Brexit deal almost within touching distance, says UK

London, November 13: UK Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, a close ally of Prime Minister Theresa May, has said that Britain and the European Union are almost within touching distance of a Brexit deal.

 

May's Cabinet met today for an on the talks, with the Prime Minister under pressure from pro-Brexit ministers not to make further concessions to the EU. May also faces growing opposition from pro-EU lawmakers, who say her proposed Brexit deal is worse than the status quo and the British public should get a new vote on whether to leave or to stay.

Britain wants to seal a deal urgently that Parliament has time to vote on it before the UK leaves the bloc on March 29. The European Parliament also has to approve any agreement.

Meanwhile, the European Union has published contingency plans for a "no-deal" Brexit, piling pressure on London.

In one measure, Brussels said it will offer visa-free travel within the bloc to Britons, but warned this was entirely conditional on the UK also granting reciprocal and non-discriminatory visa-free travel to EU citizens travelling to the UK.