French PM warns of "no-deal" Brexit risk due to uncertainty in Britain

Source: Xinhua| 2018-11-15 21:28:59|Editor: xuxin
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PARIS, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Thursday cast doubt on the possibility to ratify a draft Brexit deal after a series of minister resignations made hard for British Prime Minister Theresa May to sell the divorce accord with the European Union (EU).

"The current political situation in Britain fuels uncertainty over the ratification of the accord," Philippe said during a visit to Dunkirk, north France.

"Nothing allows us at this stage to know if the agreement ... will ultimately be adopted. Therefore, we must be prepared for the hypothesis of a no-deal exit, which is still on the table and that we do not wish," he added.

Late on Wednesday, May said she won the backing of her senior ministers for a draft divorce deal which represented a technical breakthrough after months of tense negotiations between Britain and the EU on how London can leave the regional bloc on March 29 next year.

Hours later, Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab and Work, Pensions Minister Esther McVey, as well as two junior ministers quit, saying they could not support the draft deal. Their departure plunged Britain into a political crisis in which May could lose her leadership.

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