British government sources have confirmed a crucial parliamentary vote on the draft Brexit deal agreed with the European Union is to take place next week.
Theresa May has been trying to push her Brexit deal through Parliament. It faces a vote on 15 January. Photo: AFP
The vote will be on 15 January. They say it will not be delayed again, as it was in December.
Britain is due to quit the body in March, but the UK Prime Minister's deal with Brussels needs to be passed by the UK Parliament.
The proposed deal still faces considerable opposition, as parliament resumes after its Christmas break.
More than 200 UK MPs have signed a letter to the Prime Minister, urging her to rule out leaving the European Union without a deal.
RNZ's UK correspondent Olly Barratt said not much had changed during the MPs' Christmas break.
"Downing Street continues to talk optimistically about getting this deal through Parliament and it does of course have a few more days to try and change a few more minds," he said.
"There were dozens of MPs promising they would vote against Theresa May's deal and in the time we have left before next week's vote Theresa May will hope that the European Union will come out and add some clarifications perhaps to the deal that she reached with Brussels.
"She will hope that that will change some more minds but if the vote were to be held today Theresa May and Downing street would lose it."
- RNZ / BBC
