation that the attack was &quot;particularly wanton and depraved&quot;.

Macron and senior French ministers walked to the British embassy in Paris to sign the condolence book.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it &quot;will only strengthen our resolve to ... work with our British friends against those who plan and carry out such inhumane deeds&quot;.

The U.N. Security Council condemned &quot;the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack&quot; and expressed solidarity with Britain in the fight against terrorism.

Queen Elizabeth held a minute&#39;s silence at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London.

Manchester remained on high alert, with additional armed police drafted in. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said more police had been ordered onto the streets of the British capital.

Police raided a property in the Manchester district of Fallowfield where they carried out a controlled explosion.

On Tuesday evening thousands of people attended a vigil in central Manchester in sombre but defiant mood.

&quot;There&#39;s hard times again in these streets of our city, but we won&#39;t take defeat and we don&#39;t want your pity, because this is the place where we stand strong together with a smile on our face, Mancunians forever,&quot; local poet Tony Walsh said in a poem he read to the crowd that drew loud cheers and applause.

British police do not routinely carry firearms, but London police said extra armed officers would be deployed at this weekend&#39;s soccer cup final at Wembley and rugby at Twickenham. Security would be reviewed also for smaller events.

In March, a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on London&#39;s Westminster Bridge, killing four people before stabbing to death a police officer who was on the grounds of parliament. The man was shot dead at the scene.

In 2015, Pakistani student Abid Naseer was convicted in a U.S. court of conspiring with al Qaeda to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in the centre of Manchester in April 2009.

(Reuters)

Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent

Soldiers will be deployed to key sites in Britain to boost security as the country raised its terror threat to the highest level of "critical" following a suicide attack in Manchester that killed 22 people, including children. Police on Tuesday said they believed British-born Salman Abedi, aged 22, carried out Britain's deadliest bombing in nearly 12 years and Prime Minister Theresa May said another attack could be imminent. U.S. security sources, citing British intelligence officials, said Abedi was born in Manchester to parents of Libyan origin. May said it was possible a wider group was linked to the bombing at a crowded concert hall, prompting the increase in security a little more than two weeks before a national election. An independent body which sets the threat level recommended it be raised to "critical" from "severe" for the first time since June 2007. "This means that their assessment is not only that an attack remains highly likely but that a further attack may be imminent," May said in a televised statement from her Downing Street Office after a meeting of the government's crisis response committee. "Armed police officers responsible for duties such as guarding key sites will be replaced by members of the armed forces ... You might also see military personnel deployed at certain events, such as concerts and sports matches." Britain's top anti-terrorism officer Mark Rowley said events would only go ahead when it was safe to do so and the decision to raise the threat level had been made on a "precautionary basis" due to gaps in police knowledge while the investigation continues. He told reporters he hoped that, as has previously been the case, the level would not stay at critical for a long period. The Times newspaper reported that Abedi had arrived back in Britain from Libya recently. He is believed to have travelled by train from London before the attack, U.S. officials said. The attacker set off his improvised bomb as crowds streamed out of the Manchester Arena after a pop concert by Ariana Grande, a U.S. singer especially popular with teenage girls. Islamic State, now being driven from territories in Syria and Iraq by Western-backed armed forces, claimed responsibility for what it called a revenge attack against "Crusaders." But there appeared to be contradictions in its account of the operation. FRANTIC SEARCHES Witnesses related the horror of the blast, which unleashed a stampede just as the concert ended at Europe's largest indoor arena, full to its capacity of 21,000. "We ran and people were screaming around us and pushing on the stairs to go outside and people were falling down, girls were crying, and we saw these women being treated by paramedics having open wounds on their legs ... it was just chaos," said Sebastian Diaz, 19. "It was literally just a minute after it ended, the lights came on and the bomb went off." A video posted on Twitter showed fans, many of them young, screaming and running from the venue. Dozens of parents frantically searched for their children, posting photos and pleading for information on social media. Singer Grande, 23, said on Twitter she was devastated: "broken. from the bottom of my heart, i am so so sorry. i don't have words." She returned to the United States on Tuesday, Britain's Daily Mail newspaper reported, as questions lingered over whether she would continue her European tour. The attack was the deadliest in the UK since four British Muslims killed 52 people in suicide bombings on London's transport system in 2005. But it will have reverberations far beyond British shores. Attacks in cities including Paris, Nice, Brussels, St Petersburg, Berlin and London have shocked Europeans already anxious over security challenges from mass immigration and pockets of domestic Islamist radicalism. Islamic State has repeatedly called for attacks as retaliation for Western involvement in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. While claiming responsibility on its Telegram account, the group appeared to contradict the police description of a suicide bomber. It suggested explosive devices were placed "in the midst of the gatherings of the Crusaders". "What comes next will be more severe on the worshippers of the cross," the Telegram posting said. It did not name the bomber, as it usually does in attacks it has ordered, and appeared also to contradict a posting on another Islamic State account, Amaq, which spoke of "a group of attackers". That reference, however, was later removed. "DEPRAVED" May described the attack as an act of "sickening cowardice". Campaigning for the June 8 election, which opinion polls suggest May's Conservative Party is on track to win, has been suspended as a mark of respect. May spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and several other foreign leaders on Tuesday about the attack, her spokesman said. She also visited the police headquarters and a children's hospital in Manchester. The White House said Trump had agreed with May during their telephone conversation that the attack was "particularly wanton and depraved". Macron and senior French ministers walked to the British embassy in Paris to sign the condolence book. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said it "will only strengthen our resolve to ... work with our British friends against those who plan and carry out such inhumane deeds". The U.N. Security Council condemned "the barbaric and cowardly terrorist attack" and expressed solidarity with Britain in the fight against terrorism. Queen Elizabeth held a minute's silence at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London. Manchester remained on high alert, with additional armed police drafted in. London Mayor Sadiq Khan said more police had been ordered onto the streets of the British capital. Police raided a property in the Manchester district of Fallowfield where they carried out a controlled explosion. On Tuesday evening thousands of people attended a vigil in central Manchester in sombre but defiant mood. "There's hard times again in these streets of our city, but we won't take defeat and we don't want your pity, because this is the place where we stand strong together with a smile on our face, Mancunians forever," local poet Tony Walsh said in a poem he read to the crowd that drew loud cheers and applause. British police do not routinely carry firearms, but London police said extra armed officers would be deployed at this weekend's soccer cup final at Wembley and rugby at Twickenham. Security would be reviewed also for smaller events. In March, a British-born convert to Islam ploughed a car into pedestrians on London's Westminster Bridge, killing four people before stabbing to death a police officer who was on the grounds of parliament. The man was shot dead at the scene. In 2015, Pakistani student Abid Naseer was convicted in a U.S. court of conspiring with al Qaeda to blow up the Arndale shopping centre in the centre of Manchester in April 2009. (Reuters)

UK raises threat level from severe to critical

The Scottish parliament on Tuesday backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon&#39;s bid for a new independence referendum, further complicating Britain&#39;s political situation just as years of talks on the terms of Brexit were about to begin.

The United Kingdom&#39;s vote last year to exit the European Union has strained ties between its four constituent parts because England and Wales voted to leave while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain.

The Edinburgh legislature&#39;s vote backing Sturgeon&#39;s bid for a referendum in late 2018 or early 2019 came a day before British Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 of the EU&#39;s Lisbon Treaty, the first formal step towards Brexit.

It is far from certain that the British government will authorise a new independence vote. May has said &quot;now is not the time&quot; and insisted her focus was on getting a good Brexit deal that would work for every part of the UK.

&quot;Scotland, like the rest of the UK, stands at a crossroads,&quot; Sturgeon told the Edinburgh assembly at the start of Tuesday&#39;s debate.

&quot;When Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered tomorrow, change for our country becomes inevitable ... There will be an impact on trade, on investment and on living standards, and an impact on the very nature of the society we live in.&quot;

Scotland voted against independence by 55 to 45 per cent in 2014 but Sturgeon argues circumstances have changed due to the Brexit vote and that Scots should not be dragged out of the EU against their will.

She has proposed a new independence referendum between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, once the terms of Brexit have become clearer but before it has taken effect.

&quot;When the nature of the change that is made inevitable by Brexit becomes clear, that change should not be imposed upon us,&quot; she said in parliament on Tuesday.

