High street and high finance tell two different stories about the EU divorce

If British Prime Minister Theresa May thought a new year might bring some new luck, so far, she has been sorely disappointed.

A traumatic 2018 ended with her postponing a parliamentary vote on her Brexit proposals, and facing a leadership challenge. The new year has been no more friendly.

If, as widely expected, the prime minister suffers a heavy defeat in Tuesday's postponed vote, it will be a third major blow to her authority this month.

Twice, members of her own government have voted against her, condemning her to defeat. Once in support of a motion restricting any future taxation measures to fund a no-deal Brexit, and secondly to limit the time the government will have to provide an alternative solution if, as expected, her plan is thrown out.

The economic outlook is hardly any better. High streets had their worst Christmas for a decade, with such popular favorites as Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer and John Lewis all feeling the pinch. Only the Tesco supermarket chain seems to have escaped the seasonal economic chill, reporting "strong" sales.