UK Parliament Debates Brexit Amid High Profile Resignations

Brexit has dominated political proceedings on both sides of the Irish Sea today.

All eyes have been on Westminster, where Theresa May’s efforts to sell her Brexit deal were hamstrung by a wave of resignations from her cabinet.

She’s now issued an ultimatum to Brexiteers, warning them to support the deal on withdrawing from the EU, or have none at all.

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Her future could yet be in the balance, however, as Ireland watches on.

Theresa May today said MPs should support the Brexit deal in the National interest.

But many will oppose it, including three members of the cabinet who met with her for five hours yesterday.

One of those who says he can’t back the deal is the Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, the man who most recently led Britain through the negotiations.

In a speech this morning the Prime Minister said she is confident she negotiated the best deal possible, and while she admitted it hasn’t been a comfortable process, withdrawing after 40 years was always going to be complex.

Theresa May asked the members of Parliament to make the right choice and not the easy one.

Mrs May’s opponents are rising against her, however. She has been openly criticised from within her own party, and is rejecting calls to resign.

Nonetheless, the future of Theresa May’s minority Government is now being called into question.

She’s been criticised by many, including Jeremy Corbyn and the DUP’s Nigel Dodds.

Here at home, Tánaiste Simon Coveney said he had faith that Theresa May could navigate the “difficult days” ahead.

He told the Dáil that “she’s resilient and she’s shown a remarkable capacity to get things done in difficult circumstances.”

Clare’s Junior Minister, Fine Gael’s Pat Breen has told Clare FM’s Morning Focus that, that forcing Mrs May out of office, wouldn’t be the right move.

Meanwhile, the pound’s taken a tumble on the currency markets because of today’s Cabinet resignations over Brexit.

At one point sterling was around one-and-a-half percent lower against the euro and dollar.

Investors usually hate uncertainty – but the UK’s main share index is up slightly, because a weaker pound generally boosts income from overseas.