&quot;The people of Scotland should have the right to choose between Brexit, possibly a very hard Brexit, or becoming an independent country able to chart our own course.&quot;

Sturgeon&#39;s motion passed by 69 votes to 59.

She has repeatedly said it would be anti-democratic for London to stand in the way of Scotland&#39;s elected government if it wanted to hold a referendum.

She said on Tuesday that if London sought to block her plan, she would return to the Scottish parliament after the Easter break to say how she would handle the situation. She gave no further details.

The vote in the Scottish parliament had originally been scheduled to take place on Wednesday last week, but was suspended because of an attack on the British parliament in London in which five people died, including the attacker.

(Reuters)

Scotland voted against independence by 55 to 45% in 2014, but Sturgeon argues circumstances have changed due to the Brexit vote

The Scottish parliament on Tuesday backed First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's bid for a new independence referendum, further complicating Britain's political situation just as years of talks on the terms of Brexit were about to begin. The United Kingdom's vote last year to exit the European Union has strained ties between its four constituent parts because England and Wales voted to leave while Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain. The Edinburgh legislature's vote backing Sturgeon's bid for a referendum in late 2018 or early 2019 came a day before British Prime Minister Theresa May triggers Article 50 of the EU's Lisbon Treaty, the first formal step towards Brexit. It is far from certain that the British government will authorise a new independence vote. May has said "now is not the time" and insisted her focus was on getting a good Brexit deal that would work for every part of the UK. "Scotland, like the rest of the UK, stands at a crossroads," Sturgeon told the Edinburgh assembly at the start of Tuesday's debate. "When Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty is triggered tomorrow, change for our country becomes inevitable ... There will be an impact on trade, on investment and on living standards, and an impact on the very nature of the society we live in." Scotland voted against independence by 55 to 45 per cent in 2014 but Sturgeon argues circumstances have changed due to the Brexit vote and that Scots should not be dragged out of the EU against their will. She has proposed a new independence referendum between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, once the terms of Brexit have become clearer but before it has taken effect. "When the nature of the change that is made inevitable by Brexit becomes clear, that change should not be imposed upon us," she said in parliament on Tuesday. "The people of Scotland should have the right to choose between Brexit, possibly a very hard Brexit, or becoming an independent country able to chart our own course." Sturgeon's motion passed by 69 votes to 59. She has repeatedly said it would be anti-democratic for London to stand in the way of Scotland's elected government if it wanted to hold a referendum. She said on Tuesday that if London sought to block her plan, she would return to the Scottish parliament after the Easter break to say how she would handle the situation. She gave no further details. The vote in the Scottish parliament had originally been scheduled to take place on Wednesday last week, but was suspended because of an attack on the British parliament in London in which five people died, including the attacker. (Reuters)

Scottish parliament backs Sturgeon's bid for new independence referendum

Senior members of Britain&#39;s ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a &#39;hard Brexit&#39;, media reported&nbsp;on Sunday. 
 
Property investor Richard Tice told the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph, &#39;&#39;No deal is better than a bad deal.&quot; He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. 
 
Tice said&nbsp;the&nbsp;Britons had clearly&nbsp;voted in June to leave the European Union (EU)&nbsp;and &#39;the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone&#39;. 
 
&quot;Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth,&quot; Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. 
 
The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;Telegraph reported. 
 
&#39;Change Britain&#39;, a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign&nbsp;secretary Borish Johnson. 
 
May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger&nbsp;Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit&nbsp;early next year. She has said that she needed time&nbsp;to form an exit policy. 
 
The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party&nbsp;push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy&nbsp;break from the EU. 
 
Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party&nbsp;was &quot;absolutely inevitable&quot;. 
 
