May backs Brexit deal amid no-trust vote talks

London, November 16 

British Prime Minister Theresa May won the backing of two senior ministers — Michael Gove and Liam Fox — on Friday as she battled to defend her much-criticised draft divorce deal with the European Union as calls grew for a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

More than two years after the UK 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, on Tuesday announced she had agreed a Brexit deal which ensured the UK left the world’s biggest trading bloc in the smoothest way possible.

But Brexit minister Dominic Raab resigned on Thursday over her deal, sending the pound tumbling, followed by a number of other colleagues. Other mutinous lawmakers in her party have openly spoken of ousting her and said bluntly that the Brexit deal would not pass Parliament.

May, who has defiantly vowed to stay on as PM, spoke in a radio phone-in show to defend her deal and was asked by a caller on LBC radio to “respectfully stand down”. She did not immediately address that part of the caller’s question.

Influential eurosceptic Conservative lawmaker Steve Baker said rebels in May’s party were close to the threshold which would trigger a confidence vote.

Such a vote must take place when 48 Conservatives submit letters to the party’s so-called 1922 committee.

“What’s happened is people have been ringing me and telling me they are putting their letters in ... and I think we’re probably not far off,” said Baker, a key figure in the Brexit-backing wing of May’s party. “I think it probably is imminent, yes.” — Reuters