Theresa May’s Brexit deal dominated the British front pages on Wednesday – and some of those in Europe.
The Guardian reports that hardliners are calling on senior ministers to block the pact, splashing with the PM’s challenge to ministers – “Brexit: May tells her cabinet, this is the deal – now back me”.
The Guardian front page, Wednesday 14 November 2018 | Brexit: May tells her cabinet, this is the deal – now back me pic.twitter.com/UD7Gmrss9Q
— The Guardian (@guardian) November 13, 2018
The Daily Mail is more succinct with the headline “Judgment Day”. The Mail’s story says May will tell ministers at a meeting at 2pm today that it is “make or break” for avoiding a chaotic exit from the EU.
Wednesday's @DailyMailUK #MailFrontPages pic.twitter.com/ZGstdgo9jo
— Daily Mail U.K. (@DailyMailUK) November 13, 2018
The Daily Telegraph says “May faces ‘moment of truth’ on Brexit deal” as she presents her Brexit plan. The PM is facing a “major backlash”, the paper says, although Downing Street remains optimistic.
The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: May faces 'moment of truth' on Brexit deal #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/W2NX9a6Kzy
— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 13, 2018
The FT goes with a similar headline and warns that the PM faces “the most dangerous moment of her premiership” as she challenges her divided cabinet to back the deal.
Wednesday’s FINANCIAL TIMES: “May faces moment of truth in cabinet clash over Brexit draft” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/fHq7sAHTks
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) November 13, 2018
The Times is unhappy, writing “May accused of betrayal as she unveils Brexit deal”, while the i slightly jumps the gun with “Deal done”, before acknowledging how far the deal still has to go and that that is quite a long way.
The Daily Express is all for the deal, proclaiming: “This Brexit deal is best for Britain”. “Finally, 873 tortuous days after the referendum, the prime minister has thrashed out a deal with the EU,” the paper says, saying now she has “the fight of her life” to convince cabinet”.
Tomorrow’s @Daily_Express front page:
— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) November 13, 2018
- This Brexit deal is best for Britain
- Charles at 70: Happy birthday to a doting grandpa#frontpages #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/cioTpKFalO
The story also made the splash in the Scotsman, which predicted “cabinet revolt” for the PM.
Wednesday’s SCOTSMAN: “May braced for Cabinet revolt over Brexit deal” #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/tttygtZd0p
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) November 13, 2018
However, news of the deal wasn’t judged to be the most important of the day by every paper in Britain. The Mirror instead focuses instead on “Rabies dad horror” and the Sun leads on Prince Charles’s 70th birthday photos with: “The Grins of Wales”.
The Irish Times’s website looks ahead to Thursday, with the headline: “May to chair crunch cabinet meeting to discuss draft UK departure deal.” Also prominent is their chat with former Brexit minister Steve Baker, who is marshalling the rejection of May’s deal. The News Letter in Belfast leads online with DUP leader Arlene Foster saying both sides of the Commons will vote with her party to reject any deal that weakens the UK. The Belfast Telegraph gets plenty in its main web headline: “Brexit breakthrough: UK handcuffed to EU with Brussels holding the keys and NI dependent on Dublin, says DUP’s Arlene Foster”.
Across the Channel the news also made the front of German papers. Süddeutsche Zeitung splashes on “London reports agreement for Brexit draft”, while Die Zeit’s website headlines their story on the ominous: “Things are far from under control”.
Der Spiegel proclaims “The final has begun”, while Die Welt sizes up May’s chances and concludes: Opposition against May’s fragile Brexit deal is huge.
In France, where most of the front pages are preoccupied with Donald Trump’s attacks on Emmanuel Macron, Les Echos says: “May puts everything on her divorce project”.
