Iain Duncan Smith:

It would be a tragedy if Brexiteers’ divisions ended up destroying the project altogether

In 27 years in Parliament, I have seen and too often experienced political instability. Times when governments have unravelled, as in the Back to Basics mess under John Major, or when they have found their authority slipping away, as in the MPS’ expenses scandal. However, when governments lose the confidence of the public following such political turmoil, it has always been the case that an election has followed so that voters can make it clear who they want to govern the country.

In the last three and a half years, we sank into a morass on a scale I have not known in all my time in politics. At the root of it is the simple reality that although a majority of the country – and a substantial majority of constituencies – voted for Brexit, this Parliament has had a significant majority of MPS who want to remain in the EU at what appears any cost.

Witness the contortions the Labour Party has gone through; changing its position from saying that it would uphold the referendum result to now demanding a second referendum.

Small wonder that once Theresa May accepted a Brexit extension to 31 October, all hell broke loose.

The public rightly felt betrayed and soon the Brexit Party was formed, gaining popularity in a short period of time and winning the European elections. I am in no doubt that the Brexit Party’s existence has given voice to the need to deliver on the original “people’s vote” back in 2016.

However, the Conservative Party, led by Boris Johnson, renewed its pledge to respect the votes of 17.4 million people, making it clear that we should do that with or without a deal. Yet once again, this ghastly Remain er dominated Parliament–like the creature from the black lagoon – rose up and stopped us from achieving this. Using every dodge and manoeuvre, aided by a compliant Speaker, and with Jeremy Corbyn’s active support,

Parliament locked the Government down with regulations that stifled its ability to negotiate and even to govern. Because Corbyn and other Remainers are determined to block Brexit, we now must hold an election before Christmas.

This election will be the most important of my political life. For upon its outcome hangs the fate of the country for decades to come. Furthermore, as we move into election mode and clear the decks for action, colleagues who lost the whip, having since demonstrated their support for Boris Johnson, have now had it restored. I believe it is both a mark of strength and decency that they are once more back in the embrace of the Conservative family.

For as we head to an election, the outstanding question is: will we fail to rise to the challenge as we have so often failed in the past?

In reality, the Brexit Party has helped enormously to focus the minds of politicians and it led the charge during the European elections to deliver Brexit. Yet sadly it could now inadvertently throw it all away. For it is starkly clear that only the Conservatives, of the established parties, genuinely want the UK to leave the EU. Ironically, as disarray in the Remain camp breaks out, there is now the threat of the same happening among Leave supporters if the Brexit Party puts candidates up against Conservatives in this election.

Such a move, I believe, would damage the cause which we all support and weaken Boris Johnson’s ability to enact the referendum result. The harsh reality is that the Conservative Party is the Brexit party, for only the Conservative Party has the capacity to deliver Brexit after this election. What would be gained if we end up dividing among ourselves and, by so doing, propelling parties who have vowed to end Brexit into government?

I hope that wise heads will prevail and that we none of us lose sight of the ultimate prize – the UK as a selfgoverning, free trading nation once again, responsible for its own destiny. This prize is within touching distance and needs the Conservatives in government with a good majority to achieve that. Surely nothing else could matter more. Future generations will, I believe, judge us harshly if, because of party politics, we let this opportunity slip through our grasp.