‘Britain ready to leave EU in March without a deal’

Britain’s government is ready to leave the European Union (EU) without a divorce deal unless parliament votes for Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit plan, the government’s leader in the House of Commons, Andrea Leadsom, said.
“Essentially that is what will happen unless we don’t vote for a deal. The legal position is that we leave without a deal.
“People say extend, oh well, extend Article 50, but I have had two public meetings in my constituency in the last few weeks and people, whether they voted remain or leave.
“The overwhelming view is they say just get on with it,” Leadsom said on Friday.
May suffered a latest defeat on her Brexit strategy on Thursday, undermining her pledge to EU leaders to get her divorce deal approved if they grant her concessions.
In another development, May’s government will collapse if she relies on the opposition Labour Party to pass her Brexit deal, an influential pro-Brexit lawmaker said on Friday.
Steve Baker said the Northern Irish party whose 10 members of parliament props up Britain’s government would withdraw support for the government because they are opposed to the inclusion of the so-called Irish border backstop.
Britain’s opposition Labour Party has offered to support the government’s Brexit deal if she makes five legally binding commitments – including joining a customs union.
“Were this deal to pass through parliament with this backstop on Labour votes the government would subsequently collapse because the DUP will not be able to maintain confidence and supply,” Baker told BBC radio.
Similarly, Britain should decide what to do regarding its exit from the EU as soon as possible, French European Affairs Minister, Nathalie Loiseau, said on Friday.
“I am telling our British friends that it is about time to decide whether to leave on friendly terms or abruptly.
“It is a purely British choice. What we are saying is: hurry up!” she told RTL radio.
Britain is due to leave the EU on March 29.