U.K. euroskeptics urge May to prepare for ‘no deal’ Brexit

LONDON — Pro-Brexit politicians and business figures have urged British Prime Minister Theresa May to be ready to walk away from the European Union without a trade agreement, despite warnings from major manufacturers that a “no deal” Brexit would be an economic disaster.

In an open letter, 60 lawmakers, economists and business chiefs accused the EU of being “intransigent” in divorce talks and said Britain should threaten to withhold the $52 billion divorce bill it hasalready agreed to pay.

The letter released Sunday by Economists for Free Trade was signed by prominent supporters of a “hard Brexit,” including ex-U.K. Treasury chief Nigel Lawson, Conservative lawmakers John Redwood and Peter Bone, and Tim Martin, chairman of the Wetherspoonspub chain.

They urged U.K. authorities “to accelerate their preparations for ‘no deal’ and a move to a World Trade Deal underWTO rules.”

That would mean tariffs and other trade barriers betweenBritain and the EU, and many businesses say it would severely harm the U.K. economy. Airbus, Siemens and BMW have all warned recently that leaving the EU without a free-trade deal wouldhurt British businesses and cost jobs. Airbus alone employs nearly 14,000 workersin the U.K.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said the warnings from businesses were “inappropriate” and undermined chances ofgetting a “clean Brexit.”

“The more that we undermine Theresa May, the more likely we are to end up with ‘a fudge,’ which would be an absolute disaster for everyone,” hetold the BBC.

Ms. May’s Conservative government is divided between Brexit-backing ministers calling for a clean break so that Britain can strike new trade deals around the world, and those who want to stay closely aligned to the EU, Britain’sbiggest trading partner.

Mr. Hunt urged people to unite behind the prime minister, saying she would mix “cautious pragmatism” with a determination to fulfil voters’decision to leave the EU.