Amber Rudd has warned Tories not to oust Theresa May if her Brexit plan is rejected, after the PM was told she would have to resign if the deal was defeated in the Commons.
The Secretary for Work and Pensions urged her party to remain loyal to Mrs May should the controversial exit package be voted down, saying there was 'no question' of the PM quitting.
Mrs Rudd backed the prime minister's deal and said she still thought it was the best option despite her comments about her preferred plan B, and the mounting opposition from more than 100 Tory MPs who have vowed to vote against it.
The Conservative MP criticised men at Westminster who 'seem to flounce out quite a lot', telling The Times: 'Everyone is looking for someone to blame while the only one actually trying to sort it out is the prime minister.'
She said that she felt a 'particular support for Theresa May as a woman to a woman', adding that: 'The men think they are standing on principles but they're not getting things done'.
Amber Rudd has warned fellow Tories not to oust Theresa May if her Brexit plan is rejected after the PM was told she would have to resign if the deal was defeated in the Commons
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme, Mrs Rudd said: 'The best deal we have is the one the prime minister's put forward.
'Most of us are coalescing behind it in order to try and deliver on the outcome of the referendum, the withdrawal agreement, the political declaration. I think that is the best compromise,' she said.
'What I've done is look ahead and seen that after that, if it doesn't get through, anything could happen, there could be all sorts of alternatives that could be thrown up, which is one of the reasons we need to back the prime minister in the vote on Tuesday.'
The former Home Secretary added: 'It's remarkable, I think, that she's managed to deliver on a plan which delivers on the outcome of the referendum, that gives us the best in terms of keeping close to the economy and addresses people's concerns, for instance, on fishery and immigration.
Theresa May (pictured above) will decide on Monday whether to pull the crunch Brexit vote amid intense pressure to push for a delay
'But, if that deal doesn't get through, anything else could happen. There's no other properly formed plan ready to take off the shelf and deal with. It could be chaotic after the withdrawal agreement, if it doesn't get through. Lots of different factions are saying they don't like it.
'But there isn't anything, I don't believe, that is better. The withdrawal agreement is the best option and will allow us to have the orderly departure, kind of over a period rather than immediately, which was always how I thought we'd have to deliver Brexit.
'But if it doesn't get through, anything could happen: people's vote, Norway-plus, any of these options could come forward. None of them are as good as the current arrangement we've got with the withdrawal agreement to vote on on Tuesday.'
Last night it was claimed the PM had been warned by several Brexit-backing aides that they are prepared to resign on Tuesday unless there are major changes to her deal.
Mike Wood, the parliamentary private secretary to Trade Secretary Liam Fox, told the Guardian he would quit and join leave-supporting backbenchers unless changes were made.
It is understood that other junior ministers have made similar representations and more were considering their positions.
Eurosceptic Iain Duncan Smith cautioned against Mrs May and her Cabinet deciding to 'brazen it out', saying such an approach would be a 'disaster'.
'How the PM responds after the vote matters more than anything else she has done,' he told the Daily Telegraph.
'I believe that if the response is, 'we've lost but we will do this all over again' it will become a leadership issue.
'I don't want it to be. If she and the Cabinet decide to brazen it out and simply say [a defeat of] anything under 200 is not as big as you think, then that would be a disaster.'
Julian Smith (pictured above) is set to present the Prime Minister with his final count of the number of Tory MPs on whose support she can rely
The paper reported Cabinet ministers have also warned Mrs May she would have to stand down if the deal is defeated and she fails to secure better terms from the European Union.
Last night Amber Rudd became the first Cabinet minister to openly discuss an alternative plan to Mrs May's deal.
The Work and Pensions Secretary told The Times a Norway-style arrangement 'seems plausible not just in terms of the country but in terms of where the MPs are'. A Norway option would keep Britain tied to most EU laws and rules, including free movement and vast annual contributions.
As many as ten senior ministers have privately discussed backing the option. However, one minister described it as 'absolutely horrendous', adding: 'It would split the party for a generation.
