PM May presses on with her Brexit plan

LONDON (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Theresa May said her government has begun negotiations with the European Union based on her hard-won Brexit plan, pressing on with a proposal roundly criticized by both wings of her Conservative Party.

After narrowly escaping defeat in parliament earlier this week over her proposal for leaving the EU, May signaled on Wednesday that she would not drop her proposal for Britain’s future relationship with bloc – the biggest shift in its foreign and trade policy for almost half a century.

But by sticking to her plan for a “business-friendly” departure from the EU, May has thrown down the gauntlet to Brexit supporters and pro-EU lawmakers in her party who are at war with each other, and – for some – with the prime minister herself.

In a rowdy session of parliament, May was challenged by one pro-Brexit lawmaker in her party to explain when she had decided to change her catchphrase from “Brexit means Brexit,” to “Brexit means Remain.”

“Brexit continues to mean Brexit,” May said to cheers from her Conservative supporters.

May also said talks had already started with Brussels based on the proposal set down in a white paper policy document last week after her divided government had thrashed out a deal at her Chequers country residence.

“The Chequers agreement, the white paper are the basis for our negotiation with the European Union and we have already started those negotiations,” she told parliament.

While May’s Conservative party is in disarray over the plan, EU member Ireland also said it was focusing on the white paper, unwilling to be diverted over the changes to her Brexit plans forced through in parliament this week.

“If we get distracted by individual amendments to individual pieces of legislation... then I think we get dragged into an unnecessary debate that wastes a lot of time and energy,” Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told state broadcaster RTE.

May’s vulnerability in parliament, where she lost her majority in an ill-judged election last year, was laid bare on Monday and Tuesday, when she faced rebellions from both the pro-Brexit and pro-EU wings of her party.