Corbyn’s little helpers

AS the Commons prepares to debate the bill that will take us out of the EU, a group of Tory MPs threatens to defy the party whip and the democratic will of the people by supporting amendments designed to sabotage the Brexit process.

These diehard Remainers are few in number but given the Government’s perilously slim working majority, their treachery could have a calamitous impact.

The withdrawal bill is a cornerstone of Brexit, designed to ensure that we have a fully functioning legal system from the day we leave the EU. If it fails, or suffers lengthy delay, we could see a hugely damaging Tory leadership crisis, an early election and – horror of horrors – the spectre of Jeremy Corbyn marching into No 10.

And it’s not just Labour (who, following their latest flip-flop, are now emphatically the party of Remain) who would benefit. Michel Barnier, the bullying chief EU negotiator, must be rubbing his hands at the prospect of Britain’s position being undermined by a Tory rebellion.

At the weekend he made clear that his priority was to punish this country for voting Leave, saying we needed to be ‘educated’.

If these Conservative rebels support him in that malevolent mission, their treachery will not be forgiven – either by their party or their country.