Two weeks to win as May hits the road to drum up Brexit support

Theresa May faces a make-or-break fortnight as she attempts to win backing for her Brexit deal ahead of the crunch Parliamentary vote.

The British Prime Minister has already started the hard sell to the public, in the hope they can exert pressure on MPs to back the Withdrawal Agreement and Political Declaration of future EU-UK relations that was approved by EU27 leaders on Sunday.

After today’s Cabinet meeting – assuming there are no resignations – and a subsequent debrief in the Commons, she is expected to embark on a media and travel blitz. With a Commons vote on the deal widely expected in the week beginning December 10, we look ahead at two pivotal weeks for the Prime Minister:

– Brexit Roadshow

Mrs May will take her Brexit deal set on the road over the next fortnight.

– Air war

Tied in with the roadshow will be a media blitz by the British Prime Minister and her most trusted Cabinet ministers.

Earlier this month a publicity “grid” made news when it set out how each day of a blitz would focus on a different area of concern to voters, although Downing Street said it was not a Government plan.

– Deja vu?

Mrs May will be hoping for a different result from the last time she travelled the country with a supposedly simple message to hammer home. Her “strong and stable” tour ahead of the 2017 general election was followed by the Conservatives losing their overall majority.

– Question Time 1

Mrs May will be back in the Commons on Wednesday for the noisy weekly ritual of Prime Minister’s Questions.
Some of the strongest attacks on her are as likely to come from her own backbenches at the moment as from Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour.

– Question Time 2

The following day the British Prime Minister will face another grilling at the Liaison Committee, which is comprised of select committee chairmen and women. They include many members of the Brexit awkward squad, including Tories like chairwoman Sarah Wollaston, ex-minister Nicky Morgan and Bernard Jenkin, plus Labour Remainer big beasts like Yvette Cooper and Hilary Benn.

– May v Corbyn

Reports have suggested that Downing Street is up for a televised head-to-head between Mrs May and the Labour leader before the vote, with the latter’s spokesman saying he would “relish” such a prime time sparring session.

– Et tu, Boris?

Some have suggested that if Mrs May is going to do a televised debate with Mr Corbyn she should also debate other opponents of her deal.
Boris Johnson (harder Brexit) and Nicola Sturgeon (Remain) are among those suggested.

– South America

With impeccable timing, a G20 summit is taking place in Argentina on Friday and Saturday.
With the meeting in Buenos Aires due to discuss trade and climate change, the antics of US President Donald Trump may provide a distraction – or an added blow.