Brexit battle could see the Tories split IN TWO and MPs leave the party, senior figures admit
Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng admitted that 'one of two people might leave' the Conservative party amid the blazing party row over our EU exit
THERESA May's battle over Brexit could tear the Tories apart for good, senior MPs admitted today.
Brexit minister Kwasi Kwarteng admitted that "one or two people might leave" the Conservative party amid the blazing party row over our EU exit.
It comes on the eve of the most important week of Theresa May's career, as she gears up for Tuesday's crunch vote on her EU deal.
Mr Kwarteng told BBC Radio 5 Live this morning: "I think one or two people might leave, I don't know who they will be.
"They might decide to retire or they might decide to abandon the party whip, that has happened before."
His comments come as ex-Attorney General Dominic Grieve said the party "cannot continue in its current form".
The pro-Remain MP, who has rebelled several times over Brexit in the Commons, played down the idea that Tories could form a new party.
He told Sky News Ridge on Sunday: "There is a risk the party will split and cannot continue in its current form.
"But there's also an irony behind this that if you get Brexiteer and Remainer Conservative MPs together in a room and you can avoid Brexit you'll immediately realise that they agree on a very large number of things."
He went on to say that there were "lots of things that need to be tackled" but Brexit was absorbing everyone's energy.
And the party wouldn't look like it does in future either, he added.
The news comes as:
- The PM warned that MPs have to back her plan or Jeremy Corbyn could get into No10 before Christmas
- Tories have been telling MPs that the PM will resign next Spring after Brexit if they back her deal
- Boris admitted personal responsibility for fixing Brexit as he launched his bid to become PM
- Labour said they were ready to form a government as early as Wednesday if the Government falls
- But they backed away from saying they would table a vote of no confidence in the Government as was planned
But Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay insisted that Tuesday's vote WOULD still go ahead - despite the PM facing almost certain defeat by her own MPs.
He told the Andrew Marr Show: "We've got the vote on Tuesday. There's still two full days of debate."
Mrs May rang EU boss Donald Tusk earlier to update him on the situation.
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