Tories at war as May plans for no EU deal
PM pledges billions to ease Brexit but rebels warn she must make progress by Christmas
THERESA MAY has decided to commit billions of pounds on preparing Britain to leave the European Union without a deal in a bid to save her premiership.
The spending, which will be “unlocked” in the new year if no progress is made with Brussels, is intended to send a signal to pro-Brexit MPs that she is serious about regaining the upper hand in the negotiations.
It came as rebel MPs gave Mrs May until Christmas to make real progress on Brexit to avoid another attempt to oust her. One group of rebels, led by Grant Shapps, the former party chairman, said they had not been appeased but would wait before attempting to prise Mrs May out of 10 Downing Street.
Key figures who loom as possible replacements for Mrs May – Boris Johnson and Amber Rudd – were said to be “biding their time”, while an ally of David Davis said Mrs May had one disaster left “before she falls”. As part of a rearguard action to save Mrs May:
Boris Johnson, the Foreign secretary, said in a Sunday Telegraph article that Tory rebels who wanted to unseat the Prime Minister were “nutters” but admitted that MPs had “sniffed the air” before deciding to back Mrs May;
The Midlands Industrial Council, which represents the party’s largest donors, issued a statement backing the Conservative leader and held out the prospect of withdrawing funds from Tory MPs who tried to unseat her;
Sir John Major, the former Tory prime minister, told the Mail on Sunday that plotting Conservative MPs must stop trying to sabotage the “valiant” Mrs May – or see her overthrown by a “poisonous neo-Marxist” Labour party led by Jeremy Corbyn;
Two Conservative MEPs were stripped of the party whip after supporting a resolution in Brussels to block Brexit talks moving forward.
The Sunday Telegraph can disclose that Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, is planning to sanction the Brexit spending in the new year to prepare the UK for leaving in March 2019 without a deal with the EU. The cash – which is not expected to appear in the Budget – will be spent on technology to speed up customs checks at the borders if the UK has to revert to a World Trade Organisation tariff system, and other measures.
The Government is already working on plans to deal with air traffic control and migration in the event of a “hard Brexit”. Face to face talks begin again with EU officials in Brussels tomorrow.
One senior Treasury source told The Sunday Telegraph: “Billions of pounds will be unlocked in the new year if progress has not been made. We have to plan for a no deal.” The plot by Mr
Shapps and as many as 30 other Tory MPs was nipped in the bud after his name was leaked by Mrs May’s supporters. However, Mr Shapps’ allies insisted that the pressure for change at the top of the party had not abated and the rebels would meet again this week.
One said that Mr Shapps was “not going away” and that rebel MPs would put pressure on Mrs May if she failed to secure a good Brexit deal by Christmas. The friend said: “The €20billion she has offered [in budget contributions to the EU] is going to end up at €45billion – how much of this can the Brexiteers take?” A former Tory minister warned there could be a renewed attempt to unseat Mrs May next week if a meeting of the EU council went badly.
He said: “The EU is going to play hardball and that is going to prompt further questions about what the Prime Minister is going to do about it. We have not got the luxury of time any more.”
A senior minister said the rebels were willing to play a tactical game after recognising that a “full frontal” assault on Mrs May had failed to prise her out of office. He said: “Colleagues are going to wait to see whether, on a future occasion if something goes badly wrong, she decides on her own volition to go.” There was bad news for Mrs May yester- SOURCE: ORB INTERNATIONAL day with a survey by ORB International finding that nearly two thirds of people disapprove of the Government’s Brexit negotiations. Mrs May is preparing for a busy few days in the House of Commons with a statement on her Florence speech on Britain’s future outside the EU expected tomorrow. A Cabinet reshuffle has been put on temporary hold as she restores her authority in the party.
To steal back the initiative, two Tory MEPs – Julie Girling and Richard Ashworth – were last night stripped of the party whip after supporting a resolution in Brussels to block further Brexit talks.
Separately, the Midlands Industrial Council – a group that donates millions of pounds to the party every year – said MPs should back Mrs May. In a letter seen by The Sunday Telegraph, the donors said: “At this time we need unity, cohesion and a positive message delivered by a stable Government. The electorate made its decision over Brexit and expects it to be implemented. We have decided to write this letter declaring our strong support for Theresa May.”
Party volunteers also expressed their support. Geoffrey Vero, of Grassroots Conservatives, said: “Those plotting against Mrs May should stop this infantile behaviour. These petty and childish games only act as a distraction and are opposed by ordinary party members.”