Pressure on May grows as cabinet meets over ‘Brexit’

Bloomberg

UK Prime Minister Theresa May is under mounting pressure as she prepares for a crunch meeting this week aimed at ending the war inside her cabinet over Brexit.
May, facing criticism from both the pro- and anti-Brexit wings of her ruling Conservative party, is planning talks with ministers at her countryside retreat on July 6 to thrash out an agreed vision.
The divisions have tested the patience of European Union leaders, who say the risk of Britain crashing out of the bloc without a deal — the scenario most feared by businesses — is rising. “We don’t want to see a no-deal and I believe that is an option that can be very firmly avoided, which is why Friday matters,” Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said.
Tensions with business flared last month, when both Airbus SE and BMW AG warned that investment in the UK could be at risk if Brexit causes production delays. Talks in Brussels left EU leaders alarmed and fearful that Britain is heading towards a damaging rupture with the bloc.
Underscoring the risk, the man who runs the National Health Service said significant planning is taking place to ensure that the supply of medicines and equipment continues in “any Brexit scenario.”
With nine months remaining before Britain leaves the EU, discussions on a future trade deal have yet to get under way as ministers are still arguing over what kind of customs arrangements they want.