Momentum boss Jon Lansman threatens to EXPEL Labour MPs who vote for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal
LABOUR rebels were today threatened with deselection if they defy their boss and vote for Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal.
The PM is embarking on a 24-hour charm offensive with Labour Leavers and Tory rebels as he needs their support to get his deal over the line.
But the powerful boss of Momentum, Jon Lansman, tried to turn the screw on rebels by darkly warned the Labour NEC will kick them out.
He tweeted: “Johnson’s deal will be a wrecking ball through the lives and well-being of ordinary people across Britain.
“Labour MPs cannot and must not vote for it.
“If they do, the NEC will have no choice but to replace them with a new, socialist Labour candidate at the next election.”
It comes as:
- A fresh poll shows Brits want MPs to vote through the deal tomorrow
- Two Government ministers were reported to be on ‘resignation watch’ over Boris’ deal
- A fresh plot emerged from Rebel Tories to force Boris Johnson to seek an extension tonight – even if his vote passes
- Labour Remainers are set to make a decision today on whether to push a plan for a second referendum
- Angela Merkel told EU leaders the bloc WOULD offer Britain a Brexit extension if the deal gets rejected
- DUP MPs started piling on the pressure to Eurosceptic MPs to join them in opposing the deal
- Court of Appeal judges have rejected Liberty’s bid for an urgent hearing of its case against Prime Minister Boris Johnson over Brexit – as they argue his deal is illegal
Mr Lansman is one of Mr Corbyn’s closest allies and his Momentum group dominates Labour’s ruling NEC committee.
But his remarks sparked an explosive row right at the top of the Labour Party, while MPs blasted him for trying to “bully” MPs into voting the deal down.
Jeremy Corbyn has told Labour rebels they will not be kicked out of the parliamentary party – known as having the whip withdrawn.
A Labour HQ source slapped down Mr Lansman, saying: “Members of the NEC will sometimes say things that aren’t party policy.”
So far, four Labour MPs have indicated they will vote for Bojo’s deal. They are, John Mann, Jim Fitzpatrick, Ronnie Campbell and Sir Kevin Barron.
Several more have said they are seriously thinking about it.
Government sources indicated there could be 15 Labour votes up for grabs which could swing the result.
REDS AT WAR
A Labour insider tore into the Momentum boss for trying to bully and intimidate MPs into defeating Boris’ deal.
They told The Sun: “Jon Lansman and Paul Mason are calling MPs scabs and trying to bully them. I think a lot of MPs are keeping their heads down so they don’t have a target on their back.
“It is part of the orchestrated mind control they use to try to enforce party discipline
“It is just not very nice. I think a lot of MPs are feeling the emotional pressure. A lot are considering their position and considering how they will vote on Saturday.”
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell today said he would go for cosy chats with would-be rebels to try to talk them out of backing the deal in tomorrow’s historic vote.
And he said there would be “consequences” for MPs in his party who voted for Mr Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement.
A group of 19 Labour MPs wrote to EU chiefs last week to tell them they would vote for a deal.
The group – including Dan Jarvis, Caroline Flint, Stephanie Peacock and Melanie Onn – would be enough to get Boris’ deal through, but it’s unclear whether they will follow through on their promises.
Last night Mr Corbyn declared Labour will not back the new Brexit deal – without bothering to read all of it.
The Islington North MP blasted Mr Johnson’s plan and warned it risks triggering a “race to the bottom” for workers’ rights.
But he admitted that he had not even read the full Brexit blueprint before dismissing it.
Today Labour MP Gloria de Piero tweeted a snap of her with a constituent who voted leave, saying she still hadn’t decided yet.
HAMMER THE PHONES
Boris Johnson left the EU summit in the early hours of this morning to jet back to London, after saying he was “very confident” the deal would pass.
The PM will spend the day hammering the phones to MPs in a last-ditch attempt to push his Brexit plans over the line tomorrow.
Two Government ministers were said to be on resignation watch over the deal this lunchtime, The Telegraph claimed.
One was said to be a Cabinet minister and another a junior minister.
If both of them quit to vote for the deal it could tip the balance into MPs voting against it.
And if Labour MPs and Brexiteers fear it will get rejected, they are unlikely to jump on board to back it.
Boris needs handful of ex-Tory MPs, hardline Tories and Labour Leavers to back him in order to seal Brexit’s fate.
Meanwhile, hardline Tory Brexiteers are letting Mr Johnson sweat over whether they will vote his Brexit plan – but the government is confident they can win the majority of the 28 ‘Spartans’ round.
The PM has also left the door open to restoring the whip to the 21 ex-Tory MPs he sacked last month for backing the Brexit-delaying Benn Act in another bid to boost his numbers.
This morning, sacked Tory rebel Margot James has confirmed she will vote for the deal tomorrow.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today refused to say if Conservatives voting against the deal would have the whip removed.
But he said it was a “cracking deal” for Northern Ireland and all MPs should get behind it.
Earlier today the Government said that their legal advice showed Britain and Northern Ireland could get out of the new rules for Northern Ireland.
One of the key criticisms of Theresa May’s deal was that it would leave Northern Ireland trapped forever.
A memo released this morning said: “There are no grounds for supposing that the EU would have any legal basis to assert that [the protool] should continue to apply absent of that consent … or that the EU would possess a veto over the right of members of the Northern Ireland Legislative Assembly.”
Today one of the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, Lord Trimble, came out to back the PM’s deal.
In an article for The Spectator he wrote: “Yesterday’s agreement is a great step forward.
“Previously the people of Northern Ireland were to have an agreement imposed on them, now we have a mechanism for the consent of the people of Northern Ireland.
“This is fully in accordance with the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement.”
Hardline Tories could be swayed to back the deal with this assessment.
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PRESSURE ON
Today the DUP were upping the pressure on their allies in the Tory party to join with them to vote down the deal.
The DUP’s Sammy Wilson said earlier: “Conservative & Unionist MPs must take a stand for the Union and join us in rejecting this deal. Internal & burdensome trade barriers will be erected within the UK without parallel consent from both unionists & nationalists. This is not Brexit.”
Mr Raab the Government was continuing in talks with the DUP to”give them the reassurances we can”.
Tory Eurosceptic Mark Francois was seen going into No10 today for talks with Boris Johnson and his team.
He told reporters on his way in that he “still has concerns about some specifics of the deal” and will make up his mind after meeting the PM.
His ally Steve Baker said earlier: “No news from us before the morning!”
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