Japanese PM backs Theresa May's Brexit plans and says 'whole world' wants to avoid no-deal
- Theresa May receives a boost for her struggling Brexit deal as it is backed by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
- Abe says it is the "wish of the whole world" that Britain avoids a chaotic no-deal Brexit.
- He says Japan supports May's deal.
- May has jsut days to win over MPs to her deal before it is voted on next Tuesday.
LONDON - Theresa May's Brexit deal has received a boost after the Japanese prime minister said the "whole world" is hoping that British MPs will vote for it when it comes before parliament next week.
Prime Minister May is struggling to gather support for her deal among Conservative MPs, with more than a hundred pledged to vote it down when it comes before the House of Commons on January 15.
However, speaking alongside May at a press conference inside 10 Downing Street, Abe said that the deal has the "total support" of Japan and called on MPs to avoid crashing out of the EU without a deal.
"We truly hope that a no deal Brexit will be avoided and in fact that is the whole wish of the whole world," Abe said.
He added: "Japan is in total support of the withdrawal agreement"
May welcomed Abe's comments and urged MPs to get behind her deal, saying that "The only way to avoid a no-deal is to have a deal."
This is a developing story...