May launches campaign to win crunch Brexit vote

Bloomberg

Theresa May was expected to begin selling her Brexit agreement to skeptical politicians and the British public on Monday with a warning that “there is not a better deal available.”
The UK prime minister will appeal to members of Parliament to vote for the contract she finalised over the weekend with the European Union and avoid the turmoil of splitting from the bloc without a plan. She’s also embarking on a national campaign to sell her deal directly to voters.
May has staked her authority on persuading the House of Commons — against the odds — to endorse her Brexit deal in a vote expected to be held in December. She refused to rule out quitting as prime minister if she fails.
In a statement to Parliament on Monday, May was expected to warn that rejection would send Britain “back to square one” with just four months to go until the country leaves the EU.
“It would open the door to more division and more uncertainty, with all the risks that will entail,” the premier was expected to say, according to extracts of her speech released in advance by her office. “The British people want us to get on with a deal that honors the referendum and allows us to come together again as a country whichever way we voted. This is that deal.”
After agreeing to the divorce terms at a special summit in Brussels, European leaders warned British politicians they won’t get a better offer because there is no “Plan B.”
Speaking at the end of the summit, May backed that view and announced she’ll personally lead a national campaign lasting “a few weeks” to win support for her agreement among politicians and voters. Then, Parliament will hold a decisive vote on whether to accept or reject the accord before Christmas.
May’s team hasn’t yet decided the date for the vote, but they are aiming for mid-December, with reports suggesting it could be held around December 10-12. May promised to campaign “with all my heart” to persuade Parliament and the public to back her deal.
Asked if she would resign if Parliament refused to back her plan, May twice declined to give a direct answer. She insisted her focus was on winning the vote, and that her own future is not the question that matters.

Brexit deal heading for trouble in key vote, says UK minister
Bloomberg

The UK Parliament is on course to reject Theresa May’s Brexit agreement in a crucial vote next month, a senior minister admitted, as the prime minister seeks to persuade skeptical politicians and voters it’s the only deal available.
Newly appointed Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said there did not seem to be enough support in the House of Commons to allow the plan finalised with the EU over the weekend to pass.
“I don’t pretend for a minute that it’s not a challenging task given where the numbers currently look,” he told Sky News. “We need to be clear to parliamentary colleagues as to what the alternative will be: which will be massive uncertainty from either no deal or no Brexit. That’s not in the interests of their constituents, it’s not in the interest of protecting jobs.”