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May vows to resign before next phase of Brexit if deal is passed May vows to resign before next phase of Brexit if deal is passed
(about 1 hour later)
Theresa May has played her final desperate card to tame Brexit rebels in her warring party, by promising to sacrifice her premiership if they back her twice-rejected Brexit deal. Theresa May has played her final desperate card to tame the Brexit rebels in her warring party, by promising to sacrifice her premiership if they back her twice-rejected Brexit deal.
The beleaguered prime minister, whose authority has been shattered by the double defeat of her deal and a stream of resignations, made the high-stakes offer to Tory backbenchers at a packed meeting in Westminster. The beleaguered prime minister, whose authority has been shattered by the double rejection of her deal and the humiliation of a delay to Brexit day, made the offer to Tory backbenchers at a packed meeting in parliament.
“I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party. I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations – and I won’t stand in the way of that,” she told the backbench 1922 Committee. It came as MPs held backbench-led “indicative votes” on eight alternative Brexit options, including no-deal, a referendum, a customs union and a Norway-style deal – none of which secured a majority.
“I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party,” she said. May told her party’s backbench 1922 Committee: “I have heard very clearly the mood of the parliamentary party. I know there is a desire for a new approach – and new leadership – in the second phase of the Brexit negotiations, and I won’t stand in the way of that.”
May’s frantic pledge came on another dramatic day in Westminster, as: She added: “I am prepared to leave this job earlier than I intended in order to do what is right for our country and our party.”
• Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith led a stream of Eurosceptics to support the deal. Her high-stakes pledge came on another dramatic day in Westminster, as:
• MPs rejected every one of the eight alternatives to May’s deal debated in a day-long process of “indicative votes”. • Boris Johnson and Iain Duncan Smith led a stream of Eurosceptics to support May’s deal.
• Labour’s divisions on Brexit were exposed, as three shadow ministers defied the whip to resist backing a second referendum. • MPs failed to coalesce around an alternative to the deal in a series of “indicative votes”.
• Labour’s divisions on Brexit were exposed, as three members of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet defied the whip to resist backing a second referendum.
• The DUP threw May’s chances of getting her deal through parliament into doubt by saying its MPs would not support it.• The DUP threw May’s chances of getting her deal through parliament into doubt by saying its MPs would not support it.
The prime minister had hoped to remain in 10 Downing Street after exit day, and build a legacy that extended beyond the humiliations of the Brexit talks, to domestic policy. The prime minister had hoped to remain in No 10 after exit day, and build a legacy that extended beyond the humiliations of the Brexit talks to domestic policy.
But if the withdrawal agreement is passed and Britain leaves the EU in eight weeks’ time, she could now be gone before the summer – after less than two years in the top job. But if the withdrawal agreement is passed and Britain leaves the EU in eight weeks’ time, she could now be gone before the summer – after just three years in the top job.
Ministers now hope to make a third attempt to ram May’s deal through the House of Commons on Friday – though their prospects of success were thrown into doubt after the DUP said its 10 MPs would vote against. Three ministers resigned on Monday to back an amendment tabled by a cross-bench group of MPs led by the Tory former minister Oliver Letwin to test the backing for alternatives to the prime minister’s deal.
May had been under intense pressure to set out a timetable for her departure, as the leave-supporting wing of her party continued to resist supporting her deal – which was defeated by a majority of 149 earlier this month. On Wednesday night, Letwin said it was “a great matter of disappointment” that no majority had emerged for any of the eight options debated that day. He said another set of votes would be held on Monday – but he hoped that May’s deal would be accepted before then.
The closest result was on a commitment for the government to negotiate a “permanent and comprehensive UK-wide customs union with the EU” in any Brexit deal. Put forward by the pro-EU Tory veteran Ken Clarke and others, it was voted down by 272 votes to 264.
The only other relatively close vote was on a plan drawn up by the Labour MPs Peter Kyle and Phil Wilson, and tabled by the former foreign secretary Margaret Beckett, to require a referendum to confirm any Brexit deal. This was lost by 268 votes to 295.
Backers of a referendum said the result showed they were gaining ground. Labour’s deputy leader Tom Watson said: “When this parliament has finally made a decision on what Brexit means, I am hopeful that a majority will emerge for any final proposal to be put to a vote, not only by MPs, but also by the people.”
However, 27 Labour MPs defied a three-line whip to vote against a referendum, with one shadow minister, Melanie Onn, resigning in order to do so and three shadow cabinet members abstaining.
