May says she's focused on her Brexit deal, not a plan B
Updated 20:16, 03-Dec-2018
CGTN
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British Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday she was focused on persuading lawmakers to back her Brexit deal at a vote in parliament on December 11 rather than preparing a plan B.
May secured an agreement with European Union leaders on Sunday that will see Britain leave the bloc on March 29 with continued close trade ties, but the odds look stacked against her getting it through a deeply divided British parliament.
The deal has been criticized by both Eurosceptics and Europhiles among her own Conservative Party lawmakers.
Opposition parties and the small Northern Irish party which props up May's minority government have said they plan to vote against it.
"The focus of myself and the government is on the vote that is taking place on December 11. We will be explaining to members of parliament why we believe that this is a good deal for the UK," May told reporters on the plane to the G20 summit in Argentina when asked if she had a back-up plan.
"I ask every member of parliament to think about delivering on the Brexit vote and doing it in a way that is in the national interest and doing it in a way that is in the interests of their constituents because it protects jobs and livelihoods."
Activists in support of freedom of movement demonstrate against Theresa May's Brexit plan by hanging a banner from Westminster Bridge in London, England, November 28, 2018. /VCG Photo 

Activists in support of freedom of movement demonstrate against Theresa May's Brexit plan by hanging a banner from Westminster Bridge in London, England, November 28, 2018. /VCG Photo 

May has said if lawmakers reject the agreement it could see the world's fifth-largest economy leaving the bloc without a deal, or not leaving at all.
Asked which of those two options was more likely if her deal does not pass, she said: "We haven't had the vote yet. Let's focus on the deal that we have negotiated with the European Union."
Parliament will begin five days of debate on December 4, with the final vote due to be held on December 11. 
A cross-party group of senior lawmakers have put forward an amendment to block May's EU withdrawal deal and to rule out a no-deal Brexit.
"It opposes the deal, rejects a no-deal Brexit ... and would enable the House (of Commons) to express its view about what should happen next if the PM's deal is defeated," Hilary Benn, chairman of parliament's Brexit committee, wrote on Twitter.
Lawmakers who back a clean break with the EU hope that if the deal is rejected, May will go back to Brussels to seek further concessions. 
The EU has made clear there is little appetite to reopen negotiations.
Pro-EU politicians hope rejection of the deal will pave the way for a second referendum.
Source(s): Reuters