PM facing fresh rebellion by Conservative MPs opposed to no-deal Brexit
Tory moderates warn the PM they might support an extension to the UK's EU membership if she still struggles to secure a deal.
Friday 22 February 2019 01:33, UK
Theresa May is facing the threat of a new rebellion by Conservative MPs intent on avoiding a no-deal Brexit.
About 35 Tory MPs could support a House of Commons move to delay the UK's exit from the EU, if it looks likely the prime minister is still unable to secure enough backing for her Brexit deal.
In a letter to Conservative chief whip Julian Smith, the Brexit Delivery Group of Conservative MPs - made up of Remainers and Leavers - have warned they could vote in favour of demands to extend the UK's EU membership next week.
The prime minister is still bidding to win "legally binding changes" from the EU to the backstop arrangement within her Brexit deal, which was overwhelmingly rejected by MPs last month.
Mrs May will hold talks with EU leaders at a summit with Arab leaders in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, this weekend as part of last-gasp efforts to secure alterations to her withdrawal agreement.
If she does not then put her Brexit deal to the Commons for another "meaningful" vote by Wednesday, Mrs May has vowed to still allow MPs a vote on Brexit options that day.
Sky News has been told two or three dozen Tory MPs may subsequently back proposals - likely to be brought forward by MPs such as former Conservative minister Sir Oliver Letwin and Labour's Yvette Cooper - to demand the prime minister request an extension to Article 50 in order to rule out a no-deal Brexit.
Conservative MP Andrew Percy, one of the leaders of the Brexit Delivery Group, told Sky News a large number of his faction could support a delay to Brexit next week if Tory eurosceptics - who are vehemently opposed to the backstop in its current form - signal they are still unlikely to back the prime minister's deal.
In a warning to the European Research Group (ERG) of hardline Tory Brexiteers, Mr Percy told Sky News: "There's an increasing number of moderate Conservative MPs who have consistently compromised and voted with the prime minister who are becoming increasingly tired of the ERG acting as a party within the party.
"If they [the ERG] are not prepared to compromise - it's clear other MPs will have to default to their next preferred outcome.
"For those who want a no-deal Brexit, that doesn't end well for them."
In the letter to Mr Smith, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Percy and fellow Brexit Delivery Group leader Simon Hart wrote: "Numerous members of our group have alerted us of their intention - should rejection of the deal look likely - to get behind amendments that are planned in the name of Oliver Letwin and others and which will have the twin effect of taking no deal off the table and delaying Brexit.
"It is also clear that members of our group are growing increasingly frustrated by the intransigence - as they see it - of some of our colleagues, many of whom represent very safe seats and are thus unlikely to be unduly inconvenienced by all of this.
"Not only does this risk damaging the national interest, but also that by failing to accept the realities of parliamentary arithmetic we are putting in jeopardy the very thing many colleagues have spent decades campaigning for; our exit from the EU.
"It is this serious risk that is driving an increasing number of our group to consider other options such as the Letwin amendment.
"This is a development that should worry all of us who want to deliver Brexit, given that our group has, almost without exception, remained united behind voting for the prime minister's deal."
It has also been reported as many as 25 members of Mrs May's government are ready to vote for a Brexit delay unless she rules out a no-deal departure.