Theresa May facing pressure from all sides as indicative votes loom
Video report by ITV News Political Correspondent Paul Brand
Theresa May is facing pressure from Tory MPs over the best next steps for Brexit, with the suggested options appearing to be a soft exit, a no-deal outcome, a second referendum or, as the PM appeared to hint, a general election.
With MPs set to hold a second round of "indicative" votes on alternatives to May’s deal on Monday, Justice Secretary David Gauke said the MP cannot afford to ignore the will of Parliament if it unites around a "softer Brexit".
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His comments went against calls by 170 Tory MPs – including 10 members of the Cabinet – who wrote to Mrs May urging her reject an extension and take the UK out of the EU quickly as possible.
On the other hand, following the Brexit deal's third defeat in Parliament, Mrs May appeared to hint at a general election, warning MPs they were "reaching the limits of this process in this House".
MPs from both the pro-Brexit and pro-EU wings of the party warned they could face an electoral disaster if she goes to the country early.
Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan told The Observer: "If we have a general election before Brexit is resolved, it will only make things worse."
The other popular option being put forward is a second referendum, a motion which was supported by an estimated 570,000 protesters in London recently and has been backed by six million people in an online petition.
Despite Mrs May’s deal's third rejection, Downing Street has made clear that she intends to bring it back to the Commons for a fourth vote – possibly on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Mr Gauke said that while he believed it still remained the best option, the government had to accept that – so far – it did not have the numbers to get it through Parliament.
He said that if MPs did coalesce around a plan by veteran Tory Ken Clarke for a customs union – which came closest to securing a majority in the last round of votes – ministers should be prepared to consider it.
Mrs May has so far strongly rejected the idea of a customs union, saying it went against the Conservative general election manifesto and would prevent Britain striking trade deals around the world.
However Mr Gauke told BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show: “If Parliament is voting overwhelmingly against leaving the European Union without a deal but is voting in favour of a softer Brexit, then I don’t think it’s sustainable to ignore Parliament’s position and therefore leave without a deal.”
His comments come amid fears among Brexiteers that the indicative vote process – controlled by a cross-party group of MPs led by former minister Sir Oliver Letwin – will inevitably lead to a softer Brexit.
No 10 hopes that pressure will lead to more Brexiteers reluctantly backing Mrs May’s deal after it cut the majority against it from 230 and 149 in the first two votes to 58 on Friday.
Mr Gauke, who along with fellow pro-EU ministers Amber Rudd and Greg Clark, previously made clear he could not support a no-deal Brexit, said he would resign if that happened.
Mrs May's comment which appeared to suggest an early election was possible set alarm bells ringing among MPs who fear the party is in no state to fight an election.
She would effectively be a lame duck leader – having said she will stand down once she has got Brexit through – and voters would be voting “blind” not knowing who her successor would be.
Under the terms of the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, the Prime Minister needs a two-thirds majority in order to call an election.
However, after her disastrous decision to go to the polls early in 2017, Tory MPs made clear they would not be prepared to support her in doing so again.
Nigel Evans, executive secretary of the backbench Conservative 1922 Committee, said the Cabinet would block it.
“I don’t believe the Cabinet would allow her to do it,” he told the paper.
“Theresa May cannot call an election, she cannot be the leader who would lead us into it. The party would not tolerate it.”
Pro-EU backbencher Antoinette Sandbach, who backs a second referendum, told The Observer: “The answer is not a general election, and I would vote against that. We need to find a way forward in Parliament.”
Her comments were echoed by Mark Francois, the deputy chairman of the pro-Brexit European Research Group, who told the paper there was “not a chance” MPs would back an election under her leadership.
"Of course they wouldn’t – not after last time. And remember, she needs a super majority to do it," he said.
The warnings came as MPs prepared to take control again of the Commons timetable with a second series of “indicative” votes starting on Monday in attempt to find a alternative plan which can command a majority in the House.
Many Brexiteers fear the cross-party initiative – led by former minister Sir Oliver Letwin – will inevitably lead to a “softer” Brexit and a lengthy delay, or even no Brexit at all.
The letter from Tory MPs was said to have been signed by 10 members of the Cabinet – including Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and Home Secretary Sajid Javid – and 20 other ministers.
Conservative Party chairman Brandon Lewis confirmed the existence of the letter, saying: “I haven’t signed the letter. I do know about it.”
The letter followed a warning by the Prime Minister that an extended delay to Brexit was “almost certain” if her deal does not go through.
Following the defeat on Friday, she warned the Commons would not allow Britain to leave without a deal on April 12 – the new deadline set by the EU.
Any extension beyond that date would require Britain to take part in elections in May to the European Parliament – something Brexiteers are desperate to avoid.