Allies rally to UK’s May amid leadership woes over Brexit

LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May won support for her beleaguered Brexit deal Friday from key politicians and business groups, but she remained besieged by internal party opponents determined to oust her. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, a prominent pro-Brexit voice in Cabinet, threw May a lifeline by urging rebels to “take a rational and reasonable view of this.” “Ultimately I hope that across Parliament we’ll recognize that a deal is better than no deal,” he said. After a day of conflicting rumors about whether 48 letters had been sent, leading Brexiteer Steve Baker said, “I think we’re very close.” He suggested the threshold might be reached “sometime next week.” If May lost her job as party leader, she would also lose her position as prime minister. Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington, one of May’s chief allies, predicted that “if it does come to a challenge, the prime minister will win handsomely.” “I’ve seen no plausible alternative plan from any of those criticizing her or wanting to challenge her position,” Lidington said. The Confederation of British Industry, a leading business lobby group, said the agreement represented “hard-won progress.” In a statement, the group said the withdrawal agreement “opens a route to a good long-term trade deal.” It warned that leaving the EU without a deal on trade and other relations — a path advocated by some Brexit supporters — “is not an acceptable option” and “would badly damage our economy by disrupting supply chains, causing shortages, and preventing vital services reaching people.” Simon Kempton of the Police Federation, a union for police officers, said a “no-deal” Brexit could spark protests, and “it’s a real concern that those protests might escalate into disorder.” “It’s 2018.