Leadsom faces axe for Brexit jibe at Theresa

ANDREA Leadsom could be sacked in an autumn reshuffle after branding Theresa May’s approach to Brexit ‘disastrous’.

Cabinet colleagues say they were stunned by Mrs Leadsom’s outspoken criticism during a two- hour meeting to discuss the Prime Minister’s Florence speech last month.

Two sources at the meeting claim the Commons Leader rounded on Mrs May over her ‘soft’ approach to Brexit, even dropping the Cabinet protocol of referring to her as ‘Prime Minister’.

One said: ‘Her interventions were extraordinary. She said: “Parts of the speech are disastrous, Theresa”, before laying into it. Everyone was stunned – you just don’t talk like that in Cabinet.’

Another added: ‘It’s fair to say her contribution was not appreciated by colleagues.’

Mrs Leadsom, who could not be contacted for comment yesterday, was not the only proBrexit minister to raise concerns at the meeting, at which every member of the Cabinet was invited to speak.

But she was by far the most outspoken. Sources say she went much further than Boris Johnson, who had laid out his concerns in a 4,000-word essay the previous week.

Tory sources now suggest she could become a victim of a government reshuffle being considered for this autumn.

Mrs May is nervous about embarking on a wide-ranging reshuffle after being left weakened by her calamitous party conference speech. But many Tories are urging her to conduct a clearout of her top team to make room for some of the party’s rising stars.

Party chairman Patrick McLoughlin is also tipped for the sack. Possible replace- ments include immigration minister Brandon Lewis and former soldier James Cleverly, a charismatic loyalist considered a star of the future.

Mrs Leadsom was Mrs May’s final leadership challenger last year in the contest that followed David Cameron’s resignation. She pulled out after controversy over a newspaper interview in which she suggested being a mother gave her a greater stake in society. Her comments were seen as an ill-judged swipe at Mrs May, who is childless.

Mrs Leadsom was rewarded for cutting the leadership contest short with a Cabinet job as Environment Secretary.

Tory sources say the PM had planned to sack her after the election. But, weakened by the election result, she instead moved her sideways to the post of Commons Leader to make way for the return of fellow Brexiteer Michael Gove.

But her behaviour in the role has irritated No 10 and led to speculation that she still sees herself as a future party leader. In June she made a high-profile media visit to Grenfell Tower, despite having no formal government role in dealing with the disaster.

Her visit was made as Mrs May faced intense criticism for not meeting families caught up in the disaster.

The following month, friends of Mrs Leadsom briefed the media that she was being urged to launch another leadership bid by ‘dozens’ of MPs. The South Northamptonshire MP has also raised eyebrows by referring to ‘my government’ when talking about Mrs May’s administration.

Admirers believe she has real leadership qualities and point to her prominent role in the Vote Leave campaign during last year’s referendum.

Mrs May’s Florence speech committed the Government to pursuing a two-year transition away from the EU after 2019 during which membership regulations will continue, including a form of free movement and observance of rulings laid down by the European courts.

It also committed the UK to £20billion in further membership fees and opened the door to a larger final divorce bill.

Some pro-Brexit MPs believe the two- year transition is unnecessary and will delay the benefits of leaving the EU, such as striking trade deals.

But government sources say the constructive tone of the speech has gone down well in Europe and helped break the deadlock in Brexit talks.