Remain ministers accused of betraying Theresa May by pushing for a customs union with the EU

REMAIN ministers were on Sunday night accused of betraying Theresa May by pushing for a customs union with the EU.

Justice Secretary David Gauke demanded the PM drop her red line to a tie-up — ahead of a vital Westminster vote on Monday.

Tory MPs claimed at least two junior ministers – understood to be Rory Stewart and Margot James – were ringing backbenchers urging them to back a customs union in the vote on different Brexit plans.

If the customs option tabled by veteran Ken Clarke wins a majority the PM will be under huge pressure to negotiate it with Brussels.

But Brexit-backing MP Michael Fabricant told The Sun: “This is a total breach of our manifesto commitment.

“And it would be a total betrayal of everyone who voted Leave in 2016.”

In another day of tension:

• THE PM’s top aides were said to be discussing a fourth bid to get her deal through the Commons;
• LABOUR’S Tom Watson sparked another rift with Jeremy Corbyn by saying it will back a People’s Vote;
• TONY Blair said a Boris Johnson-led Tory party would beat “revolutionary” Corbyn in an election;
• SIR John Major warned a World War Two-style government of “national unity” may now be needed to break the deadlock;
• GERMANY’S Angela Merkel prepared to visit Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar this week ahead of an emergency EU summit.

The PM vowed to stay out of the customs pact in the 2017 manifesto so Britain could strike trade deals with the rest of the world.

A senior Tory said the growing split may trigger “the death of the Conservative Party”.

But Mr Stewart, the Prisons Minister, said: “I prefer the PM’s deal but the customs union delivers Brexit. A No Deal would be deeply damaging.”

Squabbling MPs could vote on as many as four Brexit plans on Monday after eight options failed to win a majority last week.

At the same time Tory whips were accused of urging MPs to vote against a Norway-style Brexit today.

The SNP was said to be considering voting in favour of a Norway-style Brexit – while Labour could also order its MPs to back the plan.

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