Brexit: Let’s focus on the deal, May tells MPs

Theresa May has urged MPs to think about their constituents, rather than rejecting her deal for leaving the EU.

The PM, who was on her way to the G20 summit in Argentina, said her plan would protect the “jobs and livelihoods and security” of their constituents.

Mrs May urged MPs to concentrate on the deal she had negotiated with the EU.

And she accused Labour of advocating leaving without a deal by rejecting her Brexit compromise while not putting forward a “proper alternative”.

Labour argues a better agreement could still be negotiated with Brussels.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned against efforts to “frighten” people into backing what he called “a non-Brexit Brexit”.

‘Division and uncertainty’

Mrs May has been trying to persuade MPs to support the withdrawal deal she has negotiated with the European Union when it is put to a Commons vote on 11 December but it is widely expected that they will reject it.

Speaking to reporters on her flight to Buenos Aires, Mrs May insisted she had not given up hope of winning the vote, but said if MPs failed to back her it would mean “division and uncertainty” for Britain.

“We haven’t had the vote yet. Let’s focus on the deal that we have negotiated with the EU, a deal which is good for the UK and good for their constituents,” she said.

Mrs May said: “I think every MP needs to consider the importance of delivering on the Brexit vote together with the importance of doing that in a way that is good for their constituents.”

The prime minister said people she had met outside Westminster in the last few days had given her an “overwhelming” sense that they wanted MPs to back her deal.

She also rejected the idea of moving to a Norway-style deal with the EU – an idea that has been discussed privately by many MPs – saying such a deal would not end freedom of movement.