It’s ‘death cult vs the zom

THE Tories’ Brexit civil war descended into a slanging match yesterday after hardliners were branded a ‘death cult’ and a minister warned delaying the UK’s leaving date would plunge Britain into a ‘zombie world’.

As pressure builds ahead of the crunch vote on Theresa May’s Brexit deal on March 12, an ally of the Prime Minister is said to have taken an extraordinary swipe at the European Research Group (ERG) of Eurosceptic Conservative MPs.

A Downing Street insider described the group, which has more than 60 members, as a ‘death cult... growing around ERG deputy leader Steve Baker’, The Sunday Times reported.

Other prominent members of the ERG include chairman Jacob Rees-Mogg and former Cabinet ministers Esther McVey, Iain Duncan Smith and Priti Patel.

The description of the ERG as a death cult – a term more usually associated with terror groups such as Islamic State – drew an angry response from Mr Baker, who heard of it while helping out at his local church in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

Mr Baker said: ‘Bearing in mind I am on duty at church this morning, I deeply regret that Downing Street is reported to have told The Sunday Times of a “death cult” around me.

‘How appalling, unnecessary and unhelpful.’

No 10 has grown increasingly frustrated by the hardline stance adopted by some Brexiteers, who have been nicknamed ‘ultras’. Several senior politicians have also been extremely critical of the ERG, with energy