May is braced for bid to topple her
THERESA May is bracing herself for a bid by Tory MPs to oust her following her soft Brexit fudge.
The PM, due to address all 316 Tory MPs tomorrow, is expecting enough of them to oppose her to mount a no-confidence vote on her leadership.
But she relishes the opportunity to finally end the plotting against her.
An aide told the Sunday Mirror: “Once it’s done, it’s done.”
Although Mrs May got her new Brexit plan through Cabinet without any walkouts, ministers fear it will be rejected by Brussels.
Europe goes on holiday in August. So only six weeks remain before an agreement must be reached at the EU Council summit in October.
Ministers have now stepped up their planning for a no-deal Brexit – while chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier is waiting to see whether the new proposal is “workable and realistic”.
Brexit rebel leader Jacob Rees-Mogg warned he “will not vote for something which doesn’t deliver Brexit”.
Graham Brady, chair of the backbench 1922 Committee, is believed to be just six letters short of the 48 needed to trigger a vote of no confidence in the PM.
If Mrs May lost a vote she would have to stand down and there would be a leadership contest. But Tory Chief Whip Julian Smith, who briefed 40 MPs on the fudge yesterday, believes Mrs May would win a vote easily.
Mrs May’s position was bolstered at Chequers by the backing of Brexiteer Environment Secretary Michael Gove and Brexit Secretary David Davis.
HUFFING
Home Secretary Sajid Javid was slapped down by the PM for trying to introduce his own proposals.
Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, talked out of quitting by ex-PM David Cameron the day before, just grumbled a bit.
A witness said: “There was a lot of huffing and puffing but no flouncing., no sense anyone was about to resign.”
To calm nerves ministers passed around Haribo sweets. ”