Ministers threaten walkout if PM’S Brexit agreement softens
Eurosceptic Tories discuss a mass protest if delays and cross-party talks lead to an unsatisfactory deal
MINISTERS have held discussions about staging a mass walkout in protest over a soft Brexit and long Article 50 extension following a meeting of the “Pizza Club” of senior Eurosceptics.
Plans to resign en masse have been suggested because “death by a thousand cuts isn’t working”, ministers said, pointing out that the trickle of resignations has not affected Theresa May.
Cabinet ministers met junior colleagues twice on Wednesday after the Prime Minister softened her red lines and opened talks with Jeremy Corbyn on a customs union.
The meetings were attended by seven Cabinet ministers including Geoffrey Cox, Andrea Leadsom, Gavin Williamson, Michael Gove, Jeremy Hunt, Penny Mordaunt and Liz Truss.
Following the meeting, one of those present told The Daily Telegraph that 10 mid-ranking and junior ministers are prepared to quit next week amid mounting fears that there will be a soft Brexit.
The prospect of putting candidates to the European Parliament elections is the “deal breaker” which would cause “at least 10 ministers to clear their desks”.
The ministers met twice in Mrs Leadsom’s office – at 10am and 7pm. Asked about the meetings, the source said: “At the moment, everyone wants to deliver Brexit on May 22. If we get into the territory of ‘there is no Brexit on May 22’, you’ll find many colleagues will be clearing their desks.
“If we don’t leave by May 22 it will be hugely problematic. For some it is breaking the manifesto pledge. Within that, how do you explain to your constituents that you are still in Europe and you are having to put candidates forward? It will be very difficult to hold the Conservative Party together.”
“If we don’t deliver on Brexit we will fracture very badly.”
The source said they feared Jeremy Corbyn will push Theresa May to a customs union during their talks.
“People are saying Corbyn will walk away if he sees the meetings as a trap – but he has smart people around him. He knows he could bury her under a customs union which she would have to agree to and the Tory party would fracture.”
The minister added: “Let’s see what happens next week.”
They expect the Government to put down its own indicative votes early next week, which could be done by a single transferable vote system and “hopefully will get the Prime Minister’s deal over the line”.
If that fails, resigning is not the only option. “The other option is that ministers in Cabinet and junior ranks would have to, at some stage, call for her to go,” the minister said.
“Otherwise we’re not going to get any movement.”
Another minister who attended the two meetings in Mrs Leadsom’s office said they would resign over a customs union but that it would only have an effect if a group walked out of the Government at the same time. “Death by a thousand cuts isn’t working,” they said, referring to the recent trickle of resignations.
On Wednesday, Nigel Adams and Chris Heaton-harris quit the Government over Mrs May’s decision to further delay Brexit and reach out to Mr Corbyn.
“Ministers were saying we need an alternative,” the source said of the meetings. “We fear Brexit isn’t going to happen in the next 18 months.”
Last week, the “Pizza Club” of Brexiteer Cabinet ministers invited a group of Eurosceptic junior ministers, who had been meeting separately for weeks, to join them.
Another Brexiteer who has been part of the newly expanded “Pizza Club” raised concerns about the Chancellor’s comments that there is a “perfectly credible” case for a second referendum which “deserves to be tested” in Parliament.
“Philip Hammond is pushing for a second referendum,” they said. “I don’t know what he’s thinking. I don’t know how he thinks he can keep the Conservative Party together.
“Markets will be spooked by the Conservative party splitting while remaining in power.
“It will make the financial crisis look like a walk in the park.”
Separately, Theresa May has filled the vacancies in her Government caused by the recent resignations.
James Cleverly, the Conservative deputy chairman, becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Exiting the European Union, replacing Chris Heaton-harris
Seema Kennedy takes the same rank at the Department of Health, replacing Steve Brine, who resigned on March 25. And Andrew Stephenson becomes parliamentary under-secretary of state at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, filling the gap left by Richard Harrington who also resigned on March 25.
Kevin Foster will be a junior minister at the Wales Office and assistant Government whip, replacing Nigel Adams.