May mulls announcement on ‘Brexit vote’

Bloomberg

Some of Theresa May’s aides and ministers expected her to announce on Monday she’s delaying Tuesday’s House of Commons vote on her Brexit deal because she’s planning to convince European Union leaders meeting in Brussels to relax the terms of the agreement, the Sunday Times reported.
With the odds stacked against May in Parliament and EU ministers repeatedly saying there’s no Plan B, May could well be out of options. Some of her more loyal ministers are already planning for a new referendum, the newspaper said.
Whitehall officials have been discussing two versions of a potential new vote, the report said. One features a straight choice between May’s deal and staying in the bloc. The second option would ask voters to choose
between leaving the EU and remaining in it, but with a supplementary question if the Leave camp wins — would they prefer the existing deal or a Brexit on WTO terms?
The Independent later reported that Downing Street denied the vote will be delayed, quoting a spokesman as saying “the vote is going ahead on Tuesday.’’ May told the Mail that her MPs risk helping the Labour Party’s push for power if they throw out her accord. The country would be in “uncharted waters” if it’s rejected, she was reported saying.
According to the Telegraph, government whips have given Conservative lawmakers until about midday on Sunday to say how they’ll vote on May’s deal. The numbers continue to stack up against the prime minister.

‘UK always welcome to stay in EU’
Bloomberg

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans said “much has changed’’ since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016, and it would always be welcome if it decides to stay in the bloc.
“As far as I’m concerned, the UK is always more
than welcome to stay,’’ Timmermans said at the European Socialists’ congress
in Lisbon.