Rift in Cabinet as factions squabble over the deadlock
A DEEPENING Cabinet rift emerged last night as ministers clashed over rival Brexit plans.
Squabbling factions vied for a way to break the parliamentary deadlock.
Pro-Brussels Justice Secretary David Gauke broke ranks to indicate support for the UK remaining in a customs union with the EU.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd was spotted in the Commons deep in conversation with Tory backbencher Nick Boles, who wants Norway-style close links to Brussels.
Problem
Brexiteers feared a plot by Remain-backing ministers to push the Government into seeking permanent close ties with Brussels.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom insisted Mrs May was committed to meeting MPs who were committed to “constructively” delivering on the EU referendum vote.
She criticised Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn because of his desire to “disrupt” the Government by trying to force a general election at a crucial time for the country. She told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: “He has not put forward any specific constructive proposal and that is a problem.”
Mrs Leadsom indicated the Prime Minister was still hoping to build support for a Brexit plan that preserved key elements of her existing deal.
She said: “We need to find a way that that deal, or some part of it, or an alternative that is negotiable can be put to the EU so that we can get Brexit through by March 29.”
Interviewed on the BBC’s Politics Live, Mr Gauke was asked if leaving the customs union was still a red line.
He replied: “I don’t think we can be boxing ourselves in. We need to engage across Parliament, seeing what ideas emerge and where the support is for those ideas.
“Is there something both negotiable with the European Union that has majority support in the House of Commons. Today is about making an assessment of where the numbers are.” Former minister Sir Oliver Letwin told the BBC Mrs May would have to be more flexible.