Theresa May in fresh Commons battle as defence minister QUITS as crucial Brexit bill squeaks through
Theresa May bought off Brexiteers by accepting their amendments to the customs bill - prompting a revolt from pro-EU Tories which almost led to a humiliating defeat. In extraordinary scenes, Defence Minister Guto Bebb voted against the Government - effectively quitting his frontbench role
THERESA May faced a fresh Commons battle last night as a defence minister quit in an explosive showdown over the Brexit customs union.
The PM managed to eventually win MPs' approval for the customs bill - one of the key laws which will allow trade to continue once we leave the EU - by just three votes.
But she very nearly lost two votes on Government-backed amendments, after more than a dozen Tories, including one minister, refused to go along with her decision to support motions which were written by hardline Brexiteers.
In extraordinary scenes, Defence Minister Guto Bebb voted against the Government - effectively quitting his frontbench role.
He is the tenth in a series of MPs to have quit since the Chequers' agreement on Brexit, though is the first Remainer to go.
On yet another day of Brexit chaos:
- Scott Mann stepped down as a PPS saying he cannot back a "watered down Brexit"
- David Davis warned ministers are "trying to defend a false past and giving up a real future" with their Brexit stance
- Ex-minister Justine Greening broke cover to back a second referendum on Brexit
- The PM insisted her plans will deliver the "right deal" despite being attacked from both sides
- The Government hatched plans to send Parliament on holiday early in a bid to avoid further rebellions
- A new poll found the public would rather leave the EU without a deal than accept Mrs May's compromise
Mrs May had earlier tried to buy off the European Research Group by agreeing to support four of their amendments designed to toughen Britain's negotiating stance.
Pro-Remain Tories staged a revolt against her climbdown, opposing two of the amendments because they feared they would kill off the Brexit plan Mrs May agreed at Chequers.
Eventually the two amendments passed by 305 votes to 302, and by 303 to 300 - keeping the customs bill on track to become law shortly.
Earlier yesterday, the Government announced it would accept all four amendments proposed by the ERG, which is led by Jacob Rees-Mogg.
The most controversial of the four amendments prevents Britain from collecting tariffs on behalf of another state, unless that country agrees to do the same thing.
Many Brexiteers and Remainers believe the move would kill off Mrs May's preferred solution for a customs deal with the EU, which would see the UK impose European tariffs on any goods imported into Britain and destined to end up on the continent, although ministers disagree.
A total of 14 pro-EU Tories voted against the amendment last night - including Mr Bebb, who has now officially resigned as a consequence of defying the Government whip.
The other amendment to provoke a Commons rebellion - with 11 Tories voting against - mandates Britain to have a separate VAT regime from Europe.
What does the PM's Brexit climbdown mean?
BREXIT-backing Tories have threatened to take on Theresa May ever since her Chequers compromise - and they've won the first battle without firing a shot.
The European Research Group, chaired by Jacob Rees-Mogg, tabled four amendments to the customs bill which are designed to make the Government's EU negotiating stance tougher.
Without the support of either main party, the amendments were destined to fail - but a mass rebellion by the ERG would have made Mrs May appear weak.
And some MPs even threatened to vote down the customs bill altogether if the proposed amendments weren't added to it.
The PM's decision to accept the four amendments rather than fighting them makes little practical difference to how Brexit will turn out - but it is a sign Mrs May doesn't feel strong enough to take on the Brexiteers in public.
Her decision almost led to a defeat from the other flank of the Tories, with a dozen pro-EU MPs voting against two of the amendments, showing how the PM is squeezed from both sides.
Mrs May would have lost both votes without the support of four pro-Brexit Labour MPs, as well as her DUP allies.
The two final ERG amendments make it illegal for the Government to sign up to any deal which creates a border in the Irish Sea, and ban ministers from signing up to the EU customs union without the permission of Parliament.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said before the votes: "We will be accepting these four amendments because we feel they are consistent with the white paper we published last week."
During Parliament's debate on the customs bill, David Davis made his first speech as a backbencher since quitting the Cabinet a week ago.
The former Brexit Secretary resisted the temptation to deal a death blow to the PM by calling for her to step down.
He spoke in support of the bill being debated - but also took aim at the Chequers deal, claiming it risked throwing away all the gains of Brexit.
Mr Davis said: "In the newspapers at the weekend I read that some people were so cross with the white paper that they threatened to vote against this.
"Well, I don't think they can be more cross than me with the white paper - but I do urge them not to vote against it."
After backing the bill, he concluded his speech with a blast at the Government's Brexit strategy, saying: "What this proposal would do is try and deal with a problem which is less bad than they think, and in doing so throw away a power, throw away a right that is incredibly important - much, much more important than they think.
