Amber Rudd urges divided MPs to find consensus or risk a no-deal Brexit

A senior member of Prime Minister Theresa May’s government yesterday called for British MPs from all parties to “forge a consensus” on Brexit to avoid a damaging no-deal withdrawal from the EU in March.

Work and Pensions Minister Amber Rudd said Brexit could succeed “if politicians are willing to try a different way and only if a coalition of those who want what’s best for this country argue a little less and compromise a little more”.

Ms Rudd’s comments, in the Daily Mail, come after Prime Minister Theresa May returned from an EU summit without the reassurances she said she needed to get her Brexit deal through the House of Commons.

Few people now believe the agreement will pass in a vote by MPs planned for next month.

That raises the prospect that Britain could leave the EU with no arrangements at all on March 29.

Ms Rudd opposed Brexit in the 2016 referendum, and was reported by The Times to be among five cabinet ministers discussing whether another referendum is necessary if Mrs May’s deal fails.

The prime minister has ruled out holding a second referendum but there is growing support for the idea among Labour MPs.

In Brussels, EU leaders refused to renegotiate the Brexit deal and several said the problem of its ratification could be resolved only by MPs.

But the ruling Conservative party is deeply divided and hardline Brexiteers last week forced a confidence vote.

Mrs May won but 117 of her colleagues – more than onethird – voted against her.

Afterwards, she called for MPs to come together but aides said this referred to Conservatives and their Northern Irish allies, who are also opposed to the Brexit deal.

Some Labour MPs have complained that Mrs May has failed to engage with them to get a deal through Parliament.

But many Conservatives accuse Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of opposing the Brexit deal for political rather than substantive reasons, hoping the chaos in government will bring a snap election.

Mr Corbyn is demanding MPs have a vote on Mrs May’s deal next week, and on Friday accused her of “recklessly running down the clock” as Brexit approaches.