UK PM May reaches out to rivals after winning confidence vote

May will thus tread carefully as she tries to win over opposition lawmakers — many of whom want to remain in the EU — while also attempting to appease more hardened Brexit-backing coalition partners.

She stuck to two key principles on Wednesday: limiting EU migration and pursuing an independent trade policy.

Both points rule out Labour hopes of membership of an EU customs union or its single market.

Yet she also hinted at the possibility of delaying Brexit.

May said the EU would allow this “if it was clear that there was a plan that was moving toward an agreed deal”.

EU officials have said extending the negotiating period could be possible until the newly-elected European Parliament meets in July.

– Blurred lines –

European leaders have repeatedly said they will not reopen the draft withdrawal agreement sealed at a special Brussels summit in December.

French President Emmanuel Macron suggested the EU might be willing to tweak a few minor points — but only if they did not alter the bloc’s existing position on trade and borders.

“We won’t, just to solve Britain’s domestic political issues, stop defending European interests,” he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said there was time for talks as long as London could present a clear and united position.

“We’re now waiting on what the prime minister proposes,” she said.

And Irish Prime Leo Varadkar added “that if the United Kingdom were to evolve from its red lines on the customs union and on the single market, that the European Union could evolve also.”