Cable holds talks with Tory MPS to frustrate Brexit
The man likely to lead the Lib Dems says concern over negotiations has ended ‘tribal differences’
THE front-runner to be the next Liberal Democrat leader has admitted he is in secret talks with Conservative MPS about frustrating Brexit.
Sir Vince Cable said that he was holding informal negotiations with Tory MPS who backed Remain at the referendum about working together to soften the impact of leaving the European Union in 2019.
That came as the Lib Dems were expected to table an amendment to the Queen’s Speech to keep Britain in the single market and the customs union, and require ministers to commit to spending £350million a week on the NHS after Brexit.
Theresa May, the Prime Minister, has been in talks with the Democratic Unionist Party for 10 days now about its 10 MPS propping up the minority Tory Government. However, even with the backing of the DUP, it would take only seven Tory MPS to switch sides during a vote in the House of Commons to defeat the Government.
Sir Vince, whose opponent for the party leadership, Ed Davey, is likely to declare today, said Tory MPS were being “sounded out” to see if they could work with the Lib Dems on voting against the Government on some Brexit measures.
He said that the “tribal differences between the parties have broken down” and he wanted MPS from all parties “to be encouraged to work together”.
Speaking to Chopper’s Brexit Podcast on The Telegraph’s website, Sir Vince said that “informally all kinds of networks are being established and I have been sounded out by several of them”.
He said: “There are a lot of Conservative MPS who may not have put up a flag called Remain but are very, very worried about the more extreme options on the table and would like to keep either the customs union or the single market or both.”
Sir Vince praised Ken Clarke, the veteran Tory MP who has long argued against leaving the EU. He said: “We have to work with like-minded people across the spectrum trying to get a softer, more sensible version of Brexit.”
David Jones, the former Brexit minister who lost his job in last week’s Cab- inet reshuffle, said “the arithmetic is challenging but I think deliverable” in the Commons.
But he said there could be “all sorts of alliances the other way” and the Tories could try to persuade Eurosceptic Labour MPS such as Kate Hoey or Kelvin Hopkins to vote with the Government on Brexit measures. Mr Jones told The Daily Telegraph: “MPS from all sides should now be working to ensure a smooth and successful Brexit. Voters will not forgive politicians who are indulging in shabby games rather than supporting the Government in delivering on the referendum result.”
That came as the Libdems tabled an amendment to the Queen’s Speech designed to appeal to Tory Remain MPS to keep Britain in the single market and the customs union.
But David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, indicated the UK Government will call the SNP’S bluff over threats to withhold consent for the Repeal Bill.
The Scottish Secretary said it would be “incredible” for the Nationalists to refuse to pass a legislative consent motion (LCM) as this would create extraordinary “uncertainty” in Scotland alone. LCMS allow Westminster to pass laws that cover devolved responsibilities.
He said he was “very relaxed” about the Scottish Parliament giving its approval to the Bill and pointed out that trying to frustrate Brexit would mean turning down extra powers repatriated from Brussels.
Nicola Sturgeon later urged MSPS at First Minister’s Questions to unite behind her demand that the Scottish Parliament be formally consulted about powers repatriated from Brussels and “this Scottish government, democratically elected, has a seat at the negotiating table so that we can properly defend Scotland’s interests”.