The rebels who betray party and democracy

SHOWING utter contempt for democracy and party loyalty, die-hard Tory Remainers launched another arrogant bid yesterday to undermine Brexit negotiations and frustrate the majority of Britons who voted to leave the EU.

Yes, in a day of brinkmanship, the rebels did help the Government defeat a series of Lord amendments aimed at keeping us tied to Brussels. But only later this week will we know the price of that support.

For the Remainers still want to strip the Government of the right to walk away with no deal – its most powerful card in future negotiations. They also demand that if ministers come back with a deal they don’t like, the Commons should have the power to take control of the talks.

What a shambles that would be. Who do they think would be in charge? What would be the agenda? Our negotiators would be the laughing stock of the world.

Last night Theresa May was rightly refusing these absurd demands. But if a compromise can’t be agreed, the rebels will seek to defeat her when the Withdrawal Bill comes back to the Commons. Such blackmail would be bad enough from Labour. From Tory MPs – who risk ushering Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street – it’s simply contemptible.

This disdain for democracy and party was epitomised by Phillip Lee (who?) – an obscure junior minister virtually unknown before he resigned yesterday. Although most of his Bracknell constituents voted Leave, Mr Lee had the audacity to say he was joining the rebels for their benefit, adding – in the language of elitists through the ages – that they had made a mistake and needed protecting from themselves.

Mr Lee is known to possess an outsized ego. It’s hard to avoid the conclusion he’s put ambition before democratic duty.

We don’t yet know what concessions Theresa May will have to make in the coming days but one thing is certain. Every compromise seriously weakens her hand in trying to get the best deal for Britain.

No wonder Michel Barnier and the rest of the Brussels commissars are looking so gleeful these days.