Page 8 - AT

A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 10 deceMber 2018

UK leader warns of ‘uncharted

waters’ if Brexit deal nixed

the European Union. she said. Britain tied to the EU indefi-
May is fighting to save her May’s government does nitely, unable to strike new
unpopular Brexit plan and not have a majority in the trade deals around the
her job ahead of a show- House of Commons, and world.
down in Parliament on opposition parties — as well Boris Johnson, May’s for-
Tuesday, when lawmak- as many of May’s own Con- mer foreign secretary and
ers are widely expected servatives — have already leading Brexiteer, said the
to vote down the deal she said they will not back the backstop puts Britain in a
negotiated with Brussels. divorce deal that May and “diabolical negotiating po-
Police attempt to keep rival Brexit protest groups from clashing Her Downing Street office EU leaders agreed on last sition,” and insisted Sunday
in central London, Sunday Dec. 9, 2018. insisted that the vote will go month. that it must be taken out of
Associated Press ahead despite speculation Pro-Brexit lawmakers say the divorce deal. He urged
By SYLVIA HUI warned lawmakers Sunday that the government may the deal keeps Britain May to renegotiate with
Associated Press that they could take Britain be forced to delay it. bound too closely to the the EU, and postpone the
LONDON (AP) — With a into “uncharted waters” A defeat in the vote could EU, while pro-EU politicians Irish border issue so it forms
crucial parliamentary vote and trigger a general elec- see Britain crashing out of say it erects barriers be- part of the talks on a future
on Brexit looming, British tion if they reject the di- the EU on March 29, the tween the U.K. and its big- trade deal.
Prime Minister Theresa May vorce deal she struck with date for Britain’s exit, with gest trading partner and “We have to change it,”
no deal in place — an out- leaves many details of the Johnson told the BBC. “We
come that could spell eco- future relationship unde- can have a withdrawal
nomic chaos. cided. agreement that does not
In an interview with the Mail The main sticking point is contain the backstop. We
on Sunday, May said nix- a “backstop” provision in can do much, much better
ing her deal would “mean the Brexit agreement that than this.”
grave uncertainty for the aims to guarantee an open It’s unclear what would
nation with a very real risk border between EU mem- happen next if lawmakers
of no Brexit or leaving the ber Ireland and the U.K.’s vote down the deal.
European Union with no Northern Ireland post-Brexit. May could return to Brus-
deal.” The temporary measure sels seeking changes to
“When I say if this deal does would keep Britain under the Brexit deal and bring it
not pass we would truly be EU customs rules, and is back to Parliament for an-
in uncharted waters, I hope supposed to last until su- other vote. But EU leaders
people understand this is perseded by permanent have insisted the divorce
what I genuinely believe new trade arrangements. agreement is final and not
and fear could happen,” But critics say it could leave renegotiable.q

U.K. nerve agent survivor

fears poison will soon kill him

LONDON (AP) — A British developed nerve agent “terrified about the future”
man who was exposed to that was used months ear- and what long-term effects
the deadly nerve agent lier to attack former Russian the military grade poison
Novichok said he is strug- spy Sergei Skripal and his would have on him.
gling with his eyesight and daughter. “I’m still worried the Novi-
mobility, and fears the poi- Rowley told the Sunday chok could kill me if I get
son will kill him within a de- Mirror newspaper that he any sort of virus again — it’s
cade. was back in the hospital on my mind all the time. I’m
Charlie Rowley, 45, fell ill in being treated for menin- dreading getting a cold,”
June near Salisbury, Eng- gitis. He said he was going he said. “I don’t think I’ll be
land, after coming into blind and unable to use alive in 10 years. It’s been
contact with the Soviet- one arm, and said he was horrendous.”q