Fragile deal for Brexit’s backers

THERESA May has secured Cabinet support for her Brexit divorce proposal, but it was fiercely fought by at least nine ministers and there are now rumours that hard Brexiteers are set to make a move on her leadership.

After a five-hour debate, the British Prime Minister (right) emerged from 10 Downing St yesterday to reveal Cabinet had endorsed the 585-page draft Brexit withdrawal agreement. However, the contentious issue of how a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland – which is still part of the EU – might be avoided, remains unresolved.

The deal includes a 21month transition following the UK’s departure in March next year, with a payment to the EU thought to be up to $70 billion.

The rights of EU nationals in Britain will be maintained and British citizens living in the EU will be able to keep working and studying.

Ms May said it was a “decisive step” in the Brexit process and would allow a final agreement. In Brussels, the EU’s chief negotiator Michel Barnier said the Cabinet agreement was a “key step’’ towards a deal, but a difficult road still lay ahead.

But leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg described it as a “rotten deal”.

The BBC reported that nine Cabinet ministers had spoken out against it. And Eurosceptic MPs began briefing immediately against Ms May, with some suggesting a hard Brexiteer move on her leadership was imminent.

Scotland’s Remainer First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also criticised the proposal and said it was “increasingly clear’’ Ms May would struggle to get it through Parliament. She said people should not be “effectively blackmailed’’ into choosing between a bad deal or no deal.

“Our bottom line – short of continued EU membership – is continued, permanent membership of the single market and customs union,’’ she said.

But Ms May said it was “the best that could be negotiated”.

“This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead,’’ she said.

“The choice before us is clear,” Ms May said.

“This deal, which delivers on the vote of the referendum, which brings us back control of our money, laws and borders, ends free movement, protects jobs, security and our union; or leave with no deal; or no Brexit at all,” she said.