GREAT NO-DEAL REVOLT
÷Tory rebels vote against PM to make it harder to leave EU ÷Cabinet opponents of No Deal openly mock hardline Brexiteers
THERESA May suffered a major revolt over the prospect of a no-deal Brexit last night.
In a show of strength, 20 Tory MPs joined forces with Labour to defeat the Government by 303 votes to 296.
Although seen as largely symbolic, the Commons vote will limit the Treasury’s ability to respond to a no-deal situation. It was thought to be the first defeat in 40 years for a Finance Bill, which is used to enact the Budget.
The Tory rebels included 17 former ministers, six of whom had served at Cabinet level. Among them were Sir Michael Fallon, Kenneth Clarke, Justine Greening, Nicky Morgan, Sir Oliver Letwin and Dominic Grieve.
They said it was the first shot in a campaign of ‘guerrilla warfare’ designed to forced the Government to abandon any attempt to leave the EU without a deal. Former Tory minister Nick Boles said: ‘We’ll be seeking to use any and every opportunity to show that Parliament will not allow a no-deal Brexit. This is a single skirmish in a long campaign.’
It came just hours after opponents of a no-deal Brexit in the Prime Minister’s Cabinet made their opposition clear to force her to rule the option out.
With no sign of a breakthrough that could save Mrs May’s Brexit plan from a mauling by MPs next week, a tense Cabinet meeting heard that a no-deal exit could even lead to the break-up of the UK, with ministers told Scotland and Northern Ireland could leave the Union.
Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd told the meeting: ‘History will take a dim view of a Cabinet that presses ahead with no deal.’
Business Secretary Greg Clark said a no-deal Brexit ‘should not be contemplated’. Michael Gove suggested there was no sign that Tory Eurosceptics, who he dubbed ‘the oldest swingers in town’, were preparing to back down.
The Environment Secretary broke the tension by joking that hardline Tory MPs were ‘like 50-year-olds at the end of the disco, who have turned down all other offers and are waiting for Scarlett Johansson to come along.’ Miss Rudd chipped in: ‘Or Pierce Brosnan.’
Cabinet sources said the Prime Minister appeared to accept the possibility that her deal will be defeated next week, saying she would ‘move quickly’ to make a statement on her next steps.
But – to the frustration of ministers present – she gave no clue as to what her next move would be, except to rule out a second referendum. The row came as:
The Prime Minister told a meeting of 200 MPs opposed to no deal that she was not willing to rule out the option;
Downing Street confirmed the vote on her Brexit withdrawal agreement will finally be held next Tuesday;
The Treasury told ministers there would be a fast-track process to release Government cash in cases where the fallout from a no-deal Brexit could cause ‘serious damage to human welfare’;
German foreign minister Heiko Maas urged MPs to back Mrs May’s plan, saying it was time to ‘act responsibly’;
Number Ten denied that Brexit could be delayed beyond the planned date of March 29.
Government sources insisted last night the impact of the Commons defeat would be ‘inconvenient, rather than anything more significant’ for the Treasury.
The amendment to the Finance Bill was proposed by former Labour minister Yvette Cooper and former Tory education secretary Nicky Morgan.
It will make it harder for the Treasury to make technical changes to operate the tax system after a no-deal Brexit.
Miss Cooper said: ‘This vote shows the strength of concern across the Commons about the dangers no deal could pose to manufacturing industry, jobs, food prices, policing and security.’
Former Cabinet minister Sir Oliver Letwin told the Commons he was defying his party whip for only the second time in his life because Britain was not ready for no deal.
Yesterday’s Cabinet meeting was meant to discuss tactics for winning the ‘meaningful vote’ on the withdrawal plan, which was cancelled last month.
Commons leader Andrea Leadsom called for the vote to be hinged on Brussels agreeing concessions.
But the idea was rejected, with ministers fearing that putting conditions on the deal would lead to a breakdown in relations with Brussels.
Emergency cash will be given to ministers if a no-deal Brexit threatens to cause ‘serious damage to human welfare’ or ‘loss of life’. Treasury Chief Secretary Liz Truss has told departments how to apply for funds to deal with emergency ‘civil contingencies’.
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