Jacob Rees-Mogg and two other leading Brexiteers today revealed they would back Theresa May's Brexit deal hours after rebel MPs seized control of Britain's levers of power in an attempt to force a softer exit from the EU.
The Prime Minister has until Friday to pass her deal and secure an orderly exit from the EU - while ministers have threatened to call a general election if the chaos continues and they have a soft Brexit forced upon them in the coming weeks.
But the U-turns from Tories Mr Rees-Mogg, Michael Fabricant and James Gray may prove too late, with some of their hardcore Brexiteer colleagues including Mark Francois and the DUP still refusing to vote for the deal before Friday.
That could mean Brexit will slowly slip away, with MPs set to hold a series of indicative votes on Wednesday to choose their preferred option for Brexit and then try to force the result on May next week.
As things stand, Britain will leave the EU on May 22 if the Prime Minister's deal passes before Friday and April 12 if it does not.
The Prime Minister is now expected to address her MPs on Wednesday night, and speculation is high that she could offer to step down to get her deal over the line. Boris Johnson has already indicated that he could back the deal if she agrees to go.
The alternatives for May look bleak as rebel MPs next week plan to force her to adopt a softer Brexit - such as the so-called Norway option - by taking control of the Commons in a historic power grab.
As the Government's Brexit strategy went into meltdown yesterday, senior ministers 'war-gamed' scenarios that could see a general election called three years ahead of schedule because a soft Brexit would shred the Tory manifesto.
An election would cause fresh public uproar, with only 12 per cent of the public wanting one, according to the most recent polling.
The campaign would also likely tear apart the already split Tory and Labour parties because their MPs are bitterly divided over whether to leave the EU, compromise on a soft Brexit or to try to reverse the 2016 referendum and remain.
Arch-Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg today revealed he is ready to swing behind the Prime Minister's EU divorce and said: 'The choice seems to be Mrs May's deal or no Brexit. The Prime Minister will not deliver a No Deal Brexit. I have always thought that No Deal is better than Mrs May's deal, but Mrs May's deal is better than not leaving at all'.
Asked if that meant the options were now 'deal or potentially no Brexit', he told ConHome: 'That, I think, becomes the choice eventually. Is this deal worse than not leaving? No, definitely not. If we take this deal we are legally out of the EU. Being legally out is of great importance. It restores our independence'.
The ERG chairman's U-turn will give the PM a glimmer of hope that she could get her EU divorce over the line but she also needs to announce her own exit date if Boris Johnson and other Brexiteers will be convinced.
Mr Rees-Mogg's change of heart has already convinced others to change their minds with Michael Fabricant saying today: 'This is the dreadful conclusion I came to too' while James Gray, who has twice voted against Mrs May's deal saying: 'It's a horrible deal but I'll hold my nose and support it'.
There are now around 70 Tory MPs Mrs May still needs to convince before she can get her deal through - but yesterday she was forced to admit to the Commons she does not have 'the support' to try again and could even call a general election in a bid to break the deadlock.
With Theresa May desperately trying to gather support for her deal, it emerged today:
- Tomorrow night Theresa May will address the Tory party's 1922 committee of backbenchers - raising expectations she will announce her departure;
- Brexiteers are finally swinging behind the PM's EU divorce - but she still needs to convince at least 70 more Tories on both sides of the Brexit debate to change their minds;
- The DUP is refusing to budge and say the PM can have their support if the Irish backstop is 'changed or deleted';
- MPs will vote on the other Brexit options tomorrow night and have pledged to change the law to force the Government's hand if she tries to ignore their conclusions;
The PM also needs the DUP on side today but MP Jim Shannon said that while some ERG members are 'melting away' - 'nothing has changed' for his party.
He said: 'Some of them see Brexit as a greater priority than the union. We see the union as more important'.
'I’m going to wake up tomorrow morning with a broad grin on my face': Gloating Remainer rebel MP ringleader Nick Boles celebrates taking control of Brexit in another historic humiliation for May
Remainer Nick Boles has hailed a 'momentous' victory over his Prime Minister and said he would 'wake up smiling' today
Remainers are cock-a-hoop today after MPs wrestled control of Brexit from Theresa May last night with buoyant rebels hailing a 'momentous' victory and pledging to change the law if she tries to ignore them.