&quot;Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the &#39;leave&#39; side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that,&quot; she told ITV&#39;s Peston&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;programme. She said that the government needed to say &#39;this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to&#39;. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The new group, called Leave means Leave, is urging the British government to sever all ties with the European Union swiftly

Senior members of Britain's ruling Conservative Party are supporting a new group to push Britain for a 'hard Brexit', media reported on Sunday. Property investor Richard Tice told the Sunday Telegraph, ''No deal is better than a bad deal." He said that leaving the European Union and its single market without an alternative deal is better than staying and signing a bad deal. Tice said the Britons had clearly voted in June to leave the European Union (EU) and 'the sooner we leave the more certainty and confidence for everyone'. "Working people will hope Number 10 rejects this approach and instead seeks membership of the single market, which is vital for jobs and growth," Conservative lawmaker and supporter of Open Britain, Anna Soubry, said in a statement. The group had the backing of a former justice minister, Dominic Raab, and other leading Conservatives, the Sunday Telegraph reported. 'Change Britain', a group including people who were in the Leave campaign, was launched last week and endorsed by foreign secretary Borish Johnson. May, who was appointed prime minister shortly after the referendum, is expected to trigger Article 50 which would start the process of Brexit early next year. She has said that she needed time to form an exit policy. The divisions in the Conservative Party over how to negotiate the Brexit are coming to the fore as some within the party push for a soft process while others want a clean speedy break from the EU. Nicky Morgan, a Conservative former education secretary, said that splits in the ruling party was "absolutely inevitable". "Well it was absolutely inevitable that there were going to those on the 'leave' side of the debate who would say that any government is not going to go hard enough and fast enough and would set up a group to do that," she told ITV's Peston on Sunday programme. She said that the government needed to say 'this is what the plan is, this is where we want to get to'. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

UK lawmakers in ruling party back group pushing for 'hard Brexit'

French energy giant EDF yesterday approved a contested plan to build Britain&#39;s first nuclear power station in decades but the British government said it would wait before taking a final decision. 
 
Britain&#39;s business and energy minister Greg Clark said the government would review the nuclear project, shortly after EDF&#39;s board backed a project which critics fear could bankrupt the French utility. 
 
&quot;The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix,&quot; Clark said.&nbsp;&quot;The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn.&quot; 
 
Before the deal can go ahead it must be approved by Prime Minister Theresa May. 
 
EDF&#39;s directors had been deeply divided over the planned construction of two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in southwest England for $23.8 billion. 
 
&quot;At its meeting on 28 July 2016, EDF&#39;s board of directors made the final investment decision,&quot; the company said in a statement. 
 
Ten members of the board voted in favour of the deal, while seven voted against, a source told AFP. 
 
Upping the tension, one board member resigned just before the crunch meeting, saying he disagreed with the plan, reducing the board of directors to 17. 
 
Unions seek delay 
 
The Sizewell B nuclear power plant was the last to go online in Britain, starting generation in 1995. 
 
The plan to build the latest generation EPR reactors, signed in 2013, is to be carried out by EDF with Chinese partner CGN, but has hit several snags since.&nbsp;The reactors are due to go online from 2025. 
 
Weighing on its viability is the decision of French nuclear company Areva to drop out because of financial difficulties and the subsequent takeover of Areva&#39;s obligations by EDF at the behest of the French government, which owns 85 per cent of EDF. 
 
This pushed EDF, which was already struggling under a debt mountain of $41.4 billion at the end of last year, to go further into the red, leading some to question the group&#39;s ability to juggle all its liabilities, including the renovation of France&#39;s nuclear operations and the takeover of Areva&#39;s reactors amid falling energy prices. 
 
Unions fear for EDF&#39;s financial survival and have asked for a delay of at least three years of any decision on the British nuclear plans, even waging a court battle to stop the momentum. 
 
EDF chief financial officer Thomas Piquemal resigned in March over the threat the project represents to the company&#39;s finances, and CEO Jean-Bernard Levy has acknowledged that the company&#39;s &quot;financial trajectory is taut&quot;. 
 
EPR reactors, developed mostly by France&#39;s Areva, are the latest generation of nuclear reactors and among the most powerful in the world, and according to Areva, the safest.&nbsp;There are only two other ongoing EPR reactor projects in Europe, one in Normandy in France and the other in Finland, and both have been plagued by delays and cost overruns. 
 
&#39;Too big to fail&#39; 
 
The French government has been doggedly determined to get Hinkley Point approved as it sees the project as crucial for the long-term viability of France&#39;s nuclear industry, which employs 220,000 people. 
 
Previous British governments have also been in favour because the reactors will cover up to seven per cent of Britain&#39;s electricity needs while helping the government meet its CO2 emissions targets because of relatively low carbon emissions from nuclear energy.&nbsp;But British support is not unanimous, and criticism focuses on the growing difference between an electricity price guarantee for EDF, subsidised by the British taxpayer, and current falling energy prices. 
 
