Theresa May ‘set to back soft Brexit’ – as she plans FOURTH vote on her deal this week
THERESA May could back a soft Brexit if her deal is defeated for a fourth time this week, according to a close ally.
The PM wants to bring the deal back to the Commons as soon as Tuesday – forcing MPs to choose between it and a much softer Brexit which keeps Britain tied to Brussels for good.
And today the Justice Secretary claimed that if she loses yet again, she will embrace a soft Brexit rather than risk Britain leaving the EU without a deal in 12 days’ time.
Senior ministers are bitterly divided over the way forward – with Mrs May facing a mass walkout of either Leavers or Remainers depending on the path she chooses.
Brexiteers led by Andrea Leadsom are furious at the prospect of Britain staying in the customs union.
But pro-EU ministers such as Amber Rudd could quit if the PM goes for No Deal instead.
Tomorrow the House of Commons will hold a second round of “indicative votes”, choosing between multiple different Brexit outcomes.
They are likely to back a customs union – which would stop Britain from cutting trade deals around the world.
No10 sources say that Mrs May could then pit the customs union against her deal in a FOURTH “meaningful vote” on Tuesday.
CABINET CLASH
The PM hopes hardline Leavers will finally accept her withdrawal agreement for fear of seeing a much softer Brexit.
If Mrs May again fails to get her deal through, April 12 becomes the new Brexit deadline.
The UK will automatically leave the EU with No Deal on that date – unless the Government agrees a long extension to Brexit, likely to last up to a year.
Today pro-EU Justice Secretary David Gauke insisted the PM wouldn’t accept No Deal, telling the BBC: “Parliament is not going to allow us to go down that route and that is not the course of action she is going to take.”
Sometimes you have to accept your second or third choice
David Gauke
Warning that Britain is in a “national crisis”, he added: “We’re clearly going to have to consider very carefully the will of Parliament.
“I would rather leave the customs union… but we also have to reflect that my party does not have the votes to get its manifesto commitments through the House of Commons.
“Sometimes you do have to accept your second or third choice in order to avoid an outcome that you consider even worse.”
Mrs May is under pressure from Eurosceptic ministers to push for No Deal if her withdrawal agreement is killed off for good.
Mrs Leadsom has summoned her “pizza club” of senior Brexiteers to agree a common approach.
Nearly a dozen Cabinet ministers signed a letter to Mrs May warning her not to accept a softer Brexit.
And leading backbenchers said the Conservative party would split for ever if the PM accepted a customs union.
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Steve Baker threatened to resign from the Tories, blasting: “I will revisit once more the question of whether I can retain the whip before I submit to a life of regret and shame after failing in a struggle for the rights of a free people in which others have literally fought and died.”
But in a sign the Government’s Remainers are ready to fight back, dozens of centrist MPs have formed a new One Nation Group.
The gathering of pro-EU Tories is understood to be backed by Ms Rudd, David Gauke, Greg Clark and Nicky Morgan.
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I hope liebour get their wishes of a general election as they believe they will win please please get your election
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