May wins stay of execution, but rebels lose patience

Backbenchers call on Sir Graham Brady to ‘get on with it’ as PM is given an extra week of grace

THERESA MAY has been given a stay of execution by her backbench MPS after agreeing to meet them next week to discuss her future as leader.

The Prime Minister had been given a deadline of 4pm yesterday to set out a timetable for her departure, but she bought herself another week by offering to face the executive of the 1922 Committee.

Sir Graham Brady, the committee chairman, agreed to the compromise when he spoke to Mrs May yesterday, but some Tory MPS were unhappy with his decision, saying he should “get on with it” and force her hand.

It came as Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, said she was “seriously considering” a second attempt to become leader, after she made it to the final two in the 2016 election before dropping out and handing victory to Mrs May.

Backbench frustration with Mrs May’s refusal to resign has been simmering for months, and yesterday Andrea Jenkyns, a Brexiteer, became the latest Tory MP to call on her to quit in the Commons.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, Ms Jenkyns said: “She’s tried her best. Nobody could fault or doubt her commitment and sense of duty – but she has failed. The public no longer trust her to run Brexit negotiations. Isn’t it time to step aside and let someone else lead our country, our party and the Brexit negotiations?”

Mrs May snapped back: “This is not an issue about me and it’s not an issue about her. If it were an issue about me and the way I vote, we would already have left the European Union.”

Sir Graham had been expected to tell Mrs May that if she was not prepared to provide “clarity” on her future then her MPS would take matters into their own hands. The 1922 Committee has already discussed changing its rules to allow a confidence vote in the leader to be held every six months rather than every 12 months, as is currently the case. Doing so would allow another confidence vote to be held next month.

Its executive narrowly voted against a rule change, but members are understood to be hardening their stance against Mrs May after grassroots Tories decided to hold their own non-binding vote of confidence next month.

After addressing a meeting of the 1922 Committee last night, Sir Graham said: “The executive is very keen to meet the Prime Minister and will have a full opportunity to discuss and to reach whatever conclusions it wishes to reach next week.”

Mrs May appeared to have convinced Sir Graham to give her more time to get a Brexit deal through Parliament before the European elections are held on May 23, to help limit the scale of the Tories’ expected defeat.

He said Mrs May intended to put a Withdrawal Agreement Bill before Parliament “in the near future” – the legislation needed for Britain to leave the European Union with a deal. Leaving

‘She’s not given any decision, there’s no timetable and they need to get on with it. We need ... a final decision soon’

the meeting, Nadine Dorries said: “She’s not given any decision, there’s no timetable and they need to get on with it. We need to make sure we get that final decision soon.”

Talks between Labour and the Conservatives aimed at agreeing a crossparty Brexit deal resumed last night, but neither side appeared optimistic about their chances of success.

David Lidington, the Cabinet Office minister, who has been leading the Tory negotiating team, admitted the talks had been “difficult” at times, while Labour suggested it wanted the talks brought to a close this week.

Mrs Leadsom, the latest leadership candidate to step up her rhetoric about replacing Mrs May, told ITV she was “seriously considering” running, adding that after failing last time out: “You learn a lot. You do know about the advantage of being prepared and thinking about it carefully, understanding exactly what it is you want to achieve.”