Theresa May raises threat of violence on the streets if Brexit is reversed as Amber Rudd warns 40 Tories will quit if No Deal is not stopped
THERESA May for the first time raised the threat of street violence yesterday if Brexit is reversed.
The PM also pleaded with Parliament to give her a mandate to go back to Brussels and toughen up her Brexit deal after signalling she had no Plan B.
Meanwhile pro-EU Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd warned up to 40 ministers will resign unless they are allowed to join a cross-party bid to halt a No Deal scenario.
Mrs May told MPs of her “deep concerns” about trying to halt Brexit with a second referendum.
She said: “There has not yet been enough recognition of the way that a second referendum could damage social cohesion by undermining faith in our democracy”.
Fuming Labour MP Peter Kyle hit back: “When did the Tory Party start running away from fascists rather than standing up to them?”
And ex-Labour frontbencher Chuka Umunna said it would be “wholly wrong to allow any group to intimidate us” into ruling out another vote.
Mrs May had been forced to address the Commons to fulfil a demand to come up with a Plan B after her EU agreement was thrown out by a record majority.
When did the Tory Party start running away from fascists rather than standing up to them?
Labour MP Peter Kyle
But it emerged Plan B was still very much her Brexit deal with the EU — her original Plan A.
She conceded there would have to be modifications to it, as last week’s disastrous vote proved “the Government’s approach had to change”.
The PM added: “We need to see where we can ensure the support of this house, and then take that forward to the European Union”.
Her declaration tees up a Commons showdown next Tuesday when her revised plan will be voted on. If she wins that she would need fresh negotiations with Brussels.
She kept her proposed changes to the hated Irish backstop vague, though they are expected to involve asking for a legal time limit or unilateral exit mechanism.
A No10 source told The Sun: “This is about tactics. If we propose something now, such as a backstop time limit, the EU will shoot it down.
"If backbenchers propose something we might agree with a lot closer to the vote — well that’s a different matter.”
Pointedly, Mrs May also raised Brexiteers’ fears by refusing to rule out implementing a customs union if that is what Parliament demands.
A senior Government source said: “Tory MPs need something to focus their minds, so the PM is quite happy to see a lot of unpalatable alternative options being voted on at the same time as her motion”.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said her proposals for cross-party talks had been “exposed to be a PR sham”, adding: “Nothing has changed. This really does feel like Groundhog Day”.
'THIS IS ABOUT TACTICS'
And he last night tabled his own amendment to the PM’s motion.
It would order the Government to rule out “a disastrous” No Deal Brexit, as well as offer all MPs a vote on whether to hold a second referendum.
Former Labour Cabinet minister Yvette Cooper tabled a joint bid with senior Tory MP rebels to enforce a nine-month delay to Brexit if the PM still has not got her deal rubber-stamped by February 26.
It would mean the UK not leaving the EU until the very end of 2019.
Sources revealed Ms Rudd has told the PM’s aides she faces “dozens” of resignations unless there is a free vote on the proposal.
Neither Ms Rudd nor No.10 would comment last night.
Business bosses criticised the lack of new ideas.
Allie Renison, of the Institute of Directors, said: “We desperately need politicians to get serious about finding a way forward”.
But Nigel Dodds, whose ten DUP MPs are propping up Mrs May’s minority government, said her approach was “encouraging”.
He added: “The backstop is the problem and that is where the focus must lie”.
- GOT a news story? RING us on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]