CABINET STILL SPLIT OVER CHEQUERS
Voters aren’t afraid of UK walking away, insists minister
BRITISH voters would be happy to leave the European Union without a deal, a member of Theresa May’s Cabinet claimed last night.
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said the EU’s behaviour had increased support for Brexit – and even Remain supporters were now ‘ content’ about the prospect of no deal.
The Prime Minister will reject calls to ditch her Chequers plan when she faces her Cabinet on Monday.
Some ministers yesterday rallied around Mrs May after her humiliation in Salzburg. But there are concerns others who are less enthusiastic about her Brexit blueprint could seek to use the setback to push for it to be abandoned.
Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey and Miss Mordaunt are still yet to publicly endorse the plan – 11 weeks after it was agreed by the Cabinet.
Miss Mordaunt was last night forced to deny rumours spread by fellow Brexiteers that she was on the verge of resigning because of concerns about the proposals.
However, in a message posted on Twitter the rising star, who is touted as a possible future leadership contender, argued British voters would be happy with no deal.
She wrote: ‘ Speaking to constituents today, it is clear that [the] EU’s behaviour in recent days is increasing support for us leaving the EU … people still want a deal but content to go without one, even folk who voted Remain.’
Last night Miss Mordaunt faced criticism from one of her Cabinet colleagues over her remarks.
The minister said: ‘Penny is wrong. The vast majority of voters want us to get a deal and are behind the Prime Minister in taking all necessary steps to achieve that.
‘While no deal is better than a bad deal, there would clearly be consequences if we left the EU without an agreement.’
The Cabinet split over how willing Mrs May should be to walk away from negotiations comes as ministers are set to publish the latest batch of ‘technical notices’ on preparing for no deal on Monday.
Whitehall sources last night told the Mail that the most hair-raising papers have been held back for this final release.
Miss Mordaunt will be absent from the Cabinet meeting on Monday – when ministers are expected to discuss next steps in negotiations – because she will be in New York for the start of the UN General Assembly.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom, a prominent Brexiteer, last night distanced herself from moves to pressure Mrs May into ditching Chequers. She said: ‘Theresa May stands ready, and I
‘EU’s behaviour has increased support’
stand with her.’ One Cabinet minister last night accused his colleagues who are pushing for a Canada- style trade agreement of being willing to allow Northern Ireland to be separated from the rest of the UK.
Dismissing the EU’s rejection of Chequers, he said: ‘It’s a negotiating tactic, we shouldn’t be panicked.’ Another Cabinet source said: ‘The majority are firmly behind the PM still. I don’t think now is the time to split further.’