TORY HARDLINERS START TO SOFTEN
...but in a protest at threat of delay, 108 of May’s MPs fail to support her latest blueprint
opposition to Theresa May’s Brexit deal softened last night as fears of a lengthy delay to the UK’s departure grew.
Eurosceptic MPs, who joined forces with Labour last month to inflict a record defeat on the Prime Minister’s deal, rolled back on their demands for concessions.
Writing in the Mail opposite, Jacob Rees-Mogg says that if Mrs May can secure ‘necessary assurances’ on the controversial backstop to prevent a hard border in Ireland in the event of No Deal, ‘I would be delighted to support her deal and help avoid any delay to Brexit.’
Mr Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group of Leave MPs, insists he will take a ‘practical and not a theological attitude’ towards next month’s crunch vote on the deal, adding: ‘It is not my job to tell other Conservative MPs what to do, but I am sure many other passionate advocates of Brexit would take the same pragmatic and patriotic view.’
Mrs May reluctantly let MPs seek a ‘limited’ extension of Article 50 of just a few months if her deal was rejected again next month.
But privately, ministers admit that MPs would be able to amend the relevant legislation to allow for a much longer delay. David Lidington, Mrs May’s deputy, also told MPs they would be able to seek a long delay if EU leaders rejected calls for a short one.
The threat of a delay, which Mr Rees-Mogg warned was part of a plot to stop Brexit, appeared to focus Eurosceptic MPs on the need to strike a deal.
Other MPs who voted against the deal last month also indicated they could now back Mrs May in the vote on March 12, particularly if Attorney General Geoffrey Cox secures legally binding changes to the backstop.
Asked whether Mrs May’s deal could get through, Chancellor Philip Hammond said: ‘That’s what we’re focusing on – I think there’s every chance.’
However, Eurosceptic MPs ‘ put down a marker’ last night against the idea of a delay. Some 88 Tory MPs abstained in a Commons vote formalising Mrs May’s offer of a Brexit delay, including Boris Johnson, Dominic Raab and Mr Rees-Mogg.
Another 20 hardliners, led by former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, went further by voting against the plan, defying a three-line whip. The moves came as:
Shadow Brexit Secretary Sir Keir Starmer said Labour’s policy would formally switch to backing a second referendum with an option to remain in the EU, after its alternative plan
‘Pragmatic and patriotic view’
was rejected by MPs last night.
Mrs May faced a Tory backlash after ministerial aide Alberto Costa was forced to resign for tabling an amendment to protect the rights of EU citizens, which the Government later accepted.
The Spectator magazine revealed Mrs May had hit back at criticism that she was too bound by her civil servants, telling MPs at a private meeting: ‘I don’t just do what [Brexit negotiator] Olly Robbins tells me.’
A National Audit Office report on Brexit preparations at the border revealed ‘alarming’ shortcomings.
Disgraced former Labour MP Fiona Onasanya failed to show up last night for the first Commons vote since her release from jail over her conviction for lying about a speeding offence.
The prospect of a delay sparked angry recriminations against Remain ministers who forced Mrs May’s hand by threatening to resign to back a move by Labour’s Yvette Cooper and Tory Sir Oliver Letwin that would allow Parliament to control Brexit.
Miss Cooper did not force her plan to a vote last night in the wake of assurances from Mrs May that MPs would get the chance to block a No Deal Brexit on March 29. But Sir Oliver warned that Parliament would force the Government to pursue a softer Brexit if there was a delay.
Former Tory Cabinet minister Dame Caroline Spelman and Labour’s Jack Dromey, who have spearheaded attempts to rule out No Deal, also hinted they would seek a softer deal.
The prospect of delay prompted growing alarm among Tory MPs who rejected Mrs May’s deal last month.
Nadine Dorries said: ‘The consequences of not passing the deal on March 12 are too great. We could end up extending Article 50 and Brexit not happening.’ Sir Edward Leigh said: ‘If you want to avoid a damaging No Deal or no Brexit, vote for the deal.’
Ex-minister Sir Mike Penning said dozens of Tory MPs would back Mrs May if she secured enough movement on the backstop to satisfy the DUP.
Robert Halfon, another former minister, said: ‘I didn’t vote for the deal because I was worried about being tied into a spaghetti of EU bureaucracy without a say. However, I will vote for the deal on March 12.’