Two more Tories quit in more agony for PM

May’s Brexit deal is ‘worst of all worlds’, say former vice-chairmen amid threat of no-confidence vote

By Steven Swinford

and Christopher Hope THERESA MAY’S attempts to shore up her authority suffered a fresh blow yesterday after two vice-chairmen of the Conservative Party quit and warned her Brexit plan will lead directly to Jeremy Corbyn’s election as Prime Minister.

Maria Caulfield and Ben Bradley stepped down over the Prime Minister’s Chequer’s compromise, describing it as the “worst of all worlds” and warning that it will cost the party votes.

It comes after Mrs May was hit by the resignation of both Boris Johnson and David Davis on Monday over the plans.

Eurosceptics warned that there will be a “domino effect” after they quit.

Ms Caulfield said in her letter that the customs backstop – which would tie Britain to the EU in the event that there is no solution to the Irish border issue – is “bad for our country and bad for our party … The direct consequences of that will be Prime Minister Corbyn”.

Mr Bradley warned that the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan will fail to deliver “Brexit in spirit as well as name”.

“We are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to Number 10,” he said.

It came as Tory Eurosceptics warned Theresa May that she has a week to abandon her Chequers compromise or she will face a vote of no confidence in her leadership.

Senior Brexiteers said that they have enough “letters in hand” to trigger a confidence vote and will submit them unless she hardens her stance on Brexit.

“If the policy does not change; the letters will go in,” a Eurosceptic Tory MP said. “Her deal will be rejected by Brussels, Downing Street must know that. They are either being incompetent of disingenuous.”

Another senior Eurosceptic said that whips have been “twisting the arms” of Tory MPS in a bid to stop them submit- ting their letters.

“They’re just trying to get through to the summer recess,” the MP said. “If they can make it without a confidence vote they think it’ll take the heat out of this. It won’t.”

However, significant splits among Tory Eurosceptics were yesterday exposed on a Whatsapp group of Tory MPS.

Laurence Robertson, a Eurosceptic MP, said on Whatsapp that Brexiteers who back Mrs May’s plans are “sycophants and careerists”.

“The rest of us will be fighting for the future of our country,” he said. “Those will be the battle lines”.

Ms Caulfield said that those backing the Prime Minister do not have “her and the country’s best interest at heart”. It came as Dominic Raab, the new Brexit Secretary, has been told to ramp up preparations for “no deal” after Tory Eurosceptics vowed to defeat Theresa May’s Chequers agreement.

The Prime Minister has told Mr Raab that she will be in charge of negotiations with Brussels and that he should focus on preparing the ground at home.

Tom Watson, Labour’s Deputy Leader, yesterday said that Labour is keeping the option of a second referendum open in case Parliament cannot decide a way forward.