‘Gaukeward squad’ of rebels plot against PM’S Brexit strategy
THE so-called “Gaukeward squad” of Tory ministerial rebels will meet early next week to plot ways to stop a no-deal Brexit.
The Daily Telegraph has learnt that a meeting has been scheduled between Philip Hammond, the former chancellor, and his former cabinet colleagues David Gauke, Greg Clark and Rory Stewart to discuss ways to thwart Boris Johnson’s do-or-die Brexit pledge with other rebel Tory MPS.
It comes after they were among 20 Remainer rebels who sent a letter to Mr Johnson earlier this week warning him that his demand for Brussels to scrap the Irish backstop had “set the bar so high that there is no realistic probability of a deal being done”.
A source inside the pro-remain group said: “There’s going to be a tactics meeting early next week now they’re all back from holiday. They know they’ve only got a limited timeframe so have got to act quickly.”
Yesterday, Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general, was forced to distance himself from a plot by Jeremy Corbyn to oust Mr Johnson from office.
Guto Bebb, the Tory MP and former defence minister, urged MPS to take Mr Corbyn’s proposals “seriously”, saying: “A short-term Jeremy Corbyn government is less damaging than the generational damage that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit.”
Mr Grieve and fellow rebels Sir Oliver Letwin, Dame Caroline Spelman and Nick Boles agreed to meet Mr Corbyn to discuss plans for him take power for an interim period to delay Brexit and campaign for a second referendum.
The move prompted outrage from Mr Grieve’s Conservative Association in his constituency of Beaconsfield, where Jackson Ng, its chairman, accused him of “un-conservative” behaviour.
David Jones, the former Brexit minister, said Conservative members would be “entirely justified” in deselecting any Tory MPS who decided to conspire with Mr Corbyn.
He said: “It is hard to believe that any Conservative MPS would willingly become useful idiots for an individual such as Jeremy Corbyn.”
Mr Grieve signalled he would not be backing the Labour plan, instead saying he was open to working with likeminded MPS to prevent a “catastrophic” no deal.
“In that context, I’m prepared to speak to any parliamentarian who shares that view, including the Leader of the Opposition. If he is against no deal, I’m happy to talk. That is very different to thinking he is an appropriate figure to lead a government,” he said.
Dame Caroline and Mr Boles have already ruled out propping up a Corbynled government. Sir Oliver is due to break his silence on the issue today.
The Independent Group for Change Party also ruled out its support along with a number of anti-corbyn Labour MPS, leaving the leader’s plot in tatters.
Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said the plan was “nonsense” and has maintained her view that any emergency government should be led by someone less divisive than Mr Corbyn.