Cabinet Ministers fighting to hold back raging Tories demanding the party throw out rebels who ‘let down the British people’ in Brexit vote
Seething Conservative MPs and members rounded on the 11 EU rebels after they were seen celebrating in Parliament moments after inflicting the humiliating defeat on the PM
CABINET Ministers were fighting to hold back raging Tories demanding the party throw out rebels who “let down the British people” in a Brexit rebellion.
Michael Gove stepped in as party faithful in Heidi Allen’s Cambridgeshire seat became the first to publicly call for the deselection of their local MP.
Seething Conservative MPs and members rounded on the 11 EU rebels after they were seen celebrating in Parliament moments after inflicting the humiliating defeat on the PM on Wednesday night.
Asked if rebels should be ousted by party membership, Tory MP Henry Smith said the “selection process is up to local parties but I do think they have let down the British people.”
But Environment Secretary Michael Gove backed calls for calm and and tweeted an anti-deselection message that claimed: “Nothing could be less British.
In another day of high drama in Westminster it emerged:
- Theresa May could scrap plans to insert the Brexit Day in EU Withdrawal Bill legislation next week to avoid another crushing Commons defeat.
- Nicky Morgan said the rebels were “prepared” to go up against the Government again if the PM does put Brexit Day to the vote.
- Senior “Rebel Commander” Dominic Grieve revealed he had received death threats since the vote.
- Boris Johnson insisted that the vote wouldn’t prevent Brexit
- But Remain sources said they now believed the chances of preventing Brexit had shot from 5 per cent to 20 per cent.
But Anna Soubry hit back at claims she was drinking bubbly, saying: “Nobody drank champagne, not on these benches, so let’s just nail that one”.
Conservative MPs also bickered in their private Whatsapp group over party loyalty.
And yesterday anger boiled over in Tory constituencies around the country following Wednesdays dramatic Commons scenes.
Paul Diamond, a South Cambridgeshire Tory member, told The Sun that his MP Heidi Allen’s behaviour was “unacceptable.”
The barrister said local members were “minded” to start the deselection process that would see her banned from standing in the seat at the next election.
He added “we are totally fed up, she’s acting completely unilaterally.”
But the PM’s ex-chief of staff Nick Timothy said Mrs May would step in to stop any attempt and a source added: “She thinks that’s very unwise”.
Mr Timothy also revealed that the PM had stepped in to put the squeeze on a similar bid to oust the serial rebel earlier in the year.
Ms Allen’s association chairman did not respond to requests for comment.
But one senior local Tory said: “She’s a bloody disgrace - she was lucky to get reselected at before the election, and was already on meant to be on her final warning after having to beg on hands and knees not to get deselected last time.
However some of the other rebels were given full throated backing of their local parties.
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Wimbledon Conservative bosses gave local rebel Stephen Hammond the thumbs up.
And Loughborough Tory boss Robert Shields said Nicky Morgan had his full support, but he admitted his membership were more divided.
But many local party chiefs did not respond to the chance to give their members their support.
The 11 Tory rebels were branded “traitors” working for a “foreign power” by furious Brexit business chief John Longworth.
But Boris Johnson denied that Wednesday night’s vote giving Parliament a say on the final Brexit deal could delay or reverse Britain’s exit from the EU.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson and their Japanese counterparts, he said: “In my view it won’t for one second stop the Brexit process.
“It’s going to go on and we will get it done in a very successful and a very timely way.
“Of course it’s right that Parliament should have a vote on the final deal. That was always going to be the case. I don’t think last night’s vote really changes those facts.”
He continued: “I can’t believe for the life of me that Parliament will actually vote to stop or reverse the Brexit process or frustrate the will of the British people. That’s just not going to happen.”
However one Remain insider said: “I think the chances of stopping Brexit has gone from 5 per cent to 20 per cent. You could see a situation where the Government is defeated again and Jeremy Corbyn starts to campaign to keep Britain in.”
No10 were weighing up whether to dramatically water down plans to put the ‘Brexit Date’ into law after Wednesday’s mauling.
A senior source told The Sun it was “time for reflection” given the crushing Tory rebellion that guarantees MPs a meaningful vote on the terms of the EU deal.
One insider said: “We’re looking into what happens next. But we don’t really want to risk another defeat.”
Theresa May last month vowed to put the Brexit date – 29 March 2019 – into the EU Withdrawal Bill to ensure Europhile MPs couldn’t try and delay Britain’s departure.
At the time she said she would not “tolerate” people trying to undermine Brexit.
But Tory rebel Nicky Morgan vowed she was willing to vote against her Government again when the Brexit Date amendment goes before Parliament on Wednesday.
She told ITV: “I think there are enough of us who are prepared to go against it if the government were to put that to a vote.
“But I very much hope it’s not going to get to that stage.”
And Dominic Grieve said: “if the Government comes back with that date I’m sure the Government will be defeated.”
