London, Dec 17 (AFP) British Prime Minister Theresa Mayhas hit back at critics of her handling of Brexit, writing inthe Sunday Telegraph that she had "proven the doubters wrong"after securing an interim deal.
Pressure lifted on the embattled leader after she strucka deal with the European Union over Britain's divorce termslast Friday, enabling talks to turn to the country's futuretrading relationship after months of fraught negotiations.
"We have proven the doubters wrong and are makingprogress towards a successful exit from the EU," she wrote inthe centre-right broadsheet, calling the agreement "awatershed" in negotiations.
"Amid all the noise, we are getting on with the job," sheadded. "We will not be derailed from this fundamental duty todeliver the democratic will of the British people."The prime minister said it was important to work out theexact terms of an implementation period, designed to softenthe effects of Brexit after the March 2019 leave date, "assoon as possible... to provide invaluable certainty foremployers."She also played down fears of Brexit voters that Britainwould end up being bound by EU rules, insisting that thecountry would regain "control of our borders, and set our ownlaws".
However, prominent Brexit campaigners in her own cabinetappeared concerned that Britain would be restricted by EUrules during the transition period, which is expected to lastfor around two years.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Sunday Timesthat Britain risked becoming a "vassal state" of Europe if itdid not fully leave the jurisdiction of European courts or thecustoms union, which would prevent it from striking tradedeals with other countries.
His comments came shortly after finance minister PhilipHammond said Britain would "effectively replicate the statusquo" during the transition period, highlighting May's task inuniting her cabinet ahead of the second phase of negotiations.
She also faces battles with her own MPs, 11 of whomrebelled last week to deliver the government a damagingparliamentary defeat on the bill that will enshrine Brexitinto domestic law.
A BMG Research poll for The Independent newspaper onSunday found 51 per cent of Britons now favoured staying inthe EU compared with 41 per cent who backed Brexit, the widestmargin since the June 2106 vote -- although the poll wascarried out before the interim deal was announced. (AFP)KIS.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.