Brexiteers warn of reckoning for PM

Brexiteers have said Prime Minister Theresa May must be “held to account” for failing to deliver an exit from the EU on time, amid reports her party is preparing to “go on strike” and oust her if she leads the UK into European elections.

Conservatives have voiced unhappiness at cross-party talks with Labour likely to produce a compromise Brexit deal that keeps the UK in the EU customs union.

European Research Group chairman Jacob Rees-mogg said: “The Prime Minister could have taken us out on 29 March. It was the Prime Minister who asked for an extension, it was the Prime Minister who changed the date by prerogative power from 29 March to 12 April.

“This all rests with her and upon her shoulders… [she] has made active choices to stop us leaving and she deserves to be held to account for that.”

Ex-whip Michael Fabricant predicted “open revolt” in the Tory Party and among Leave voters if Mrs May agreed to a customs union.

A Sunday broadsheet newspaper reported that Conservative activists are refusing to campaign for the party and donations have “dried up” because of the Prime Minister’s leadership.

In a letter to Mrs May, more than 100 current and wouldbe Tory councillors stated they are unable to muster the volunteers needed to effectively fight next month’s local elections in England and Northern Ireland because “belief in the party they joined is gone”.

Former Brexit secretary Dominic Raab said the Prime Minister’s approach “threatens to damage the Conservatives for years” and that teaming up with Mr Corbyn could be “potentially disastrous for the nation”.

Writing in a Sunday newspaper, he said: “There is now a danger that Brexit could be lost and that the government could fall – handing the keys to Downing Street to Corbyn.”