British Prime Minister Theresa May's cabinet ministers are openly divided about the Brexit question. On Sunday, justice secretary David Gauke turned against May and said she may be forced to accept a customs union scenario if that's what parliament calls for in a fresh round of so-called indicative votes that begin on Monday. He also said he would rather resign than assist with a no-deal Brexit.
Pro-Brexit politicians both inside and out of May's cabinet, however, have said they will resign if a custom union is put in place, or if she allows the Brexit delay to continue. The original date has already been pushed back from the original plan of March 29 to April 12, but there's been talks of delaying it further, or even beyond May 22.
The embattled Theresa May has been unable to gain control of her party or the course of the Brexit discussion. On Friday, May lost a third attempt to get her version of the British withdrawal approved by UK members of parliament.
"There are those who will say: 'The House has rejected every option so far, you'll probably lose so why bother?' I bother because this is the last opportunity to guarantee Brexit," May told the House of Commons before the vote. "If we do not vote for this motion today, people will ask: 'Why did you not vote for Brexit?'"
What's more is that Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party, which is one of May's closest political allies, states openly it would continue to reject the deal no matter how many times it is redrafted.
Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: "Part of the problem already with the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration is that it means agreeing to leave the EU with no clarity about the future ie a blindfold Brexit. Take away the PD completely and that problem is compounded. Why would MPs agree to that?"
Indeed, last week, as a final concession and an attempt to leave behind a tangible legacy, May offered her resignation in exchange for a ratification of the deal. May has openly promised she will not lead her party into the next election, but maintains that Brexit is still what is good for the future of the UK.
"I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party," May told lawmakers in the meeting. "I know there is a desire for a new approach-and new leadership-in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won't stand in the way of that. I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party," she said.
Even this desperate and somewhat counterintuitive attempt to push the deal through failed, however. The offer was rejected by members of the Democratic Unionist Party from Northern Ireland. A Parliamentary vote later in the day on a number of potential Brexit options failed to produced any consensus. Her offer technically still stands should a deal go forth, however.
- https://www.wsj.com/articles/theresa-may-vows-to-quit-to-get-brexit-deal-through-parliament-11553708350
- https://nypost.com/2019/03/29/theresa-mays-brexit-deal-rejected-again-throwing-eu-divorce-into-further-chaos/
- https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/29/brexit-theresa-may-loses-crucial-vote-on-her-deal-for-a-third-time.html