UK PM Theresa May's parliamentary enforcers on prowl for big Brexit vote

UK government whips gearing up for tight Brexit vote

Less than five months before Britain leaves the European Union, Prime Minister Theresa May's parliamentary enforcers are on the prowl.

For now, the government "whips" whose job it is to ensure parliament backs whatever Brexit deal May agrees with Brussels are taking a softly-softly approach. But Chief Whip Julian Smith and his team have a powerful armoury at their disposal to force politicians into line.

With an agreement most likely to go before lawmakers later this year, May's team and the whips she appointed are quietly sounding out who might vote against it, several politicians told Reuters. Lacking a parliamentary