British Prime Minister Theresa May said yesterday she would quit if her twice-defeated European Union divorce deal passes at the third attempt, making a last-ditch attempt to persuade rebels in her Conservative party to back her, a lawmaker in her party said.
May “will go if deal gets through,” said the lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “Suggests she goes after a deal.” Another Conservative lawmaker said that while May had not given a date, the impression was that she would go “reasonably soon”.
May’s announcement is the latest dramatic turn in the United Kingdom’s three-year Brexit crisis, but it is still remains uncertain how, when or even if it will leave the European Union. Many of the Conservative rebels who want a cleaner break from the EU than May’s deal would deliver had made it clear that they would only consider supporting her agreement if she gave a firm commitment and date for her resignation.
May, a vicar’s daughter, had already promised to step down before the next election, due in 2022. By agreeing to go sooner, she increases the chances of her EU deal passing before the new April 12 deadline. The government is now expected to bring the deal back to parliament for a third vote on Friday.
May’s deal means Britain will leave the EU single market and customs union as well as EU political bodies. But it requires some EU rules to apply unless ways can be found in the future to ensure no border is rebuilt between British-ruled Northern Ireland and EU member Ireland.
Many Conservative rebels have objected to this so-called Irish backstop, saying it risks binding Britain to the EU for years. But given the choice between the backstop and no Brexit at all, more should come round.