60 MPs to launch rebel Brexit blueprint

SOME 60 eurosceptic tories will this weekend publish their blueprint for a Brussels deal as they urge the Prime Minister to ‘chuck Chequers’.

the european Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, will bring out a series of reports setting out how a ‘clean’ Brexit would work.

the plans will argue for a Canada-style free trade agreement, and present solutions to the Northern Ireland question and complex issues like farming and fisheries.

It came as Boris Johnson stormed ahead as the tories’ preferred choice to be the next leader – putting theresa May under further pressure on Brexit. the Erg’s 140page manifesto will include a foreword by David Davis, the former Brexit secretary. Various chapters will be released over four days, starting on sunday.

the group wants to neutralise the eu’s criticism that ensuring there is no hard border with Northern Ireland means Britain must stay closely tied to Brussels.

It is understood the papers will address money and migration on Monday, followed by a key paper on Northern Ireland on Wednesday. sources said the plans were intended to set out alternatives to those presented by the Government and so force Mrs May to drop her Chequers deal.

Downing street insisted the Chequers proposals were ‘the only credible and negotiable plan which has been put forward’.

Government sources said it was clear a simple trade deal could not resolve the problems around the Irish border. ‘the basic premise of the Brexiteers is that there is a free trade deal on the table we can just pick up,’ a source said.

‘there is, but it is a Great Britain- only deal – we would be walking off the pitch in Northern Ireland.’

Mr Johnson was photographed outside a Westminster restaurant yesterday following talks with chief whip Julian smith as a poll revealed 35 per cent of grassroots members want him as the next party leader. the figure – up from 29 per cent last month – is more than double the figure notched up by his closest rival, Home secretary sajid Javid.

the only other MP to achieve support from 10 per cent or more in the poll by Conservative-Home was Mr Rees-Mogg.

the arch-eurosceptic said on Wednesday he believed Mr Johnson should be the next Prime Minister – calling the former foreign secretary ‘absolutely first class’ – but added there was ‘no vacancy’ at No.10.