PM Theresa May promises White Paper on EU exit plan

LONDON: UK Prime Minister Theresa May said she’ll publish her plan for Brexit, giving in to demands from lawmakers seeking greater scrutiny in Parliament.

The government will publish a so-called white paper to allow proper debate of the strategy May outlined in a speech last week, the premier told lawmakers in Parliament on Wednesday.

“I have been clear, as have senior ministers, that we’ll ensure Parliament has every opportunity to provide scrutiny,” May said. “I recognise there’s an appetite to see that plan set out in a white paper. I can confirm to the house that our plan will be set out in a white paper published to this house.”

May’s climb down a day after Brexit Secretary David Davis pushed back against demands for a published plan will allow lawmakers to better hold her to account for promises such as her pledge to deliver a sweeping post-Brexit trade deal with the EU. A white paper could limit her room to manoeuvre in the talks even if lawmakers prove unable to use their new-found strength to soften her strategy.

“The PM has listened & has agreed to #WhitePaper on #Brexit — it’s part of building a consensus & healing #Brexit wounds,” former Business Minister Anna Soubry said on Twitter after May’s turnaround.