BREXIT IN CRISIS

BORIS Johnson accused Theresa May of betrayal last night amid a ferocious Brexiteer backlash at the Prime Minister’s decision to reach out to Jeremy Corbyn.

The former foreign secretary and potential Tory leadership contender fiercely criticised Mrs May’s ‘bitterly disappointing’ move and vowed to vote against any deal agreed with the Labour leader.

Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the European Research Group, said Mrs May’s decision had cost her the support of her party. And leading Brexiteer Iain Duncan Smith said it was ‘absolutely appalling’ to reach out to ‘one of the most politically dangerous and incompetent politicians in Britain’.

But Tory Eurosceptics faced a backlash in turn from fellow Conservative MPs, who blamed them for refusing to vote for the Prime Minister’s deal initially and forcing her to seek a compromise.

Mr Johnson, who quit over Mrs May’s original Brexit deal, said it was ‘bitterly disappointing... that the Cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Jeremy Corbyn’. He added that the prospect of a ‘Corbyn-controlled customs union’ meant the Government would not deliver on what the British people were promised when they voted to leave.

He tweeted: ‘The PM and Cabinet have concluded that any deal is better than no deal, and this is truly a very bad deal indeed – one that leaves us being run by the EU.

‘I can under no circumstances vote for a deal involving a customs union as I believe that does not deliver on the referendum.’ Mr Rees-Mogg warned that collaborating with a ‘known Marxist’ would cost Mrs May the support of her party. Asked whether it would cost her votes, he said: ‘You do find that leaders who decide to go with the opposition rather than their own party find their own party doesn’t plainly follow.

‘I’m not sure this is the way to conciliate people to persuade them if they haven’t moved already to move at this stage. I think getting the support of a known Marxist is not likely to instil confidence in Conservatives.’

A fellow ERG member said: ‘I’m shocked, appalled and dismayed.’

Another said: ‘The customs union was specifically ruled out by the Conservative manifesto. And you have the Prime Minister planning to push through a customs union with Labour votes.

‘It came as a real shock. It came as a deep shock. To stay in the customs union once we’ve left the European Union is appalling.’

Former party leader Mr Duncan Smith said Mrs May’s decision would be toxic for the party.

‘For us to reach out to a Marxist, one of the most politically dangerous and incompetent politicians in Britain, will legitimise Corbyn,’ he said. ‘It will be astonishing to any Conservative and will be devastating to council candidates up and down the country as they run for May elections. We are all utterly bemused.’

But Tory MPs accused their Eurosceptic colleagues of missing a chance to vote for the best Brexit deal on the table.

Andrew Percy said: ‘The reason we haven’t left the EU is because of the actions of certain Brexiteer MPs. They have forced the Prime Minister into this position by voting down her deal.

‘Add into that the fact the Commons will not allow No Deal, and the PM has run out of all other options but this.’ Simon Hart added: ‘They can’t be surprised. This was always the likely consequence of rejecting the deal.’

Speaking after an ERG meeting last night, Mr Rees-Mogg said there had been no discussion of whether Tory MPs would side with Mr Corbyn if he triggers a no-confidence motion in the Government.

But earlier, former Brexit secretary David Davis has warned that 20 so-called ‘Spartans’ could vote against the Government.

He claimed Eurosceptic MPs could put their views on leaving ahead of party ties. Mr Davis told the BBC: ‘I’d only make one warning to the Cabinet... don’t be sure that every Conservative MP would vote for you if it was made a confidence vote. One or two of them have said already... and, I think, probably about 20 of them would say, this, actually, is so important, it’s the future of our country.

‘It’s our destiny at stake. It’s more important than the Tory party.’

Mr Rees-Mogg disputed the figure, saying: ‘I think very few Tories would ever vote for Mr Corbyn against Mrs May, so the figure of 20 seems high.’

If the Government lost a no confidence vote, it would have 14 days to regain MPs’ support – or an election is triggered. There has been speculation that hardliners could vote no confidence in the Government to oust Mrs May, but then restore confidence days later under a new, interim Tory leader.

The Cabinet has decided to entrust the final handling of Brexit to Corbyn ... Under no circumstances can I vote for a deal involving a customs union Boris Johnson last night

‘Shocked, appalled and dismayed’