May to face MPS in bid to save deal
THERESA May will face Tory MPS today as she battles to save her premiership and her Brexit deal.
The Prime Minister will address the Conservative backbench 1922 Committee as MPS consider alternatives to her Brexit strategy after seizing control of the Commons timetable.
The prospect of MPS voting in support of a soft Brexit or second referendum appears to be winning some Tory Eurosceptics round to reluctantly backing her deal, but there has been widespread speculation that others might demand Mrs May sets out the timetable for her departure as the price for their support.
Meanwhile, Mrs May was braced for further Commons revolts today, with Cabinet ministers demanding free votes on the various Brexit options set to be presented and Eurosceptics poised to reject the domestic legislation delaying the date of the UK’S exit from the EU.
The Government defeat on Monday night saw three ministers resign as 30 Tories rebelled to back Sir Oliver Letwin’s amendment to give MPS control of the Commons agenda in order to seek a Brexit plan which can command a majority. But Eurosceptics who have so far opposed the Prime Minister’s Withdrawal Agreement signalled they could now back it, with influential backbencher Jacob Rees-mogg saying “the choice seems to be Mrs May’s deal or no Brexit”.
“I have always thought that no deal is better than Mrs May’s deal, but Mrs May’s deal is better than not leaving at all,” the European Research Group chairman said on a Conservativehome podcast.
He added that Brexit may now be a “process rather than an event” and it could take time to fully break away from Brussels.
Former whip Michael Fabricant said he had reached the same “dreadful conclusion” on Mrs May’s deal and a new prime minister would be able to negotiate a “better and more distanced relationship” with the EU after Brexit.
After a marathon Cabinet meeting lasting more than two hours, Mrs May’s official spokesman said: “If we are able to hold and win a vote this week, we would then be able to leave the EU in less than two months’ time with a deal, which the Prime Minister firmly believes is what the public wants.”
It was “extremely unlikely” the deal would return today, but it would need to be held this week in order to guarantee meeting the terms set by the EU for the extension of Article 50 to the new Brexit day on May 22.
Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said the Prime Minister was having ongoing discussions “so that we can, if possible this week, approve the deal and guarantee Brexit”.
She also indicated that the Commons’ Easter recess, due to begin on April 5, could be cancelled because time was needed to find a way forward or pass the necessary legislation for the deal and “the country will rightly expect Parliament to be working flat out in either scenario”.