Theresa May begs MPs to back her deal and heal ‘divisive’ wounds of Brexit in New Year’s Message

THERESA May today issues a new year plea to MPs to back her Brexit deal so Britain can finally unite and “turn a corner” on its bitter EU schism.

The PM’s emotional new call comes in her January 1 video message to the country.

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It also emerged yesterday that she has began a frantic final eight days of calls to EU leaders in a race against time to save her agreement.

No10 admitted that there is “still more work to do” to win extra legal assurances from Brussels for the hated Irish backstop - that keeps the UK in a customs union - to be temporary.

MPs begin debating the deal a week tomorrow on January 9, ahead of the landmark meaningful vote on it the following week.

In a video message released late last night, Mrs May said: “In the next few weeks MPs will have an important decision to make.

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“If Parliament backs a deal, Britain can turn a corner."

“The referendum in 2016 was divisive but we all want the best for our country and 2019 can be the year we put our differences aside and move forward together.”

The PM also tried to contrast opening “a new chapter with optimism and hope” with the constitutional chaos that could follow if her deal is voted down with less than 80 days to go until Brexit itself on March 29.

She added: “We have all we need to thrive and if we come together in 2019. I know we can make a success of what lies ahead”.

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In a positive sign that EU assurances may be deliverable, No10 said officials were holding talks in Brussels “at a technical level”.

The PM is expecting to browbeat Europe’s two pivotal leaders, Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron later this week.

Spain boss Pedro Sánchez is among the tricky EU opponents that she has already spoken, calling him in Madrid last Friday.

No10 also mounts a new social media campaign today to try to showcase progress in policy areas away from Brexit.

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Businesses also issue a call to all MPs today to end their bitter feuding over Brexit and start helping struggling firms.

Federation of Small Businesses National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “As we head into 2019, small business confidence is on the floor, and desperately needs lifting.

“It’s time for politicians stop spending so much time on political infighting at the expense of the domestic agenda.”

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