EDF would be guaranteed &pound;92.50 per megawatt hour produced by Hinkley Point over 35 years, giving it an estimated nine percent of return on its capital.&nbsp;But Britain&#39;s National Audit Office has warned that the potential cost of this subsidy had risen to &pound;29.7 billion from a 2013 estimate of &pound;6.1 billion because of the drop in energy prices. 
 
There have also been environmental concerns.&nbsp;Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said the power station was &quot;terrible value for money&quot;. 
 
The EDF decision &quot;just shows the Hinkley deal became too big to fail in the eyes of British and French politicians,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP)

Britain's business and energy minister Greg Clark said the government would review the nuclear project and make its decision in early autumn

French energy giant EDF yesterday approved a contested plan to build Britain's first nuclear power station in decades but the British government said it would wait before taking a final decision. Britain's business and energy minister Greg Clark said the government would review the nuclear project, shortly after EDF's board backed a project which critics fear could bankrupt the French utility. "The UK needs a reliable and secure energy supply and the government believes that nuclear energy is an important part of the mix," Clark said. "The government will now consider carefully all the component parts of this project and make its decision in the early autumn." Before the deal can go ahead it must be approved by Prime Minister Theresa May. EDF's directors had been deeply divided over the planned construction of two nuclear reactors at Hinkley Point in southwest England for $23.8 billion. "At its meeting on 28 July 2016, EDF's board of directors made the final investment decision," the company said in a statement. Ten members of the board voted in favour of the deal, while seven voted against, a source told AFP. Upping the tension, one board member resigned just before the crunch meeting, saying he disagreed with the plan, reducing the board of directors to 17. Unions seek delay The Sizewell B nuclear power plant was the last to go online in Britain, starting generation in 1995. The plan to build the latest generation EPR reactors, signed in 2013, is to be carried out by EDF with Chinese partner CGN, but has hit several snags since. The reactors are due to go online from 2025. Weighing on its viability is the decision of French nuclear company Areva to drop out because of financial difficulties and the subsequent takeover of Areva's obligations by EDF at the behest of the French government, which owns 85 per cent of EDF. This pushed EDF, which was already struggling under a debt mountain of $41.4 billion at the end of last year, to go further into the red, leading some to question the group's ability to juggle all its liabilities, including the renovation of France's nuclear operations and the takeover of Areva's reactors amid falling energy prices. Unions fear for EDF's financial survival and have asked for a delay of at least three years of any decision on the British nuclear plans, even waging a court battle to stop the momentum. EDF chief financial officer Thomas Piquemal resigned in March over the threat the project represents to the company's finances, and CEO Jean-Bernard Levy has acknowledged that the company's "financial trajectory is taut". EPR reactors, developed mostly by France's Areva, are the latest generation of nuclear reactors and among the most powerful in the world, and according to Areva, the safest. There are only two other ongoing EPR reactor projects in Europe, one in Normandy in France and the other in Finland, and both have been plagued by delays and cost overruns. 'Too big to fail' The French government has been doggedly determined to get Hinkley Point approved as it sees the project as crucial for the long-term viability of France's nuclear industry, which employs 220,000 people. Previous British governments have also been in favour because the reactors will cover up to seven per cent of Britain's electricity needs while helping the government meet its CO2 emissions targets because of relatively low carbon emissions from nuclear energy. But British support is not unanimous, and criticism focuses on the growing difference between an electricity price guarantee for EDF, subsidised by the British taxpayer, and current falling energy prices. EDF would be guaranteed £92.50 per megawatt hour produced by Hinkley Point over 35 years, giving it an estimated nine percent of return on its capital. But Britain's National Audit Office has warned that the potential cost of this subsidy had risen to £29.7 billion from a 2013 estimate of £6.1 billion because of the drop in energy prices. There have also been environmental concerns. Greenpeace executive director John Sauven said the power station was "terrible value for money". The EDF decision "just shows the Hinkley deal became too big to fail in the eyes of British and French politicians," he said. (AFP)

France's EDF gives green signal for nuclear plan, UK defers