Grayling: Wrecking our EU exit will let in far-Right extremists

BRITAIN will witness a surge in neo-Nazi extremist groups if MPs block or weaken Brexit, a Cabinet minister warns today.

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said the 17million who voted to leave the European Union would feel ‘cheated’ by moves to water down Theresa May’s deal or thwart our exit.

This would have grave implications for our democracy, he said, ending centuries of moderate politics.

In a chilling intervention, Mr Grayling said blocking Brexit could end the 350 years of ‘moderate’ politics Britain has enjoyed since the bloody English Civil War.

Doing so would provoke more ‘nasty’ incidents such as this week’s ‘Nazi’ taunts at pro-Remain Tory MP Anna Soubry outside Parliament, he argued. It would also play into the hands of ‘disturbing’ extremists such as ex-English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson, who has been tipped to take over Ukip.

Brexiteer Mr Grayling, one of Mrs May’s closest Cabinet allies, also warned fellow Eurosceptic Conservatives they will rue the day if they join forces with pro-Remain Tories and kill off the Prime Minister’s deal in Tuesday’s crunch Commons vote.

He told the Mail: ‘This is too important for political game-playing... back the deal. If

not, we risk a break with the British tradition of moderate, mainstream politics that goes back to the Restoration in 1660.

‘Britain, its people and its traditions are the mother of Parliaments. We ignore that and the will of the people at our peril.’

His remarks came amid reports that Mrs May could lose the vote by up to 200 votes.

But the Transport Secretary, who has known the Prime Minister for more than 20 years and led her successful Tory leadership campaign in 2016, praised her ‘Churchillian’ resilience.

He said: ‘Many people in history eventually succeeded just by keeping going, not giving up. “Keep b **** ring on,” as Churchill said. The public can see she is determined and doing her best for the country.’

Mr Grayling stopped short of predicting riots if Brexit is weakened or reversed.

But he added: ‘People should not underestimate this. We would see a different tone in our politics... It will open the door to extremist populist political forces.’

He said reports Tommy Robinson could become Ukip’s next leader were ‘deeply disturbing’, adding: ‘There’s already a nastiness and unpleasantness in our politics, more people with extreme views, more people willing to behave in an uncivilised way.’