Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
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May delays Brexit vote over fears of huge defeat She’ll re-negotiate with EU but Commons in limbo
THERESA May came under fire from all sides yesterday after she plunged the country into chaos by shelving today’s crucial Brexit vote.
The wobbly PM was accused of “pathetic cowardice” by SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Tories and Labour lined up to attack her over the U-turn, taken to avoid a humiliating loss.
Deluded Mrs May had spent the past days confident she could win the poll, despite widespread criticism from her own party, a string of resignations and the threat of a vote of no-confidence in her leadership. But the penny finally dropped over the reality and she caved in to pressure from the Cabinet.
Tory Mark Francois branded the surrender
“shameful” and added: “The Government has run away and hidden in the toilets.”
Brexiteer Jacob Rees-mogg warned the prospect of a nodeal Brexit had increased. He added: “It was as humiliating for the Government to pull the vote as to lose by 100.”
In a fiery Commons debate, humiliated Mrs May tried to placate furious MPS by declaring she will go back to Brussels to renegotiate her Brexit deal, which more than 100 had already said they oppose. And she will today embark on a whirlwind tour of EU leaders in a desperate bid to win concessions over the Irish backstop.
But in an immediate crushing blow, European Council president Donald Tusk declared: “We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop.”
The PM refused to say when the poll would eventually come – raising fears she plans to hold off until right before the UK crashes out of the EU.
Opposition MPS called for a vote of no confidence in the Government and Jeremy Corbyn said: “This Prime Minister is trying to buy herself one last chance to save this deal. If she doesn’t take on board the fundamental changes required then she must make way for those who can.”
Veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner taunted the PM by declaring: “Mrs Thatcher had a word for it, what she’s done for it. F-R-I-T. She’s frit.”
The DUP’S Nigel Dodds – which props up Mrs May’s fragile government – said: “The Prime Minister must come back with changes to the withdrawal agreement including the backstop or her deal will be voted down.”
Speaker John Bercow slammed Mrs May for axing the vote and called for MPS to have a say last night on whether it should go ahead or not. The plea was ignored and he branded No10 “deeply discourteous”.
The PM’S job looked increasingly precarious as rumours swirled round Westminster that more angry backbenchers would submit no-confidence letters in her, edging the number closer to the 48 needed.
Several high-profile Tories, including Boris Johnson, have already hinted they will try to topple her.
Remain protesters gathered outside Parliament last night, but Mrs May ruled out a second referendum. To add to the confusion of a dramatic day in politics, No10 sources suggested a fresh poll was looking increasingly likely.
Former PM David Cameron last night insisted he does not regret calling the Brexit vote that divided Britain. He said: “I made a promise to call a referendum.”
In a separate issue, Mrs May shrugged off a European Court of Justice ruling that Britain can ditch Brexit without permission from Brussels.
She said: “Revoking Article 50 would mean going back on the vote of the referendum.”
Shameful. Government has run away and hidden in the toilets MARK FRANCOIS TORY ON MRS MAY’S SUDDEN U-TURN