‘This is a decisive step which enables
Theresa May won the support of her Cabinet for a draft EU divorce deal, but faces an anxious wait for a possible leadership challenge from angry Brexiteers.
The Prime Minister emerged from a marathon five-hour meeting of senior ministers yesterday evening saying there had been “collective decision” on the draft withdrawal terms that hinted at continued deep divisions within her government.
Earlier she was put on notice by the Scottish Secretary David Mundell and the rest of the Scottish Conservative group at Westminster, who warned they would not support a deal that fails to honour promises made to fishermen.
Mrs May said there had been a “long, detailed and impassioned debate” on the Brexit deal and warned the only choices for MPS were to back her deal, send the UK crashing out of the EU without a deal or risk there being no Brexit at all.
Speaking outside Number 10, the Prime Minister said: “I firmly believe that the draft withdrawal agreement was the best that could be negotiated and it was for the Cabinet to decide whether to move on in the talks. The choices before us were difficult, particularly in relation to the Northern Ireland backstop, but the collective decision of Cabinet was that the government should agree the draft withdrawal agreement and the outline political declaration.”
Mrs May added: “This is a decisive step which enables us to move on and finalise the deal in the days ahead.
“These decisions were not taken lightly, but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest.”
The Prime Minister announced she would make a statement to the House of Commons today and concluded: “I firmly believe, with my head and my heart, that this is a decision which is in the best
THERESA MAY
interests of the United Kingdom.”
In Brussels, the EU’S chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, hailed agreement on the withdrawal text, but said the road to avoid a disorderly Brexit was “still long and may be difficult”.
Mrs May must now attempt to navigate the deal through Parliament despite her allies in the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) condemning plans to allow Northern Ireland to stay aligned with EU single market regulations. Several of her own MPS also committed to voting against the agreement.
There was growing speculation last night that Brexiteers were preparing to trigger a leadership challenge. It is understood nine members of Cabinet – roughly a third – opposed the deal, with several reported to be considering their positions.
Sources close to the European Research Group (ERG) of backbench Tories signalled its members were preparing to send letters of no confidence to the chairman of the party’s 1922 Committee. A leadership challenge must be held if 48 letters are submitted.
Cabinet ministers entered Downing Street for the marathon meeting at 2pm, having been given access to the 585page draft withdrawal agreement and an annexe outlining the UK’S future relationship with the EU.
At Prime Minister’s Questions, there were signs of significant unrest among Mrs May’s own MPS, with the Conservative backbencher Peter Bone telling her: “If media reports about the EU agreement are in any way accurate, you are not delivering the Brexit people voted for and today you will lose the support of many Conservative MPS and millions of voters.”
Publication of a leaked briefing note from deputy EU negotiator Sabine Weyand to ambassadors from the 27 other member states added to Brexiteer anger. It claimed the draft deal would mean the UK aligned its rules with Europe, while the EU “will retain all the controls”. The leaked note suggested Ms Weyand said the UK “would have to swallow a link between access to products and fisheries in future agreements” and it also indicated that close customs alignment should remain indefinitely.
Around 35 members of the ERG met at Westminster on Tuesday night and were addressed by the group’s leader Jacob Rees-mogg. An
“These decisions were not taken lightly but I believe it is a decision that is firmly in the national interest”
ERG source told journalists its members were resolutely opposed to the deal, one quoted saying: “This is war.”
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “This isn’t Brexit, it’s not even close to Brexit. If it were darts, it’s not missing the board, this is not even the right wall.” In an apparent response to Ms Weyand’s comments, the Prime Minister said at PMQS: “I am aware of the concerns that there are, that we don’t want to be in a position where the European Union would find it comfortable to keep the UK in the backstop permanently. That’s why any backstop has to be temporary.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned Britain will be left in an “indefinite half-way house” by the proposed withdrawal deal.