This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/03/theresa-may-warned-brexit-pact-with-corbyn-could-tear-tories-apart

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Theresa May warned Brexit pact with Corbyn could tear Tories apart Two ministers quit over May's offer to work with Corbyn on Brexit
(about 5 hours later)
Theresa May has been warned that a pact with Jeremy Corbyn to deliver a Brexit deal could destroy the Conservative party, as Eurosceptic MPs reacted with horror to her offer to work with Labour. Two ministers quit the government in protest on Tuesday as Theresa May suffered a furious Conservative backlash after opening the door to negotiations with Jeremy Corbyn over a Brexit deal.
She was challenged directly by a string of Tory MPs at prime minister’s questions about the decision to open the door to a softer Brexit, which could involve tearing up a manifesto commitment not to pursue a customs union. Eurosceptic MPs reacted with horror to the prime minister’s offer to work with Labour following Tuesday’s marathon cabinet meeting.
Nigel Adams, a government whip and junior Wales Office minister, quit his job in protest at May trying to “cook up a deal with a Marxist”, while senior Eurosceptics from Boris Johnson to Jacob Rees-Mogg expressed outrage at the idea that May would be willing to work with Labour.
Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, described May’s offer of talks as a shocking betrayal of Brexit. Writing in the Telegraph, she said: “The spectre of Corbyn lording it over us in a prime ministerial way as he wrecks Brexit makes my blood run cold and fear for my party and my country.”
Even some normally supportive MPs were incredulous, with Caroline Johnson standing at PMQs to say she backed the deal, but “if it comes to the point when we have to balance the risk of a no-deal Brexit versus the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, antisemite-led government, what does she think, at that point, is the lowest risk?”
Brexit: Junior minister resigns over May's 'grave error' in seeking deal with Corbyn – live newsBrexit: Junior minister resigns over May's 'grave error' in seeking deal with Corbyn – live news
The fury was so great that some pro-Brexit MPs were discussing ways to remove the prime minister, while circulating a motion censuring May’s action and proposing to dock the pay of cabinet ministers by half. Nigel Adams, a government whip and under-secretary of state for Wales, quit in protest at May trying to “cook up a deal with a Marxist”.
Pro-Brexit cabinet ministers were more circumspect, holding off from resigning at the moment while they await the outcome of talks with Labour. A meeting of the so-called “pizza club” of senior government Brexiters such as Andrea Leadsom and Penny Mordaunt was understood to be angry but no decisions have been taken about the way forward. Chris Heaton-Harris, a Brexit minister, also resigned. “I simply cannot support any further extension to article 50 and this obviously means I cannot stay in government,” he said. “I truly believe we should have honoured the result of the 2016 referendum” and left the EU on 29 March.
The prime minister wrote to all Conservative MPs on Wednesday morning explaining her decision, blaming the failure of the Democratic Unionist party and leave-supporting backbenchers to support her deal. Their departures came as senior Eurosceptics, from Boris Johnson to Jacob Rees-Mogg, expressed outrage at the idea that May would be willing to work with Labour.
“The question is how can we get parliament to ratify the deal? The government would have preferred to do so based on Conservative and DUP votes. But, having tried three times, it is clear that is unlikely to happen,” she said. May was challenged directly by a string of Tory MPs at prime minister’s questions about the decision to discuss the idea of a softer Brexit, which could involve tearing up a manifesto commitment not to pursue a customs union.
She added: “I realise some of you will be concerned about the government discussing the way forward with the opposition. However, with some colleagues unwilling to support the government in the division lobbies, this is the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised and for which the British people voted.” Iain Duncan Smith, the former Conservative leader, described May’s offer of talks as a shocking betrayal of Brexit. Writing in the Telegraph, he said: “The spectre of Corbyn lording it over us in a prime ministerial way as he wrecks Brexit makes my blood run cold and fear for my party and my country.”
May and Corbyn were due to hold talks later on Wednesday with the possibility of hammering out a common position by the end of the week. Any deal would then be presented to the EU at a summit next week with the aim of leaving on 22 May and avoiding European parliamentary elections. Even some normally supportive MPs were incredulous, with Caroline Johnson standing at PMQs to say she backed the deal, but “if it comes to the point when we have to balance the risk of a no-deal Brexit versus the risk of letting down the country and ushering in a Marxist, antisemite-led government, what does she think, at that point, is the lowest risk?”
If that fails, No 10 will move to holding a series of votes in parliament on options, including a runoff between her deal and alternatives such as a customs union, while agreeing to abide by the results. The fury was so great that some pro-Brexit MPs were discussing ways to remove the prime minister, while circulating a motion censuring May’s action and proposing to dock half the pay of cabinet ministers.
Pro-Brexit ministers were more circumspect, holding off from resigning while they wait for the outcome of May’s talks with Labour. The so-called “Pizza Club” of senior government Brexiters, such as Andrea Leadsom and Penny Mordaunt, was understood to be angry, but no decisions have been taken about the way forward.
May wrote to all Conservative MPs on Wednesday morning to explain her decision, and blamed the Democratic Unionist party and leave-supporting backbenchers for failing to support her deal.
