‘It is time both May and her Brexit deal are ditched’
Head of Tory association in new Brexit Secretary’s constituency says she does not back Prime Minister
By Tony Diver, Mason Boycott-Owen
and Gordon Rayner
THE leader of the new Brexit Secretary’s constituency association has said that she does not support Theresa May’s EU withdrawal deal and that the Prime Minister should stand down, The Sunday Telegraph can disclose.
Jan French, chairman of Steve Barclay’s North East Cambridgeshire constituency association, is unhappy that Mrs May has allowed the UK to become “tied up in strings” and says “someone else needs to go in”.
At least five other chairmen of Cabinet ministers’ constituencies also believe Mrs May’s deal should be scrapped, with at least one other calling for her to go.
Mr Barclay, a former health minister, accepted the job of Brexit Secretary on Friday after it had been turned down by Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, and Geoffrey Cox, the Attorney General.
The role has been downgraded and he will only be in charge of Brexit planning, rather than being allowed to negotiate with the EU – a role which is now reserved entirely for Mrs May.
If Mr Barclay had been allowed to lock horns with negotiators in Brussels, he would have been at odds with the leader of the grassroots Tories in his constituency.
Ms French said: “I don’t understand why we can’t just leave without being tied up in strings. I’m not really sure if it’s possible now to renegotiate.”
While she has sympathy for Mrs May, she believes she should now step down. She said: “I have to say, she went in there and she got the leadership, she had no guidance and Cameron left her in the lurch. I think the time that she’s been there, it’s been a very tough, and if more MPs had given her more backing, then who knows?
“I’m not sure she can stay, unless she can get something a bit tougher. She’s done what she can, and someone else needs to go in.”
Anthony Marten, chairman of the East Hampshire constituency association of Damian Hinds, the Education Secretary, also believes Mrs May should go. He said: “There should be a new leader and that should happen as soon as possible. The next leader needs to be a leaver and someone who campaigned and voted to leave the EU. I don’t believe this is the deal people voted for.”
Twelve chairmen of Cabinet ministers’ constituencies responded to the The Telegraph’s survey, representing almost half of the Cabinet.
Six did not support Mrs May’s deal, and two did not support Mrs May continuing as leader.
Malcolm Johnstone, chairman of David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary’s association, said: “I’ve got grave concerns about the fact that we’re going to have parts of the UK treated separately. I don’t like that idea that this ‘is as good as we’re going to get’ – it’s like we’ve gone begging.”
Sandra Barnes, chairman in the constituency of Andrea Leadsom, the Leader of the Commons, said: “The deal is worse than staying in the EU.”
One chairman who remains anonymous said: “The party is on a knife edge as to whether she should stay or go. It’s time for another face. It’s been a pretty bruising process for Theresa May.”