Bribes of Brexit
Democratic Unionists over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop. Cabinet Office minister David Lidington told MSPS at Holyrood that if it the backstop insurance policy is ever used, the rest of the UK is likely to adopt the same single market regime in Northern Ireland – an idea which was quickly rubbished by the DUP.
But there have been reports May’s team are planning other sweeteners to try to persuade rebel MPS to change their mind. Questions were raised over the timing of a knighthood handed to former minister John Hayes MP, who was known to be wavering on whether or not to support the Brexit deal.
However, he later said: “As I’ve made very clear before my honour, I cannot support the deal as it now stands.” The warning that Mrs May will use all means necessary to win support came as she suffered the seventh resignation from her Cabinet since publication of the Brexit withdrawal agreement less than three weeks ago.
Sam Gyimah, who was Universities and Science Minister and voted to remain in the EU, dismissed her agreement with Brussels as a “deal in name only” and pledged to vote against it. He is being tipped to come out in support of a second referendum – a so-called People’s Vote. After resigning, Gyimah said Britain was giving up “our voice, our veto and our vote” in Europe. SNP Europe and Foreign Affairs spokesman Stephen Gethins MP said his resignation confirmed the deal is “dead in the water”.
He added: “Parliament will not be bullied into a May Deal or No Deal vote.” Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “Theresa May’s Government continues to fall apart in front of our eyes.
“May’s botched deal is failing because it would be bad for Britain and people are waking up to that.” However, Environment Secretary Michael Gove, a key figure in the Vote Leave campaign, urged Tory Brexiteers to get behind the agreement.
He warned that Brexit could be “in peril” if the agreement was voted down but some critics have accused him of trying to position himself as a contender if the Prime Minister is forced out.