Doomed! Tory Brexiteers are ‘a Dad’s Army’

Bid to topple PM May fails over ‘infighting’

TORY Brexiteers have been branded “a Dad’s Army” after infighting meant their bid to topple Theresa May flopped.

Tory MP Steve Baker said there had been “a tactical disagreement” among supporters of the European Research Group of Tory hard-Brexiteers over when to force a no-confidence vote in Mrs May’s leadership.

But the PM faced a more pressing threat yesterday from the hardline DUP, as they went “on strike” in the Commons for a second day running.

At the last minute, the Govern- STUPID BOY Rees-Mogg as Mainwaring ment accepted a string of amendments to the Finance Bill tabled by Labour and the SNP last night, avoiding the risk of Commons defeat.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the ERG, had called on supporters to submit letters to backbench chief Sir Graham Brady last Thursday. But they have so far failed to muster the 48 MPs needed to trigger a vote.

Mr Baker said the group was split over whether to cause the vote now or after Mrs May loses the Commons “meaningful vote” on her Brexit deal.

Asked why the letters had not come, Mr Rees-Mogg said: “Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace. We will see what letters come in due time.”

And asked if his attempt to unseat the PM had been exposed as a “Dad’s Army” farce, the MP replied: “I’ve always admired Captain Mainwaring.”

Mrs May will head to Brussels for an “afternoon tea” meeting with EU President Jean-Claude Juncker today. ■ Figures show there was a “significant rise” in antidepressant prescriptions after the EU referendum.