Theresa May warned the Commons yesterday they would be betraying those who voted to leave the EU before they voted to hold a series of votes that could determine how - if at all - the UK leaves the European Union.
Last night Tory Nick Boles called the result 'very exciting' and said: 'Do you know what? I'm going to wake up tomorrow morning with a broad grin on my face. I'm going to think — I finally live in a parliamentary democracy, where parliament is sovereign.'
Earlier in a statement to MPs, the Prime Minister warned she would not feel bound by the results of any indicative votes - which could include a softer, Norway-style deal, a second referendum or revoking the Article 50 withdrawal process altogether.
But Mr Boles warned that MPs would force Mrs May's hand with new legislation if she refused to do their bidding.
He told the BBC's Newsnight show: 'If the government refuses to listen to what Parliament has voted for we will bring forward a bill that will require it to reflect Parliament's wishes.'
Pro-Europe Tory MP Mr Boles, who backed the indicative votes amendment, added: 'It is a much better victory than any of us had dared hope.'
The Commons voted by 329 votes to 302 - a majority of 27 - to approve an amendment brought by Tory ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin allowing it to take control of business tomorrow from the Government.
This will allow MPs to select their favorite Brexit option in so-called 'indicative votes', which are likely to include soft Brexit options and the possibility of remaining in the European Union.
Three ministers were among 30 Tory rebels who defied the Prime Minister and backed the amendment or abstained.
The decision by the leader of the hardline European Research Group (ERG) would be a huge boost for the Prime Minister if the DUP come onside.
But that remains highly uncertain after the party's leader Arlene Foster yesterday effectively vetoed plans for another meaningful vote on the deal and the DUP rounded on Mrs May in the Commons.
Mr Rees-Mogg last night confirmed he had made the conditional pledge on backing the PM's deal at an ERG meeting in Westminster. Asked after the meeting whether he believed the DUP would come onboard, Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'The DUP want guarantees. It doesn't look like they've got them at the moment.
Asked again whether they might get them this week, he replied: 'Who knows.'
Should Mr Rees-Mogg come onboard, he is likely to take a number of other MPs with him.
Brexiteer Bob Seely tweeted: 'Am hearing from colleagues that this is - potentially - significant, that's how it's being portrayed. Maybe start of something - I hope so - but DUP still need to move.
'If they do, the Deal is back in business. Hope not a red herring.'
But the positive tone was not echoed by many of the others in the room, some of whom said the group was split 50-50.
DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson also set out in 'clear terms' last night to the ERG why he would yet not support the PM's deal, according to one of those present.
It came as a row broke out after the group of Brexiteers who visited Chequers yesterday were said to have nicknamed themselves the 'Grand Wizards'.
The reference quickly turned into a row as it is the name of some of the high-ranking members of the racist group the Ku Klux Klan. However the group quickly denied that they had given themselves the nickname. Mr Rees-Mogg said: 'We are not in the habit of giving ourselves names.'
The ERG met last night to discuss what approach to take on the deal, but there was little consensus as they left.
One said: 'Some of us were trying to make the rest see sense that if they don't vote for [the deal] now we will lose Brexit.'
But another said he was 'appalled and disgusted' by the process, adding: 'The British people won't forgive us [if they vote for the deal].
'If we give in we'll never know whether we could have achieved it. It's not worth capitulating now
I don't think the mood of country would be good.
'Sammy Wilson just spoke. He explained in really clear terms why he won't support it. He said it was unacceptable.'
There had been hope yesterday that the Brexiteers would be won over to back Mrs May's deal following their visit to Chequers on Sunday.
Iain Duncan Smith, Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Steve Baker, Dominic Raab and other key Brexiteers met yesterday morning to discuss their next moves, but did not reach a consensus.