"They are trying to defend a false past - and giving up a real future."
During the debate, Tories on opposite sides of the Brexit debate erupted into open warfare as they took potshots at each other.
Arch-Remainer Anna Soubry said it was "complete madness" for Mrs May to sign up to the ERG's amendments.
She added: "This Government is in grave danger of not just losing the plot but losing a considerable amount of support from the people of this country unless we get Brexit right."
And after Ms Soubry made a reference to Margaret Thatcher, veteran Brexiteer Edward Leigh stood up and interrupted, saying: "I knew Margaret Thatcher, I worked for Margaret Thatcher - my honourable friend ain’t no Margaret Thatcher."
Former Cabinet minister Justine Greening, who yesterday backed a second EU referendum as she blasted Mrs May's policies, told the Commons: "Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous. You get knocked down by the traffic from both directions."
In a sign the PM is terrified of further rebellions, it emerged the Government is planning to let MPs go on their holidays early, by declaring that the summer recess should start on Thursday instead of next Tuesday as planned.
And Mrs May was forced to deny that accepting the Brexiteer amendments meant her preferred solution is now "dead in the water".
After Labour MP Stephen Kinnock said she was "dancing to the tune" of the hardline European Research Group, the PM replied: "I would not have gone through all the work that I did to ensure that we reached that agreement only to see it changed in some way through these bills.
"They do not change that Chequers agreement.";
The chaos came yesterday as another member of the Government resigned over Mrs May's Chequers compromise.
Scott Mann stood down in the wake of the Prime Minister’s white paper which was published last week.
The MP for North Cornwall said it was “with a great deal of sadness” he was leaving his role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Treasury.
His resignation followed that of another PPS Robert Courts, who said he could “not look himself in the mirror” if he stayed on and did not oppose the PM’s plan.
Mr Mann said in his letter he had to stand up for his constituents, and said he was “not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered down Brexit”.
It heaps further pressure on Mrs May to change her blueprint for leaving the EU, after it was described as the “worst of all worlds” by Leave-backing MPs.
All ten resignations over PM’s Brexit plan so far
David Davis, Brexit Secretary
Resigned Sunday, July 8, saying he did not "believe" in the PM's Brexit plan
Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary
Resigned Monday, July 9, saying the Brexit “dream is dying”
Steve Baker, Brexit Minister
Resigned Monday, July 9, saying he “cannot support this policy”
Conor Burns, PPS to Boris Johnson
Resigned Monday, July 9, saying he wanted “to have greater freedom” to speak out
Chris Green, PPS to Chris Grayling
Resigned Monday, July 9, saying the PM’s confirmed to him “we would not really leave the EU”
Maria Caulfield, Tory Vice Chair
Resigned Tuesday, July 10, saying the Chequers policy “will be bad for the country”
Ben Bradley, Tory Vice Chair
Resigned Tuesday, July 10, saying the agreement “will be the worst of all worlds”
Robert Courts, PPS to the Foreign Office
Resigned Sunday, July 15, so he could "express discontent" with the PM’s strategy
Scott Mann, PPS to the Treasury
Resigned Monday, July 16, saying the plans were for a “watered down Brexit”
Guto Bebb, Defence Minister
Resigned Monday, July 16, in order to vote against a Brexiteer amendment to the customs bill
Boris Johnson resigned as Foreign Secretary last week because he could not back the PM's plan
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Former education secretary Ms Greening, who backed Remain, broke cover to denounce the plan, saying it offered the "worst of both worlds" and called for a second referendum.
She said in an article for : "The only solution is to take the final Brexit decision out of the hands of deadlocked politicians, away from the backroom deals, and give it back to the people.”
Tories 'threatened to cut my funding for attacking PM's Chequers plan' says Brexiteer MP
ANDREA Jenkyns said the Conservative party chairman “hinted” that funding for leaflets in her marginal seat in Yorkshire could be cut after she criticised the PM’s Brexit plan.
The MP for Morley and Outwood said Brandon Lewis rang her after she has emerged as one of the strongest critics of Theresa May’s Chequers plan.
She called the proposals in the Government white paper a "sub-zero Brexit" and is on Theresa May, she is clear: "It is time for her to go."
In an interview with the about the funding threats she said: "My response was that bankbenchers shouldn't be silenced.
“If you want to [cut my funding], just do it, but I'm sure you want a Conservative in that seat, whether it's me or somebody else."
But a source close to Mr Lewis said “this is a misunderstanding” and he was trying to highlight the support the party has given Ms Jenkyns.
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