Dominic Raab tore into Theresa May's Brexit deal today - warning it comes 'pretty close to blackmail' of Britain.
He said he quit as Brexit Secretary as he was hoodwinked by last minute changes to the deal which were sprung on him in last week's stormy Cabinet meeting.
He said the hugely controversial deal thrashed out by Mrs May is simply not worth the £39billion Brexit divorce bill the country has agreed to hand over.
And he revealed he has been in talks with the 'gang of five' remaining Brexit Cabinet ministers - Andrea Leadsom, Michael Gove, Liam Fox , Penny Mordaunt and Chris Grayling - about how to improve the deal.
His fresh attack on the PM's Brexit plans came as Zac Goldsmith became the 24th Tory MP to publicly declare that he has sent his letter of no confidence in.
Mr Raab told the BBC's Andrew Marr show today: 'I do think we are being bullied, I do think we are being subjected to what is pretty close to blackmail frankly.
'I do think there is a point at which, we probably should have done it before, were we just say 'I'm sorry this is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, we cannot accept those dictated terms'.'
Mr Raab sent the PM's Government and into meltdown when he became the second Brexit to quit her team in just six months - and just weeks before the parliamentary vote on the deal.
His resignation sparked a attempted coup against the PM by Brexiteers who are desperately trying to get enough MPs to send letters of no confidence in to oust her.
Boris Johnson and David Davis are reportedly locked in talks to decide which one should be the 'Brexit candidate' to succeed Mrs May amid speculation her days are numbered.
Dominic Raab (pictured on the BBC's Andrew Marr show today) tore into Theresa May's Brexit deal today - warning it come 'pretty close to blackmail' of Britain
But as his party is in the throes of a bitter civil war, Mr Raab insisted that he still backs Mrs May as PM.
Addressing the frenzied leadership speculation and attempts to oust Mrs May, he said: 'It's a total distraction from what we need to do, we need to get Brexit over the line, we need to support our Prime Minister.
'I have got huge respect for her, I wrote that in my resignation letter, it is not flim-flam.
'I have worked very closely with her on Brexit and I think there is still the opportunity to get this right, support the PM - but she must also listen and change course on Brexit.'
But he said that he simply could not back a Brexit deal as he thought it threatened the union of the UK and risks keeping the UK trapped in the customs union forever.
And he said that in last week's crunch Cabinet, a change in the Brexit deal was sprung on him which showed the UK's future deal with the EU would be on the basis of the customs union agreement.
He said this would be 'debilitating for the economy and devastating for trust in our democracy given the promises we made at the last election'.
Mr Raab said he did not know who made the changes, adding: 'I don't know. I asked that question in Cabinet and I didn't get a particularly good answer.
'It was described as a drafting change, but it is very clear this future relationship would be based on this combination of the backstop.'
Mr Raab said that he had held talks with Cabinet ministers including Andrea Leadsom who want to make late changes to Theresa May's Brexit deal.
He told Marr: 'We have been talking over the last week intensely. Everyone wants to do the right thing and support the Prime Minister.'
Asked to confirm that talks had included Mrs Leadsom and other ministers thought to be working to introduce last-minute alterations, he added: 'I only resigned on Thursday morning so I can't say I have had extensive conversations.
'But I am willing to talk and be as constructive as I can.
'The difficulty for me is that I was being asked to go over to Brussels and sign on the bottom line with Michel Barnier on a deal which I said in good conscience I did not feel was right for the country.'
But while Mr Rabb says he is staying loyal, his dramatic resignation has plunged Mrs May's future as leader into serious doubt.
Leading Brexiteers Mr Davis and Mr Johnson - who have both long harboured leadership ambitions - are reportedly eyeing up a challenge.
Mr Johnson is planning to appoint Jacob Rees-Mogg - the Tory Brexiteer leading the putsch against the PM - as Chancellor if he becomes the new PM, the Sunday Express reported.
Meanwhile two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the Conservatives' election fortunes, with the Tories now trailing Jeremy Corbyn's Labour.
Last week saw the departure of Mr Raab and work and pensions secretary Esther McVey, plus the launch of a high-profile insurrection on the backbenches to remove Mrs May from office.
Amid ongoing talk of a plot to replace Mrs May through a confidence vote, one of her ministers said there is still time for 'more to be done' on the Brexit deal, despite an EU summit scheduled for November 25 to confirm it.
Former ministers David Davis (left) and Boris Johnson (right) are locked in talks to decide which one should be the 'Brexit candidate' to succeed Theresa May, it has been claimed
Two opinion polls suggested the week of chaos in Westminster has badly dented the election fortunes of the Conservatives amid an ongoing plot to topple Theresa May (pictured)
Mrs Leadsom, the Brexiteer Commons' leader, said she supports the Prime Minister but suggested there is an opportunity before the special European Council meeting to get 'the best possible deal for the UK'.
Mrs May responded to the crisis by bringing former home secretary Amber Rudd, who quit over the Windrush scandal, back into Cabinet to replace Ms McVey.
Steve Barclay took over as Brexit Secretary but with a reduced role which will see Downing Street handle the remaining negotiations.
Meanwhile Zac Goldsmith, the Richmond MP and failed Tory London mayoral candidate in 2016, revealed he has submitted a letter of no confidence.
He joins those who have sent a letter to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 committee of backbench MPs.
Middle East minister Alistair Burt warned rebels the 'consensus' that pro-EU MPs should respect the 2016 referendum result could break down if she is toppled.
Mr Burt said: 'Be very clear. If an agreed deal on leaving between the Govt and the EU is voted down by purist Brexiteers, do not be surprised if consensus on accepting the result of the referendum by Remain voting MPs breaks down.
'Parliament will not support no deal.'
Linkhienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/11/18/dominic-raab-says-theresa-may-has-failed-to-stand-up-to-eu-bullies/
Main photo article Dominic Raab tore into Theresa May’s Brexit deal today – warning it comes ‘pretty close to blackmail’ of Britain.
He said he quit as Brexit Secretary as he was hoodwinked by last minute changes to the deal which were sprung on him in last week’s stormy Cabinet...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2018/11/18/12/6338960-6401901-image-a-9_1542545516789.jpg
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