May was forced to give her MPs a free vote – and instructed her cabinet to abstain – rather than suffer a string of resignations from ministers keen to signal their support for alternatives.
The government had earlier tried and failed to stop the indicative vote process happening altogether, by whipping MPs to reject the business motion kicking off the debate.
The Brexit secretary, Steve Barclay, said: “The results of the process this House has gone through today strengthens our view that the deal the government has negotiated is the best option.”
Ministers now hope to make a third attempt to ram May’s deal through the House of Commons on Friday – though their prospects of success were thrown into doubt after the DUP said its 10 MPs would vote against it.
The prime minister had been under intense pressure to set out a timetable for her departure, as the leave-supporting wing of her party continued to resist supporting her deal, which was defeated by a majority of 149 earlier this month.
Outside the 1922 meeting, the Tory MP Simon Hart, who leads the Brexit Delivery Group, said: “She made it very clear: I want the next prime minister to be one of the colleagues in there tonight, not down the corridor at the PLP [parliamentary Labour party] meeting.”Outside the 1922 meeting, the Tory MP Simon Hart, who leads the Brexit Delivery Group, said: “She made it very clear: I want the next prime minister to be one of the colleagues in there tonight, not down the corridor at the PLP [parliamentary Labour party] meeting.”
'I hear what you're saying' - How May told Tory MPs she will quit before next phase of Brexit: live news
The response from MPs was “respectful recognition for her hard work and service, not celebration”, he said.The response from MPs was “respectful recognition for her hard work and service, not celebration”, he said.
Several of the most determined Brexit holdouts, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Iain Duncan Smith and Boris Johnson, were invited to the prime minister’s country retreat of Chequers on Sunday.Several of the most determined Brexit holdouts, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Iain Duncan Smith and Boris Johnson, were invited to the prime minister’s country retreat of Chequers on Sunday.
They denied that any pact about her departure had been made; but just minutes after May’s emotional promise, Johnson told colleagues at the European Research Group (ERG) that he would now support the deal, saying the next phase of talks would have to have a “change of tone and mandate”.They denied that any pact about her departure had been made; but just minutes after May’s emotional promise, Johnson told colleagues at the European Research Group (ERG) that he would now support the deal, saying the next phase of talks would have to have a “change of tone and mandate”.
Rees-Mogg had already suggested he could vote for it, fearing that the takeover of parliament in which backbenchers spent Wednesday debating proposals for softening or reversing Brexit meant May’s deal was now the only way of ensuring Britain left the EU. Rees-Mogg said that if May’s deal did not pass, “she would have every right to carry on”.
Rees-Mogg said that if the deal did not pass, “she would have every right to carry on”. EU27 leaders granted Britain a delay to Brexit to 22 May in Brussels last week – but only if May’s deal wins the support of parliament this week. Downing Street suggested that a leadership contest could kick off soon afterwards, but only if her deal is passed.
Three ministers resigned on Monday to back an amendment tabled by a cross-bench group of MPs led by the Tory former minister Oliver Letwin, that cleared the parliamentary timetable on Wednesday – and next Monday – to test the backing for alternatives to the prime minister’s deal.
Letwin said it was “a great matter of disappointment” that no majority had emerged for any of the eight options debated. He said another set of votes would be held on Monday – but he hoped May’s deal would be accepted before then.
Although all eight were voted down, both a confirmatory referendum and a customs union won more votes than the 242 the prime minister’s deal received at the second meaningful vote earlier this month.
The government had tried and failed to prevent the indicative votes process taking place at all, by whipping MPs to reject the business motion kicking off the debate.
EU27 leaders granted Britain a delay to Brexit to 22 May in Brussels last week – but only if May’s deal wins the support of parliament this week. Downing Street suggested that a leadership contest could kick off soon afterwards, but only if her deal was passed.
If it is not supported this week, the prime minister must return to Brussels before 12 April to set out what she plans to do next – and potentially request a longer extension.If it is not supported this week, the prime minister must return to Brussels before 12 April to set out what she plans to do next – and potentially request a longer extension.
Ministers signalled that they would now hold an extra parliamentary session on Friday, in the hope of winning a third “meaningful vote” – if they can persuade enough Tory rebels to switch sides.Ministers signalled that they would now hold an extra parliamentary session on Friday, in the hope of winning a third “meaningful vote” – if they can persuade enough Tory rebels to switch sides.
