london britain theresa may temporary reprieve rival factions within party friday strike overnight agreement european union business leaders hope increase prospect orderly exit bloc all-night negotiations early morning dash brussels may eu commission chief jean-claude juncker agree start talk trade post brexit transition period declare sufficient progress make cost detail term separation take heat conflict conservative lawmakers threaten may fragile grip party leadership ease pressure minority government business leaders repeatedly warn post-brexit exodus everyone reprieve say anand menon director uk change europe think tank deal progress report ... exactly want want progress conservative party historical divisions britain relationship eu threaten erupt early week carefully choreograph announcement deal spectacularly collapse small northern irish party prop government object term raise prospect fourth successive conservative prime minister force power row europe flashpoint play major part downfall david cameron john major margaret thatcher pro-brexit supporters say solution impasse manage irish border brexit walk away talk pro-eu lawmakers say deadlock could good break agree stay eu customs union end agree detail irish border would agree part talk future relationship accord 15-page negotiators report do put everything next year menon say influential voice side party still identify along leave remain line draw june 2016 referendum rally round leader signal temporary truce agreement endorse conservative brexiteers remainers count enough supporters undermine possibly even topple may gamble june snap election backfire strip party parliamentary majority significant personal political achievement prime minister ... early week sort doomsayers think would prospect agreement prove wrong michael gove influential pro-brexit member cabinet tell bbc part close rank around may reflect party concern depose could trigger fresh election resurgent labour party lead socialist jeremy corbyn could win power former finance minister george osborne sack may 2016 describe pledge run leader next election something similar see live dead second-rate horror film thursday predict would lose leadership end current term due run 2022. businesses also warm declaration progress rubber-stamped breakfast brussels night back forth phonecalls may northern irish backers democratic unionist party eu officials businesses breathe sigh relief say adam marshall director general british chamber commerce endorsements come hefty caveats warn clarity need come quickly prevent businesses trigger contingency plan cope so-called hard brexit britain would leave without negotiate settlement sand timer run leave late damage do uk eu say miles celic ceo thecityuk trade body represent london financial service sector financial relate professional service industry critical issue must progress equally calm among brexiteers within may party match outside one main campaign group persuade britons vote 52 48 percent favor leave say meet definition brexit much anger direct backstop option set text agreement promise trade talk fail unite kingdom would maintain full alignment rule eu internal market customs union help protect north-south cooperation ireland theresa may leave european union name say leave campaigner arron bank statement anyone conservative party integrity sense duty leave call save brexit trigger leadership contest nevertheless friday agreement see big step toward avoid chaotic exit formalize term would meet many pro-eu observers definition soft exit mean deal overall less likely say charles grant director centre european reform think tank tough part negotiations could yet come britain look agree huge free trade deal march 2019 tight timetable see unrealistic brussels phase two emerge eu go give us pretty bad deal term economic interest grant say ask friday agreement step toward soft brexit may spokesman say term ever recognize engage brexit british people vote deliver may 's brexit deal win peace home least