Brexit besieges May at home and away, raising odds of a hard exit

THE UK government begins in earnest this week the process of securing approval for its EU Withdrawal Bill. Consideration of this important legislation comes at a time when Prime Minister Theresa May is besieged - domestically and internationally - over Brexit with a difficult autumn ahead.

Domestically, Mrs May is attempting to prevent major rebellions over the EU legislation ahead of the first House of Commons votes. Weakened by June's general election result, which removed the absolute majority of the ruling Conservatives, she is concerned that some within even her own party will table or support potentially crucial amendments to the Bill that will undermine the government's Brexit vision.

Yet, it is events in Brussels that are of potentially even greater concern right now. With an October crunch point looming, the third round of Brexit talks last month made no decisive progress. Political risks over the negotiations, especially over agreeing the multi-billion pound divorce bill, could only grow in coming weeks with the euro currency already at eight-year highs against the pound.