May shrugs off Brexit infighting, leadership rumors

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British Prime Minister Theresa May suffered two more resignations over her Brexit plan on Tuesday, but won the support from senior ministers and an endorsement from German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

May insisted that her plan "absolutely keeps faith with the vote of the British people," although many of her MPs disagree.

Two of the Conservative Party’s vice-chairmen, Ben Bradley and Maria Caulfield, resigned on Tuesday afternoon, following in the footsteps of Brexit secretary David Davis, foreign secretary Boris Johnson and a handful of junior ministers.

May, who looks to have avoided a direct challenge to her leadership in the short term, was boosted when two prominent Brexiteers, Michael Gove and Liam Fox, said they would not quit the Cabinet.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May (L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at a reception in the gardens of St James's Palace in central London on July 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

There remains speculation that further resignations could occur in the coming days, however, and the prime minister faces an uphill battle gaining acceptance for her plan from the EU and passing any agreement through the UK parliament.

Merkel, speaking alongside May at a news conference in London, said the other 27 EU members would give a joint response. "But it's good that the proposals are on the table - that much I can say already, without going into details."

The British prime minister was also forced to brush off US President Donald Trump's claim that he would arrive in Britain on Friday at a time of "turmoil."

A white paper setting out May's Brexit plan in detail is expected to be published on Thursday.

Brexit 'betrayal'

May is sticking to her plan for a "business friendly" Brexit, announced last Friday, facing down hardline Brexit supporters in her Conservative Party who are angry over her plans to negotiate a "free trade area for goods" with the EU.

"I think it is right that the Cabinet backs the prime minister and speaks with one voice - and if people don't do that then they have to go," Justice Secretary David Gauke told the BBC.

May must now win EU support for her proposal. Talks have all but stalled because of her reluctance to show her cards until now for fear of angering one of the two main factions of her party.

Prime Minister Theresa May updates MPs in the House of Commons, London on the Chequers Brexit plan on July 9, 2018. /VCG Photo‍.

Some Conservative Brexit backers are still incensed over what they see as her breach of a promise to break cleanly from the EU.

"It is the ultimate betrayal of our democracy and people's belief in it. It's not even an accidental betrayal, it was planned and plotted well in advance," said Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen told Reuters. "Never have so many campaigned for so long and so hard for so little."

May will face a tough task pushing her plans through the UK parliament, even if a version of her proposals is accepted by the EU.

"If people don’t like this proposal, what is their alternative?" Gauke asked.

Any agreement must be voted on by MPs this autumn – a rejection by the House of Commons would see Britain leave the EU without a deal and have to rely on World Trade Organization rules from April 1, 2019.

Challenge to May?

The high profile resignations of Johnson and Davis sparked talk of a leadership challenge to May, but with no obvious contender, no clear way to unite the party, and fears that a change in prime minister could lead to an election, a contest looks unlikely in the short term.

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt (R) listens to German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a reception in the gardens of St James's Palace in central London on July 10, 2018. /VCG Photo

There may be enough Conservative MPs angry at May's Brexit stance to trigger a contest – 48 are needed – but the prime minister is thought likely to have sufficient support to win with ease.

Two men who are expected to stand for the party leadership when there is a vacancy, Jeremy Hunt and Dominic Raab, were promoted earlier this week.

Hunt was named foreign secretary, and Raab replaced Davis as Brexit secretary.

(With input from agencies)

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