Brexit news latest: Theresa May uses New Year message to plead with MPs to back her EU divorce deal

James Morris31 December 2018
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Theresa May has used her New Year video message to plead with MPs to back her Brexit deal.

The Prime Minister said passing her much-criticised deal into law will allow the UK to “turn a corner” after two-and-a-half years of political turmoil since the 2016 referendum.

Parliament is set to renew the debate on Mrs May’s Withdrawal Agreement next week, with a vote to take place the week after.

And Mrs May tried to put pressure on politicians to vote for the deal and “put our differences aside and move forward together".

Key Brexit moments of 2018: in pictures

1/23

In her video message, she said: "New Year is a time to look ahead and in 2019 the UK will start a new chapter.

"The Brexit deal I have negotiated delivers on the vote of the British people and in the next few weeks MPs will have an important decision to make.

"If Parliament backs a deal, Britain can turn a corner."

Mrs May also used the message to look beyond Brexit, saying settling the deal would allow time and energy to be spent on areas like housing, trade, the NHS, immigration reform and the environment.

She added: "Together, I believe we can start a new chapter with optimism and hope.

"We have all we need to thrive and if we come together in 2019 I know we can make a success of what lies ahead and build a country that truly works for every one of us."

Theresa May and her husband, Philip, attend a Christmas Day church service in her Maidenhead constituency
Steve Parsons/PA

Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster, however, used her New Year message to warn Mrs May that she will need to get significant changes to her Withdrawal Agreement if the Northern Irish party is to back it.

Mrs Foster, whose party is in a confidence and supply arrangement with Mrs May’s Conservative government, said: "The Prime Minister has promised to get changes to the legally binding Withdrawal Agreement.

"We will be holding her to that commitment and we will work with the government to achieve a better deal.

"We are very mindful that any deal will bind the hands of future governments and prime ministers therefore the legal text must be watertight for the United Kingdom."

Jeremy Corbyn used his New Year message to accuse Mrs May's government of plunging the country into crisis by making a "mess" of Brexit.

The Labour leader said the Prime Minister's efforts to force through her Withdrawal Agreement in a crunch Commons vote next month were "letting people down all across the country, whether they voted Leave or Remain".

In the message, released on social media on Monday, he said the UK was full of talent being held back by the economic system and Conservative rule.

Reporting by Press Association.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

MORE ABOUT