World

May seeks support as Brexit battle lines drawn

October 07, 2018
Prime Minister Theresa May
Prime Minister Theresa May

LONDON —

Prime Minister Theresa May appealed to wavering British voters on Sunday ahead of a defining few months in which she hopes to secure a Brexit deal and face down opponents who say her EU exit plan is too hard, too soft, or just plain wrong.

May, tasked with delivering Britain’s exit from the European Union after a 2016 referendum which continues to divide the country, must find a way through deadlocked talks in Brussels and then convince a skeptical parliament to back the outcome.

On Sunday she launched an unusual plea for the backing of center-ground voters who had previously backed the Labor Party but felt alienated by a shift to the left under current Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn.

“I want voters who may previously have thought of themselves as Labor supporters to look at my government afresh. They will find a decent, moderate and patriotic program that is worthy of their support,” May wrote in an article for the Observer newspaper.

Hot off the heels of a speech at her annual conference which polls showed was well received, May sought to reinforce her message that the end of over eight years of austerity was in sight, and that she was capable of delivering reform beyond Brexit.

Labor called her message on austerity a con and said she was making “desperate pleas in an attempt to revive her failing administration”.

It looks increasingly likely May will have to rely on the support of so-called ‹moderate’ Labor lawmakers to win parliamentary approval for whatever Brexit deal she is able to strike with the EU.

On Sunday, Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said her 35 lawmakers would likely vote against the deal, and could instead support a second public vote on the terms of Britain’s EU exit.

Labor’s left-wing leadership have promised to vote against May’s deal unless it meets their tests — which it currently is unlikely to do. — Reuters


October 07, 2018
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