'It would also be the biggest betrayal of the British people. We're in real danger now.'
There were also signs last night that Labour is seeking to join forces with rebel Tories and the DUP to force Mrs May's resignation in a no-confidence vote if her Brexit plan is heavily defeated.
In public, Downing Street continued to insist yesterday that the vote on the withdrawal agreement would go ahead as planned.
Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom (pictured above) is also understood to be open to the idea of pulling the vote if there is a clear plan about what to do next
But privately aides acknowledged the Prime Minister would 'take stock' over the weekend at her country retreat of Chequers before reaching a decision.
A final media blitz is planned for the next 48 hours as Tory whips canvass MPs on their intentions. Mrs May will then sit down with her inner circle on Monday to make the call. At the meeting, Chief Whip Julian Smith will present her with his final count of the number of Tory MPs on whose support she can rely. In recent weeks more than 100 Tory MPs have signalled their opposition.
One Whitehall source said trying to convince rebels to fall in line was like 'shouting out of a window'. Last night, one Cabinet source said: 'If we're heading for three figures defeat then why go ahead with it?'
An amendment designed to limit the UK's stay in the Northern Ireland backstop appeared dead on arrival after it was blasted by the Democratic Unionist Party – which props up the Tories in the Commons – and Eurosceptics.
A poll also revealed that despite the chaos in Westminster, the parties are running neck and neck among the public. Both Labour and the Conservatives are on 38 per cent, according to the survey by Ipsos Mori.
Arlene Foster (pictured above) has said that 'domestic legislative tinkering won't cut it'
May loyalists are split over what the Prime Minister should do next. Some argue that pulling the vote now and seeking concessions from Brussels at a summit next Thursday – or trying to find a legislative route to satisfy MPs – is her only hope of getting the deal through.
Liz Truss, pudding on the style...
Much like Brexit, black pudding has its devoted fans – but others can't stomach it.
Cabinet minister Liz Truss managed to combine both yesterday with a visit to a butchery.
Liz Truss (pictured above) tries her hand at making black puddings
After posing with a black pudding, she claimed Theresa May's EU withdrawal agreement would give British foodmakers the chance to sell more overseas.
'There's a lot of demand for fantastic British products,' said the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on a visit to the Fruit Pig Company in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
But others say any attempt to reopen the deal would be a 'world of pain' and immediately prompt Spain, France and other countries to demand concessions on issues such as Gibraltar and fishing. Last night one senior Tory warned Eurosceptics that not voting for the deal would 'almost certainly' mean leaving on softer terms. 'Eventually you have to stare down the barrel,' said the source. 'There is no Parliamentary manoeuvre which hardens the options that we have now. They are going to have to choose.'
Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom is also understood to be open to the idea of pulling the vote if there is a clear plan about what to do next. Hardline Eurosceptics argue a huge defeat would send a signal to the EU that they would need to compromise.
The amendment, proposed by Tory loyalists, would give MPs a vote in 2020 over whether to enter the backstop or extend the transition period – and place a 'duty' on the government to have a workable alternative within a year. But backbench Tory Peter Bone told the BBC the amendment was 'absolutely meaningless'. He said: 'It's got no binding force.'
DUP Leader Arlene Foster said: 'Domestic legislative tinkering won't cut it.' Last night US vice president Mike Pence spoke of a 'strong partnership' after discussions about Brexit with Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
It appeared to boost the chance of a UK-US deal after Donald Trump last week indicated the EU deal would make it hard to achieve.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2018/12/08/amber-rudd-backs-pms-brexit-deal-and-urges-tory-loyalty/
Main photo article Amber Rudd has warned Tories not to oust Theresa May if her Brexit plan is rejected, after the PM was told she would have to resign if the deal was defeated in the Commons.
The Secretary for Work and Pensions urged her party to remain loyal to Mrs May should the controversial exit package be...
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/2018/12/08/10/7167046-6474135-image-a-1_1544266430193.jpg
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