FM makes new Brexit intervention

Britain's Prime Minister, Theresa May and her husband Philip, arrive at the Midland Hotel the day before the opening of the Conservative Party Conference, in Manchester, Britain September 30, 2017.[Photo/Agencies]

The Daily Telegraph said the Manchester conference is seen by many as a make-or-break moment for May's hopes of leading the Conservatives for years to come, and is likely to be dominated by Brexit and the leadership question. The newspaper claimed May faces four separate rebellions on Brexit and domestic issues going into the four-day conference.

Meanwhile, the pressure group Leave Means Leave, which counts dozens of Conservative MPs among is supporters, published a letter to May Saturday,demanding Britain gives notice of its intention to leave the EU on World Trade Organisation terms in March 2019 if talks on a trade deal are not well underway by Christmas.

The MP David Jones, a former Brexit minister, and one of the signatories of the letter, told the Daily telegraph: "They (EU negotiators) are behaving really very badly, they are trying to hold us for ransom and we have to make it perfectly clear we are not prepared to be held to ransom."

In an eve of conference message, May said: "As Conservatives, we have a vision of a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few, precisely the direction I set when I became Prime Minister last year.

"I understand the concerns raised, particularly by young people, during what was a disappointing election for my party. So my determination to act on those concerns, and crucially, to fulfil the promise of my first speech on the steps of Downing Street, is greater than ever."

On Britain's future outside the EU, May said: "Yes, we have to get the best Brexit deal, but we must also take action here at home to make this a fairer place to live for ordinary working people."

May will make a keynote speech next Wednesday on the final day of the party conference.