UK PM seeks support as others draw battle lines

Prime Minister Theresa May appealed to wavering British voters yesterday ahead of a defining few months in which she hopes to secure a Brexit deal and face down opponents who say her EU exit plan is too hard, too soft, or just plain wrong.

May yesterday launched an unusual plea for the backing of centre-ground voters who had previously backed the Labour Party but felt alienated by a shift to the left under current Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

"I want voters who may previously have thought of themselves as Labour supporters to look at my government afresh. They will find a decent, moderate and patriotic programme that is worthy of their support," May wrote in an article for the Observer newspaper.

Yesterday, Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said her 35 lawmakers would likely vote against the deal, and could instead support a second public vote on the terms of Britain's EU exit.

Labour's left-wing leadership have promised to vote against May's deal unless it meets their tests - which it currently is unlikely to do.

The 10 votes of the Northern Irish Democratic Unionist Party which May relies on to prop up her minority government are also in doubt.

If May fails to win a vote in parliament, Britain faces an unmanaged exit from the bloc, which businesses and economists fear could badly damage the economy.

Meanwhile, British musicians including Ed Sheeran and Rita Ora yesterday wrote an open letter to May warning that Brexit is "serious madness" and threatens "every aspect of the music industry".