HARD MAY'S FIGHT
Theresa May faces a fresh coup from furious Tory MPs as support for a no-confidence vote builds
LIVID Tory MPs have vowed to mount a fresh coup to oust Theresa May after her Brexit deal stood on the verge of collapse.
Party grandees are already looking at speeding up a snap leadership contest after she dramatically pulled the landmark Commons vote.
10
The Prime Minister delayed it for fresh talks with Brussels but was warned by the EU it will not renegotiate the hated Irish backstop.
Downing Street is braced for a no-confidence vote in the PM any time now.
Mrs May yesterday became the first PM for at least 70 years to pause a vote on a major international treaty.
Her move, demanded by ministers, sparked chaos which worsened when she signalled no new vote would be tabled until January 21.
10
Irish backstop explained
By Lynn Davidson and Matt Dathan
THE Irish backstop is a last-resort insurance policy to make sure a hard border does not return between Northern Ireland and the Republic when Britain leaves the EU.
It is like a safety net which will only automatically kick in after the transition period finishes if the UK and EU have not agreed a trade deal.
If used, the backstop — strongly opposed by the DUP leader Arlene Foster — will keep the whole of the UK in the EU’s customs union and large parts of the single market.
This would be necessary to avoid the need for checks at the Irish border.
But in some areas Northern Ireland would stay closer aligned to EU regulations than the rest of the UK.
Currently goods and services are traded between the jurisdictions of Northern Ireland and the Republic with few restrictions.
10
Members of the backbench European Research Group of Tory MPs banged the table in approval last night when told more letters for a no-confidence vote were submitted.
Rebels are understood to be five short of the 48 needed to trigger a ballot on her future.
The Sun can also reveal grandees are considering shortening a leadership contest to less than three weeks.
Senior Tories who had previously refused to join an earlier coup were weighing up their actions.
One said: “You could get the Commons stage done in a week, and the membership’s postal vote in ten days, at a real push.
10
“Let’s see what happens in the next few days.”
Mrs May cancelled the Cabinet’s weekly meeting on Tuesday morning to embark on a two-day tour of Europe’s capitals.
The PM will have breakfast with Dutch PM Mark Rutte in The Hague before lunch in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
She yesterday vowed to win assurances the Irish backstop will not be indefinite.
Speaker John Bercow calls Theresa May 'deeply discourteous' for cancelling Commons Brexit vote
Tory Brexiters said there is no possibility of them backing her deal unless it is renegotiated while the DUP insisted it must be ripped up.
European Research Group leader Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “If the Prime Minister comes back with a statement, warm words — it’s completely irrelevant because the treaty outranks it.
"So unless there’s an amendment to the treaty, it’s pointless.”
DUP leader Arlene Foster, whose MPs prop up the minority Tory Government, said: “My message is clear.
10
"The backstop must go.”
Her deputy Nigel Dodds told Mrs May that she “doesn’t get it”, adding: “Come back with changes or it will be voted down.”
Sources close to Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said the European Commission should now be “in no doubt” they need to provide extra legally binding measures on the hated backstop.
In an occasionally emotional address to MPs, Mrs May pleaded to be given the chance to “get Brexit done”.
She said: “Even though I voted Remain, from the moment I took up the responsibility of being Prime Minister of this great country, I have known my duty is to honour the result of that vote.”
Theresa May told she's had a 'premature parliamentary ejaculation' over Brexit by Labour MP Rupa Huq
She took a thinly veiled swipe at Boris Johnson and arch Brexiteers who are demanding Britain pursue a No Deal.
She said: “If you want to leave without a deal, be upfront that in the short-term this would cause significant economic damage to parts of our country who can least afford to bear the burden.”
Backers of a second referendum, she said, should be honest that they risk dividing the UK again.
Those campaigning for an EEA-style membership must say it requires free movement.
10
At one point during the Commons debate, Mr Johnson appeared to yawn.
But Mrs May was supported by loyalists, including International Trade Secretary Liam Fox.
He said: “It is essential we get the best deal, not necessarily the quickest deal.”
Some MPs fretted they would lose their Xmas break.
10
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said the PM had “lost control” and the Government was now in “disarray”.
He said: “If she doesn’t take on board the fundamental changes required then she must make way for those who can.”
More than 50 Labour MPs — plus Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and Lib Dem chief Vince Cable — urged him to try to bring down the Government with a no-confidence vote.
But a Labour spokesman said it would only move “when we judge it most likely to be successful”.
10
The PM sent top negotiator Olly Robbins back to Brussels on Monday in a bid to change the terms of the deal.
Eurocrats insisted the current deal is “the only one on the table” and vowed to reject attempts by the UK to water down the Irish border solution.
EU chief Donald Tusk confirmed leaders will discuss the turmoil at a summit on Thursday.
But he warned: “We will not renegotiate the deal, including the backstop.”
The Sun says
CHAOS aside, Theresa May has chosen the only possible course, going back to Brussels for more. But we cannot see it working.
And — to be blunt — this monumental shambles, this national embarrassment, is entirely of her making.
It was obvious weeks ago that the DUP on whom her survival depends could not be bluffed. Nor could her Brexit-backing MPs.
She tried to railroad the lot and failed.
We are glad she delayed the vote. A massive Commons defeat would have weakened her yet further in EU eyes.
But it will not be enough to secure “reassurances” from Brussels that the toxic Irish backstop, if it kicks in, will be only temporary.
Under her deal we cannot legally escape its restrictive customs union nor the divide it creates between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Mrs May wants MPs to trust an EU which treats us with contempt. But trust is gone. Only a binding text will do.
Sadly, trust in the PM is all but gone too.
She made a brave fist of defending her deal yesterday in dire circumstances.
She was admirably robust in ruling out a second referendum.
But she has made too many promises she could not keep.
Now she needs a huge favour . . . from an EU inclined just to sit tight and hope Brexit collapses.
10
However, he added: “We are ready to discuss how to facilitate UK ratification.
"As time is running out, we will also discuss our preparedness for a no-deal scenario.”
EU sources told The Sun Mr Robbins was instructed to secure a “legally binding” commitment the backstop would not be used.
But diplomats warned it was doomed to fail.
10
MOST READ IN POLITICS
Sources also questioned giving the UK more concessions if MPs were unlikely to accept anything bar scrapping the backstop.
A diplomat said: “Why would the EU throw more meat the UK’s way if it’s never going to be enough?”
EU Parliament Brexit chief Guy Verhofstadt added: “Just keep in mind that we will never let the Irish down.”
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says if Theresa May can't renegotiate Brexit deal, 'She must make way'
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]
Topics