Philip Hammond’s Remainer crew plotting fresh Brexit delay with Brussels bosses
PHILIP Hammond and his crew of Remainers are set to talk to the EU about a THIRD Brexit delay - behind Boris Johnson's back.
Rebels who want to stop the PM from taking us out of the EU without a deal are preparing to hold their own talks with Brussels, The Times revealed today.
The group want to try and force through a new law making Boris ask the EU for yet another delay to Article 50.
One rebel told the paper that Mr Hammond was tapping up his contacts from Government - and was keen to meet with some of them.
"The next step is likely to be something that seeks to direct the government to seek an extension,” one MP said.
"They will need to have an idea of what extension they should be asking Brussels for."
Another ally said: ";He has a lot of respect from senior figures in Europe."
Mr Hammond said last week he was sure that MPs could pass a law to stop No Deal - in comments which infuriated Leavers.
Ex-Business Secretary Greg Clark and former International Development Secretary Rory Stewart are also set to play key roles in stopping No Deal.
But Downing Street insist that Brussels don't have to grant an extension, even if Boris is forced to ask for one.
Boris has secured himself a 30-day window from the EU to come up with plans to try and solve the Northern Irish border issue.
It means he's likely to win a vote of no confidence if one comes in the next few weeks - as Tories will want to see what the outcomes are first.
They could hold off from a challenge until October instead.
However, Remainer rebels insisted they would push ahead with plans to try and avoid a No Deal in their plots in the coming weeks, Dominic Grieve said today.
He told the Evening Standard: "I don’t think anything that has come out of the meetings in Germany and France is going to alter the determination of colleagues on a cross-party basis to make sure no-deal Brexit does not happen."
A senior Downing Street source hit back this morning, accusing them of undermining the PM.
They said: "Grieve and Co need to explain why the first thing they have done in reaction to the small bit of progress we may have made is to do their best to undermine it.
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But Jeremy Corbyn's plan to be caretaker PM if the Government is brought down, has been rejected by Tories, though some have agreed to meet with him.
Independent MP Nick Boles, who was invited to talks, said yesterday that Mr Corbyn should be focusing on a new law to stop a No Deal instead.
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