'Jezz the two of us': what the papers said about May's overture to Corbyn'Jezz the two of us': what the papers said about May's overture to Corbyn
Corbyn said he was “very happy” to talk to May about Labour’s vision for Brexit, which would include a permanent customs union and stronger workers’ rights protections. However, he will face a dilemma over whether to push for any deal to be put to a public vote through a second referendum, a key demand of many senior figures in his party and many of its members. “The question is, how can we get parliament to ratify the deal? The government would have preferred to do so based on Conservative and DUP votes. But, having tried three times, it is clear that is unlikely to happen,” she wrote.
“I realise some of you will be concerned about the government discussing the way forward with the opposition. However, with some colleagues unwilling to support the government in the division lobbies, this is the only way to deliver the smooth, orderly Brexit that we promised and for which the British people voted.”
Government ministers were careful not to rule out any options as May and Corbyn met to see if they could find common ground.
Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, did not rule out giving in to demands for a second referendum, telling MPs: “I don’t think we should have a second referendum because it takes us back to square one, is my personal view, but the prime minister will have discussions and we will see where they lead.”Steve Barclay, the Brexit secretary, did not rule out giving in to demands for a second referendum, telling MPs: “I don’t think we should have a second referendum because it takes us back to square one, is my personal view, but the prime minister will have discussions and we will see where they lead.”
However, he also suggested there may be limited appetite for a compromise on the Conservative side, while insisting the talks were being pursued in good faith. However, he also suggested there may be limited appetite for a compromise on the Conservative side, while insisting the talks were being pursued in good faith. “I personally think a customs union is highly undesirable. We’re not setting preconditions, but nor is this a blank cheque,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
“I personally think a customs union is highly undesirable. We’re not setting preconditions, but nor is this a blank cheque,” he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. To those Tories complaining about May’s move, he said there was a “remorseless logic” to reaching out for Labour votes when 35 Conservatives had refused to back the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement three times.
To those Conservatives complaining about May’s move, he said there was a “remorseless logic” to reaching out for Labour votes when 35 Conservatives had refused to back the prime minister’s withdrawal agreement three times. What is Theresa May's new plan for Brexit?
Look past the May-Corbyn Brexit talks. There’s another solution | Jonathan Freedland Eurosceptics appeared to be deeply shocked by May’s move, as many of them had been hoping that she would pivot towards a no-deal Brexit after the successive failures to get her withdrawal agreement through the Commons.
Eurosceptics appeared to be deeply shocked by May’s move, as many of them had been holding out hope that she would pivot towards a no-deal Brexit after her withdrawal agreement failed to get through the House of Commons three times. Stewart Jackson, a former Tory MP and Brexit adviser, suggested a fresh move be made against May. “Isn’t it time Graham Brady and the executive committee of the 1922 reviewed the rules and instigated a fresh leadership ballot? May has no mandate to pursue the Corbyn pact,” he said.
Stewart Jackson, a former Tory MP and Brexit adviser, suggested a fresh move be made against May. “Isn’t it time Graham Brady and the executive committee of the 1922 reviewed the rules and instigated a fresh leadership ballot? May has no mandate to pursue the Corbyn pact,” she said.
Andrea Jenkyns, a hardline Tory Eurosceptic who refused to back May’s deal, did not rule out voting against the prime minister in a no-confidence motion, saying it would “take a lot of thinking about”.Andrea Jenkyns, a hardline Tory Eurosceptic who refused to back May’s deal, did not rule out voting against the prime minister in a no-confidence motion, saying it would “take a lot of thinking about”.
Another Tory MP, Marcus Fysh, said: “The cabinet and PM have demonstrated again today that they are on the wrong path. There is a great future ahead but it needs courage and understanding, not fear and vacillation.”Another Tory MP, Marcus Fysh, said: “The cabinet and PM have demonstrated again today that they are on the wrong path. There is a great future ahead but it needs courage and understanding, not fear and vacillation.”
However, one pro-Brexit cabinet source said colleagues should hold back their anger for now as they were very sceptical May could strike a deal with Corbyn. However, one pro-Brexit cabinet source said colleagues should hold back their anger for now as they were very sceptical that May could strike a deal with Corbyn.
What is Theresa May's new plan for Brexit?
A cross-party group of MPs had been planning to force May to request an extension to article 50 through legislation and hold indicative votes on the alternatives but that plan has partially been overtaken by events.
The Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin, who was proposing the bill with Labour’s Yvette Cooper, said they would press ahead with the plan but acknowledged the backdrop was now completely different and he would try to work with the government to make the legislation the vehicle for a compromise.
He welcomed May’s move and said he believed Corbyn was “somebody we could do business with”.
ConservativesConservatives
Brexit
Conservative leadership
LabourLabour
Theresa MayTheresa May
Jeremy CorbynJeremy Corbyn
European Union
Share on FacebookShare on Facebook
Share on TwitterShare on Twitter
Share via EmailShare via Email
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn
Share on PinterestShare on Pinterest
Share on WhatsAppShare on WhatsApp
Share on MessengerShare on Messenger
Reuse this contentReuse this content