The pound fell sharply against the euro on Friday after Theresa May warned the UK faced a “moment of crisis” if MPs reject her Brexit deal again in crucial votes next week.
Sterling fell 0.9 per cent against the single currency to €1.16 and 0.5 per cent against the dollar to $1.30.
Ms May said “no one knows” what will happen if her deal is voted down, telling an audience in Grimsby: “Next week MPs in Westminster face a crucial choice: whether to back the Brexit deal or to reject it. Back it and the UK will leave the European Union.
“Reject it and no one knows what will happen.
“We may not leave the EU for many months, we may leave without the protections that the deal provides. We may never leave at all.”
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Brexit supporters outside parliament
PA
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An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig
AFP/Getty
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A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a people’s vote
Getty
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A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz
AP
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Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament
PA
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Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament
PA
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Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn
Getty
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Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament
Reuters
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A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square
Getty
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Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament
Getty
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An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament
Reuters
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Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge
PA
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Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament
Reuters
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Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament
EPA
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A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament
Reuters
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An Avaaz campaigner holds a People’s Vote life float
Reuters
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A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament
AFP/Getty
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An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge
PA
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Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament
AFP/Getty
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Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament
Reuters
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Brexit supporters outside parliament
PA
2/20
An anti-Brexit protester adjusts her pro-EU wig
AFP/Getty
3/20
A message to Jeremy Corbyn in support of a people’s vote
Getty
4/20
A mock Titanic captained by Theresa May heads towards an iceberg in a stunt by campaigning group Avaaz
AP
5/20
Anti-Brexit protesters outside parliament
PA
6/20
Protesters of opposing sides are in close contact outside of parliament
PA
7/20
Paintings of Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn
Getty
8/20
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament
Reuters
9/20
A pro-Brexit protester in Parliament Square
Getty
10/20
Opposing protesters share the space outside parliament
Getty
11/20
An anti-Brexit protester holds EU balloons outside parliament
Reuters
12/20
Anti-Brexit protesters stand on Westminster Bridge
PA
13/20
Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage speaks to the media at the protests outside parliament
Reuters
14/20
Anti-Brexit protesters demonstrate outside the Houses of Parliament
EPA
15/20
A pro-Brexit protester sets up outside parliament
Reuters
16/20
An Avaaz campaigner holds a People’s Vote life float
Reuters
17/20
A demonstrator holds a sign advocating a no-deal Brexit outside parliament
AFP/Getty
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An anti-Brexit protester waves an EU flag on Westminster Bridge
PA
19/20
Protesters of opposing sides demonstrate outside parliament
AFP/Getty
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Protesters of opposing sides stand near parliament
Reuters
The pound is expected to register big falls against other major currencies if the UK leaves the EU without a deal later this month.
Meanwhile in the US, stock markets fell after a double dose of bad news for global economic growth on Wednesday.
American jobs growth slowed sharply to just 20,000 in January, well short of the 180,000 expected by analysts.
Despite the figures, US President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday: “This is as good a time as I can remember to be an American Worker. We have the strongest economy in the world.”
The disappointing figure from the world’s largest economy came after China revealed that exports had plummeted by more than 20 per cent in a year while imports fell for a third straight month, pointing to a further slowdown in the country.
Mr Trump said he was confident the US and China can forge a trade deal with China, putting an end to tit-for-tat increases on import taxes between the two global economic superpowers.
Asked if he was still confident could forge an agreement: “Sure, I’m confident, but if we don’t make a very good deal for our country, I wouldn’t make a deal,” Mr Trump said.
China’s expansion has slowed down markedly this year, signalling tough times ahead for its trading partners around the world.
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