Remainers want ‘unity government’
BITTER Remainers called for a ‘government of national unity’ yesterday to thwart Brexit after losing a crunch vote on the customs union.
Former Tory minister Anna Soubry said it was time for the party to reach out to Labour moderates, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats to form a government that would keep Britain closely tied to the EU.
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve also floated the idea to prevent Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
A government of national unity is a broad coalition government of all major parties, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency. Winston Churchill led a unity government in the Forties.
Their intervention came after the Government defeated their attempt to keep Britain in a customs union with the EU in a Commons vote on Tuesday night. The bid was defeated by 307 votes to 301 after five Labour Eurosceptics came to the aid of the Government.
Mr Grieve, Miss Soubry and ten other diehard Tory Remainers rebelled, despite being warned their actions could bring down the Government. Miss Soubry indicated yesterday that the bid to keep Britain shackled to the EU would never be abandoned – even if it meant working with the opposition.
She said: ‘There are too many MPs who are frightened of the extremists in their local associations and are not voting in the interests of their country and constituents.’
Mr Grieve said there was ‘no possibility’ he would ever accept a no-deal Brexit, and suggested ensuring this could require ‘a caretaker national government’.
It emerged Mr Grieve could face the threat of deselection in his Beaconsfield constituency.
Sir Nicholas Soames, another prominent Tory Remainer, also predicted a government of national unity could be formed this year. However, Eurosceptic Tory MP Michael Fabricant described the idea as ‘deranged’.
No10 dismissed the idea. Asked whether Theresa May would consider forming a government of national unity, a source said: ‘No. We have a Conservative government that is delivering for the British people.’
A Labour spokesman said: ‘The Labour Party would have nothing to do with some kind of establishment stitch-up to deny a proper voice for our voters.’