May dares rebels to defy her on Brexit
BRITAIN: British Prime Minister Theresa May is warning proEuropean Tory rebels she will not ‘‘tolerate’’ any attempts to undermine Brexit as she unveils plans to enshrine in law the date that Britain leaves the European Union.
The Government yesterday tabled an amendment to formally commit Britain to leaving the EU at 11pm on March 29, 2019 ahead of a debate and vote in the Commons next week.
The amendment will effectively force pro-European MPs to publicly declare if they oppose leaving the EU in March 2019.
Writing in The Daily Telegraph, May warned MPs they must not use the passage of the EU Withdrawal Bill through Parliament over the next month to try to ‘‘slow down or stop’’ Brexit.
May is also attempting to reassert her authority after losing two Cabinet ministers in the space of a week while Brexit talks with Brussels remain deadlocked with no signs of a breakthrough.
She yesterday bowed to the demands of Eurosceptic Tory MPs by appointing Penny Mordaunt, a Brexit supporter who serves as a Royal Naval reservist, to replace Priti Patel as International Development Secretary.
May said in her article: ‘‘We will not tolerate attempts from any quarter to use the process of amendments to this bill as a mechanism to try to block the democratic wishes of the British people by attempting to slow down or stop our departure from the European Union.
‘‘The British people have been clear. Parliament itself voted for Article 50 – and for this bill at its second reading. We are leaving the European Union on March 29, 2019.’’
She said that the Government’s amendment, which has crossparty backing, will set out in ‘‘black and white’’ that Britain will leave the EU.
The comments will be seen as a direct challenge to Tory rebels, who have said they are prepared to defeat the Government by siding with Opposition parties to secure a legally-binding vote on the final Brexit deal.
The UK will leave at 11pm – an hour earlier than previously thought – because the timing of Brexit under the terms of Article 50 is determined by Brussels.
May said that while she is prepared to work with MPs to ‘‘improve’’ the bill, they must ultimately ‘‘come together’’ and help the UK secure the best deal for Britain as it leaves the EU. She said: ‘‘Let no-one doubt our determination or question our resolve, Brexit is happening.
‘‘It will be there in black and white on the front page of this historic piece of legislation. The EU Withdrawal Bill is the single most significant piece of legislation in this Parliament because it is fundamental to delivering a smooth and orderly Brexit.’’
EU leaders are said to be preparing for the fall of May’s government within weeks after scandal and divisions threatened her grip on power.
May’s appointment of Mordaunt, 44, follows a backlash over her decision to appoint Gavin Williamson, the former Chief Whip who backed Remain, as Defence Secretary. May also appointed Victoria Atkins as a Home Office minister.
– Telegraph Group