The Speaker, John Bercow, stressed on Wednesday that he would not allow the government to table the same deal for a third meaningful vote.The Speaker, John Bercow, stressed on Wednesday that he would not allow the government to table the same deal for a third meaningful vote.
But ministers were considering plans to hold the first reading of the withdrawal agreement bill – giving MPs a vote on the flagship bill implementing the deal, rather than a similar motion.But ministers were considering plans to hold the first reading of the withdrawal agreement bill – giving MPs a vote on the flagship bill implementing the deal, rather than a similar motion.
May had already reassured colleagues that she would not fight the 2022 general election – the next date on which a contest is due – as she fought to overturn a vote of no confidence in her leadership last December.
And she had been widely expected to face a fresh challenge once the year-long breathing space she secured by winning that vote had expired.
Several cabinet ministers and a clutch of backbenchers have been making thinly disguised pitches for the premiership in recent months, with collective responsibility all but breaking down as rival contenders ensure their views become known.
The frontrunners will be Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove, but there is likely to be a wide range of candidates.
'I hear what you're saying' - How May told Tory MPs she will quit before next phase of Brexit: live news
The chief secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, said: “The prime minister gave a dignified and honest speech at the 1922. She cares deeply about our country and is a patriot. People must now support the deal and move us forward.”
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, responded to her promised departure by calling for a general election. “Theresa May’s pledge to Tory MPs to stand down if they vote for her deal shows once and for all that her chaotic Brexit negotiations have been about party management, not principles or the public interest. A change of government can’t be a Tory stitch-up – the people must decide,” he said.
Rees-Mogg, who has been hosting dinners at his Westminster house for backbenchers on behalf of Johnson, declined to say whom he would back in the leadership contest, saying: “The great joy of the Tory party is that it has so many talented people in it. It’s like finding a fast bowler in Yorkshire.”
A Conservative leadership contest has two stages.A Conservative leadership contest has two stages.
In the first part, MPs vote for their choice of leader from all of the candidates who have been nominated. In each round of voting, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the contest. MPs then vote again, until there are only two challengers remaining. This usually takes place over several days.In the first part, MPs vote for their choice of leader from all of the candidates who have been nominated. In each round of voting, the candidate with the least number of votes is eliminated from the contest. MPs then vote again, until there are only two challengers remaining. This usually takes place over several days.
At that point the second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose which of the two candidates they wish to lead the party.At that point the second stage is a postal ballot of Conservative party members to chose which of the two candidates they wish to lead the party.
In 2016 the party members did not get to vote. At the point that the contest had been narrowed down to a choice between Andrea Leadsom or Theresa May, Leadsom stood aside. This left Theresa May to become leader and prime minister unopposed.In 2016 the party members did not get to vote. At the point that the contest had been narrowed down to a choice between Andrea Leadsom or Theresa May, Leadsom stood aside. This left Theresa May to become leader and prime minister unopposed.
Under the existing rules, since she won a vote of no confidence in December 2018, Theresa May's leadership cannot be directly challenged. However, she would trigger a leadership contest by resigning, as she has now promised to do.Under the existing rules, since she won a vote of no confidence in December 2018, Theresa May's leadership cannot be directly challenged. However, she would trigger a leadership contest by resigning, as she has now promised to do.
A clear majority of Eurosceptics are now expected to get on board, but some Conservative MPs, such as Steve Baker, Bill Cash and Andrea Jenkyns, have so far been vocal about their intention never to back the deal. May had already been widely expected to face a fresh challenge once the yearlong breathing space she secured by defeating a no confidence vote last December had expired.
MPs will narrow what is expected to be a wide field of candidates for leader down to a pair of contenders, and party members will make the final choice. Several cabinet ministers and a clutch of backbenchers have been making thinly disguised pitches for the premiership in recent months, with collective responsibility all but breaking down as rival contenders ensure that their views become known.
The frontrunners will be Johnson, Jeremy Hunt, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove, but the range of candidates is likely to be wider.
Who will be in the running to replace Theresa May?Who will be in the running to replace Theresa May?
Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, responded to the prime minister’s promised departure by calling for a general election. “A change of government can’t be a Tory stitch-up – the people must decide,” he said.
Theresa MayTheresa May
BrexitBrexit
ConservativesConservatives
Conservative leadershipConservative leadership
European UnionEuropean Union
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