Brexit imbroglio: PM May faces fire from own MPS and opposition

LONDON: In the dock for agreeing to demands from hardline Brexiteers, Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday faced pressure from her party MPS and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn, who claimed her government had “sunk into a mire of chaos and division”.

Corbyn raised the issue of her cabinet ministers being part of the Vote Leave group that has been accused of breaking the law by the Electoral Commission, among other criticism of her plan for Brexit, which he alleged was now defunct due to subsequent developments and resignations.

Pro-brexit Conservative MP Andrea Jenkyns, who has strongly criticised May’s “Chequers plan” that envisages continued trade and economic links with the EU after Brexit, asked May in the House of Commons: “Could the prime minister inform the House at what point it was decided that Brexit means remain?”

May replied: “At absolutely no point – because Brexit continues to mean Brexit.”

Anti-brexit Conservative MPS such as Anna Soubry continued to criticise May’s plans and asked who was in charge of the country — May or fervent Brexiteers such as Jacob Rees-mogg, Tory MP.

Corbyn asked May: “Given that the proposals in the white paper (published after the Che- quers plan was announced) are now obsolete, when will the new white paper be published?”

May insisted her plans remained unchanged.

Corbyn went on: “With only three months to go until the final withdrawal agreement is due to be signed, the Brexit secretary has resigned, the white paper is in tatters, the new Brexit secretary is skipping negotiations.

“They’ve even given up on negotiating with each other. Isn’t the case that the government is failing to negotiate Brexit, failing to meet the needs of the country because they are far too busy fighting each other?”

May refuted Corbyn’s allegations and insisted negotiations with Brussels were on.