‘ ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN’ IF MPs DON’T BACK MAY

London, Dec. 8: UK’s work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, has hinted at another referendum or a Norway- plus deal ( based on Norway’s relationship with the EU, which is outside the bloc and the customs union but inside the single market) if Theresa May fails to win next week’s Commons vote on her Brexit deal. She conceded “anything could happen”.

She backed the PM’s deal, despite mounting opposition from over 100 Conservative MPs who have vowed to vote against it. Ms Rudd campaigned to remain during the EU referendum.

The Norway- plus option would involve staying in the European Economic Area.

She rejected suggestions the PM would be forced to stand down if she loses Tuesday’s vote while speaking to BBC Radio 4’ s Today programme after an interview with the Times. She said her preferred “plan B” would be to switch to the Norwayplus model. Ms Rudd was recently reinstated to the Cabinet after she resigned as home secretary over the Windrush scandal in April.

“The best deal we have is the one the PM’s put forward. Most of us are coalescing behind it in order to try and deliver on the outcome of the referendum, the withdrawal agreement, the political declaration. I think that is the best compromise,” she said.

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