The chance that Brexit will go through on March 29, 2019, decreases sharply if the British Parliament votes in January against the deal that British Prime Minister Theresa May has struck with the European Union (EU). That reports Business Insider.
That is the assessment of Liam Fox, the Minister of Commerce, who is thereby putting pressure on MPs to agree to May's deal. Fox said to The Sunday Times that the chance of leaving the EU drops to 50% if the current agreement is not voted on.
"If we do opt for the Prime Minister's agreement, then it is 100% certain that Brexit will take place on March 29," said Fox, who is himself a prominent Brexit supporter.
Little positivity
However, things are not looking good for May for now. Prior to Christmas, it still appeared that there is no parliamentary majority in favor of the deal. Some politicians from May's Conservative Party even support the idea of a second referendum.
Criticism of the deal has come from both the Conservative Party and the opposition. This agreement provides for the United Kingdom as a whole to remain within the Customs Union for the time being, with the option of a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Fox has described not supporting the deal as a betrayal of people who voted for Brexit in the first referendum.
Member of Parliament Layla Moran (Liberal Democrats), who would like a second referendum on Brexit, points out that the chance of calling off Brexit is greater than Secretary Fox suggests. Against ITV Moran said this ratio is 56% to 44%: "That reflects how the public currently feels about canceling this disastrous plan and strengthening our position within the EU."
Read more on Business Insider:
- UK government backs May's Brexit deal, but not wholeheartedly
- Why the border with Northern Ireland is such a problem
- Interest rates are rising rapidly worldwide, but these opportunities are there
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