Tory heavyweights demand May backs a clean break with the EU

SIXTY Tory MPs including seven exCabinet ministers have demanded Theresa May pulls Britain out of the single market and customs union amid fears her Brexit stance could be watered down.

Michael Gove, Iain Duncan Smith, John Whittingdale and Theresa Villiers are among leading Eurosceptics to put their names to the demand.

The politicians have gone public through amid concerns that pro-EU figures in the Cabinet are fighting to soften the Government’s Brexit position.

The decision to go public with the call coincides with the relaunch of the European Research Group, a pro-Brexit Tory body that will campaign to keep up pressure on the Government. It also came as senior Tory MPs called on the Government to drop its appeal to the Supreme Court to overturn a High Court ruling that demanded Mrs May get approval from Parliament before triggering Article 50, the mechanism for starting Brexit negotiations.

Many inside Government are expecting another defeat and there are concerns about the delay caused by a judgment that is not due until January.

Owen Paterson, a former environment secretary who backed Brexit, joined calls to drop the appeal yesterday. “I’m not a lawyer and I’m not an expert on this but … I wouldn’t have a bet on the Government winning this one,” he said.

In a separate development, Labour MPs are under pressure to be more supportive of Brexit as analysis by the Brexit Alliance think tank showed more than half their constituencies – 137 – backed it in the referendum.

In Government there is a major Cabinet split over whether Britain should pull out of the EU single market, a tariff-free trade bloc; and the customs union, which allows goods to cross borders without customs checks.

Boris Johnson, Liam Fox and David Davis are said to be more open to leaving than Philip Hammond, the Chancellor. No 10 has said the choice is not “binary”, suggesting it could seek to retain benefits of both agreements while ‘When people voted to leave, most of my colleagues and I took it as an instruction to untie ourselves from the EU’ opting out of overall membership.

To force the Government’s hand, 60 Tory MPs have backed the statement: “The UK must leave the European Economic Area [EEA] and the customs union.” Seven former Cabinet ministers backed the call, including Peter Lilley and John Redwood. Eleven Labour, DUP and Ukip MPs also signed.

In a piece for website, Suella Fernandes, a Tory MP who helps to run the European Research Group, says pulling out of the customs union is the only way to fulfil the Brexit vote.

“When the British people voted to leave the European Union on 23 June, most of my Parliamentary colleagues and I took it as an instruction to untie ourselves from EU shackles… We now wish to ensure that the will of the people is fulfilled,” she writes.

However, Joe Carberry, co-executive director of the pro-EU campaign group Open Britain, said: “The inevitable consequence of leaving both the single market and the customs union is erecting barriers to trade with our closest and largest partner. Those calling for us to do so, need to provide evidence … that it will actually increase trade, boost growth and create jobs.”

Last night it was reported that Tony Blair is setting up an institute close to Whitehall as he seeks to re-enter British politics and help shape Brexit.

reports he has held talks with senior ministers and officials.