May’s Brexit D-day
May calls her ministers in to drum up vital support But she faces revolt as Brexiteers slam proposals
THERESA May faces the biggest fight of her political life today as she tries to sell her Cabinet the Brexit deal she has finally bagged with Brussels.
The Prime Minister hauled her top team in for one-to-one meetings last night as she tried to win support ahead of presenting the blueprint this afternoon.
And if she is not backed in the crunch session or is rocked by a wave of protest resignations, she is likely to be toppled in a rebellion.
A spokesman for No10 said: “Cabinet will meet at 2pm to consider the draft agreement and to decide on next steps. Ministers have been invited to read documentation ahead of that meeting.”
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey were among Brexiteers filing into No10 last night.
They are thought to be uneasy about compromises with Brussels, fuelling claims they could quit.
Senior Tories feared ministers could even walk before the Cabinet meeting if they do not like the deal.
If the Cabinet backs her, it paves the way for an emergency EU summit later this month. She is desperate to win support by midnight tonight so bloc leaders can put the summit in their diaries.
Failure would raise the chances of a no-deal scenario – which Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab updated ministers on preparations for yesterday.
But even with Cabinet backing, Mrs May faces a Commons fight and must keep the DUP onside to maintain her fragile majority.
DUP deputy leader
Nigel Dodds said: “The trick will be, can she satisfy everyone? It is going to be a very, very hard sell.”
Brexiteer Tories have already blasted the plan with Jacob ReesMogg saying: “If what we have heard is true, this fails to meet the manifesto and many commitments the Prime Minister makes.
“It would keep us in the customs union and de facto in the single market. This is the vassal state, it is a failure to deliver on Brexit.” Boris Johnson echoed him, saying: “It’s vassal state stuff.” The former foreign secretary, who wants Mrs May’s job, urged ministers to quit over the planned deal and “chuck it out”. He said: “It is utterly Corbyn unacceptable to anyone who believes in democracy. I don’t see how you can support it from a democratic point of view. “I don’t see how a Unionist can support it and I don’t see how you can if you believe in the politicaleconomic freedom of this country.”
The draft comes after negotiators won a race against time. We leave the EU on March 29 and any deal needs approval from the Cabinet, EU Council, UK Parliament and European Parliament.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “We will look at the details when available. But from the shambolic handling of negotiations, this is unlikely to be a good deal.”
Today’s meeting comes 29 hours after Mrs May said a “small number” of issues remained.
Talks had stalled over a “backstop” to prevent border controls between Northern Ireland and the Republic in a no-deal exit.
Progress was made as yesterday wore on, with officials shuttling details of a “technical agreement” between Brussels and London. By 4pm, No10 felt enough progress had been made to present a deal.
The deal is understood to involve an overall backstop for the UK with deeper customs and regulations provisions for Northern Ireland.
Meanwhile, No10 folded to pressure and agreed to reveal the “legal position” on a withdrawal deal.