Says: I want to be part of solution
if ministers could have a free vote, as requested by Ms Mordaunt, Mrs May said: “There is Cabinet collective responsibility in this country. Government policy is government policy. There is Cabinet responsibility. The Government will put its policy to the House of Commons.”
Her words appeared to leave open the possibility of backbenchers getting a free vote — but that was later ruled out by No 10 sources.
Even more dangerously, the PM said she could not guarantee the support of the DUP in a Brexit vote. “When this vote comes back every individual MP will decide how they will vote, whether they are DUP, Conservative, Labour, all parties within the House of Commons,” she said.
Talking about Mr Gove today, Mrs May said: “I want all of my colleagues in the Cabinet to feel able to carry on doing the excellent job they are doing.” She added: “Michael has done a really important job at Defra ... and particularly doing a great job ... on the fishing industry.”
Mrs May spent 30 minutes answering questions from callers, including critics who branded her a “modern Neville Chamberlain” and one who said Mr Rees-Mogg should take over.
The Prime Minister is understood to be planning an intensive media drive to sell her agreement direct to the public.
Mrs May revealed her insulin supplies come from Denmark, meaning she is one of those facing medicine shortages in the event of a no-deal Brexit. “As it happens [my insulin] is produced by a company in the EU.”