Arch Eurosceptic and former Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith said that if the date did go to a vote it was “vital” Tory MPs got behind the Government.
He told the Sun: “I do hope everybody will think long and hard about any decision to vote against the Government next week.
“The reason for that is that this is about the Government’s ability to get the job done.
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“Voting against the date makes it more difficult for the Government and that at this time is not helpful.”
Responding to reports of threats against Dominic Grieve last night, a senior Government official said:
“Of course no politician should face intimidation or threats, full stop.”
Antoinette Sandbach
Eddisbury (52.2% Leave)
A BARRISTER who was accused by Eurosceptic Sir Bill Cash of collaborating with Labour.
She protested that his comment was offensive to a person whose family had been thrown out of their homes by the Nazis.
Fellow MPs were moved to tears when she revealed two years ago how she had lost her son Sam to sudden infant death syndrome.
Constituency response: No comment.
Nicky Morgan
Loughborough (50% Leave)
BITTER former minister who had an unremarkable spell as Education Secretary.
She was dubbed at the time Miss U-Turn for repeatedly changing her mind. Has publicly mocked Theresa May since being sacked by her last summer.
Fancies herself as being a future party leader. Tory MPs say she is George Osborne’s puppet in the Commons.
Constituency response: Full support of chairman but members split.
Jonathan Djanogly
Huntingdon (53.4% Leave)
EX-justice minister best known for hiring a firm of private investigators to spy on local party members.
The targets were tricked into revealing just what they thought of him.
In 2001 he was elected to Sir John Major’s old seat. Then in 2009 he was caught up in the expenses scandal and voluntarily repaid £25,000.
Says he is a “scrutineer” not a mutineer.
Constituency response: No answer.
Sarah Wollaston
Totnes (54.1%)
THE former GP is a serial rebel who famously defected from Leave to Remain just a fortnight before the Referendum.
She claimed she could no longer stomach the lies that leaving the EU would free up £350million a week for the NHS.
The Tory yesterday insisted she was not trying to block Brexit but guarantee “a softer landing”.
Constituency response: No answer.
Ken Clarke
Rushcliffe (41.4% Leave)
A FORMER Tory Chancellor and the biggest Europhile in the Commons.
He was the only Conservative Party MP to vote against the triggering of Article 50, which has kick-started the two-year countdown to Brexit.
He recently flew out to Brussels with ex-Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg and Labour peer Lord Adonis to hold face-to-face talks with the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier.
Constituency response: No comment.
Anna Soubry
Broxtowe (52.5% Leave)
THE poster girl of the Rebel Alliance.
Former minister sacked by Theresa May in July last year who insists she is merely putting country before her party.
She readily admits she would prefer Britain to stay in the EU Single Market.
Accused by Theresa May’s former chief of staff Nick Timothy of appearing to suggest she wants to “defeat” Brexit.
Constituency response: No reply.
Oliver Heald
North East Hertfordshire (51.4% Leave)
WAS furious at being sacked as junior justice minister after the General Election.
He tweeted at the time: “Enjoyed my time as a justice minister. Have been asked to make way for a younger person.”
Is a veteran of the John Major Government, where he worked in the Department of Social Security.
Briefly served as Solicitor General from 2012 to 2014.
Constituency response: No answer.
Dominic Grieve
Beaconsfield (49% Leave)
AN ardent Remainer who received France’s Legion D’Honneur, that country’s highest honour, in 2016.
Insists he hates the idea of voting against the Government — but he likened himself to Winston Churchill during his moment of infamy on Wednesday.
Was sacked as Attorney General by David Cameron and colleagues claim he has never got over it.
Constituency response: No answer but members angry.
Stephen Hammond
Wimbledon (27.3% Leave)
FORMER Transport Minister sacked by David Cameron three years ago.
Axed as vice-chairman of the Conservative party moments after Wednesday’s rebellion.
As a minister he was best known for using a chauffeur-driven car 138 times a year despite living six miles from Westminster. Indicated he may rebel again next week.
Constituency response: Full backing.
Bob Neill
Bromley (49.6% Leave)
CLAIMED last month that Brexit was an error but insisted he and other “mutineers” simply want to ensure an orderly departure.
Sacked as a local government minister by David Cameron after just two years in the job. Now serves as head of the influential Justice Select Committee. Accused by Brexiteers of being an anti-Theresa May plotter.
Constituency response: No reply.
Heidi Allen
South Cambridgeshire (38.4% Leave)
SAVAGED then-Chancellor George Osborne’s proposed tax credit cuts in her maiden Commons speech.
Has rebelled so many times whips no longer try to bring her onside.
Many Tory MPs doubt she is a Conservative at heart. Theresa May’s ex-chief of staff Nick Timothy yesterday revealed the PM had to prevent her being de-selected before the election.
Constituency response: Anger.