May could go if she loses vote, says Brown

There could be a change of prime minister if the government loses a crunch vote this week on its Brexit legislation, Labour’s Gordon Brown has said. Former premier Mr Brown predicted that the fixed-term parliament arrangement “makes it possible” for the Conservative Party to survive in government, but warned that the meaningful vote outcome could signal a “point of further crisis” for Theresa May’s government.

Ministers – who have accepted just one of the 15 amendments – are confident of winning most of the votes when the EU (Withdrawal) Bill returns to the Commons tomorrow and Wednesday.

However, pro-eu Tory rebels believe they could be vulnerable on key measures including the customs union and a requirement for Parliament to have a decisive say over what happens next if it rejects a final Brexit deal.

Mr Brown told BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show said: “There is potentially the chance of a change of prime minister, but I don’t think at that point they will want to give up as a government, and I think the five-year parliament makes it possible for them to survive.”