Brexiteers deny plot to oust May as PM

Leading Tory Brexiteers have dismissed claims of a plot to oust Theresa May over her controversial Chequers blueprint for leaving the European Union (EU).

About 50 Conservative MPS are understood to have attended a meeting on Tuesday of the probrexit European Research Group (ERG) where a possible leadership challenge was said to have been discussed.

At the launch on Wednesday of the ERG’S plan to avoid the return of a hard border in Northern Ireland, leading figures in the group were at pains to stress they were not questioning the Prime Minister’s position.

ERG chairman Jacob Rees-mogg insisted he was seeking a change of government policy, not a change in leadership.

“I have long said, and repeated again and again, that the policy needs to be changed but I am supporting the person,” he said.

His comments were echoed by former Brexit secretary David Davis, who quit the government over the Chequers plan which would see Britain maintain a “common rule book” with the EU for trade in goods and agriculture.

“I disagree with her on one issue – this issue. She should stay in place because we need stability.”