Arch-Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg today revealed he is ready to swing behind the Prime Minister's EU divorce and said: 'The choice seems to be Mrs May's deal or no Brexit'. Brexiteer Michael Fabricant also admitted today that he has come to the 'dreadful conclusion' that he must also back the PM's deal
The defeated Prime Minister photographed leaving the Palace of Westminster last night after enduring yet another torrid day over Brexit
International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt (pictured today) warned last night that there would be 'gilet jaune' protests if the Governmnet failed to deliver Brexit
These are the seven options for Brexit MPs could vote on this week if Mrs May is forced towards a softer Brexit
Yesterday, Mrs May faced attacks from the DUP's deputy leader Nigel Dodds yesterday in the Commons after she said more time was needed to prepare Northern Ireland for the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.
Mr Dodds said the Government was 'entirely responsible' for what he described as a 'fundamental lack of preparation.'
Rebel MPs voted to seize control of Brexit from the embattled Prime Minister last night, despite warnings from the Government that continued chaos will force it to call another general election.
Three pro-EU ministers quit the Government to back a Commons amendment enabling MPs to take control of Commons business to stage a series of 'indicative votes' on alternatives to the Prime Minister's deal tomorrow.
However, Mrs May has warned the government is not bound to honour the result of the indicative votes as they 'could lead to an outcome that is unnegotiable with the EU'.
As the Government's Brexit strategy went into meltdown, senior ministers 'war-gamed' scenarios that could see a national poll called three years ahead of schedule because a soft Brexit would shred the Tory manifesto.
But the most recent poll on the issue was carried out by Opinium two months ago found that only 12 per cent of Britons would welcome another general election.
The campaign would also likely tear apart the already split Tory and Labour parties because their MPs are already bitterly divided over whether to leave the EU or to reverse the 2016 referendum and remain.
Business minister Richard Harrington, who resigned along with Middle East minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine, said the Government was 'playing roulette' with peoples' lives and livelihoods in its handling of Brexit.
Mr Brine told the BBC: 'I will still, as I said in my letter to the Prime Minister. I will still support her deal. I still think it is the best of the options. Maybe what last night will do is focus some minds... those on my side who don't like the deal, maybe they will realise that the House of Commons is prepared to act.
'And, anything from here, as far as they are concerned, gets softer in terms of Brexit.'
Mr Brine said: 'If the House of Commons just simply cannot come up with anything to move us out of this then everything is on the table.
'You have to accept that a second referendum or revoking Article 50 are on the table because they will probably be some options.'
Mr Brine told the BBC: 'You also have to remember that the manifesto of 2017 did not win a majority in the House of Commons.
'And this is the crux of the whole matter, that the House of Commons and executive-led Government works when you have got a majority in the House of Commons.
'We don't have a majority in the House. And, possibly, that would be one of my criticisms of my Government is that we haven't reached across the aisle enough.'
The result means MPs can potentially dictate business of the Commons - normally controlled by the Government - for days to come, potentially paving the way for a 'softer' deal that keeps Britain closer to the EU.
Ministers will consider their response at the weekly meeting of the Cabinet in Downing Street today.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on MPs to back Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'If anything, yesterday in the House of Commons demonstrated that the option of no deal simply won't be allowed by the Commons.
'And the best way through this impasse is the one deal that has been negotiated with the EU that can be delivered quickly now.'
Mr Hancock said: 'Clearly, it's incumbent on the Government to listen to what the Commons says. But we can't pre-commit to following whatever they vote for, because they might vote for something that is completely impractical.'
In other developments:
- Penny Mordaunt warned fellow Cabinet ministers that the Government could face an outbreak of French-style 'gilet jaune' protests if it failed to deliver Brexit;
- Former Cabinet minister John Whittingdale became the most senior Tory to warn publicly that he would back Mrs May only if she agreed to set out a timetable for her own departure;
- Mrs May sparked a backlash from Eurosceptic Tories by warning of a 'slow Brexit' if her plan is rejected again – and appearing to rule out No Deal;
- The Prime Minister voiced regret for her attack last week on 'game-playing' MPs;
- Downing Street said that the Commons would be asked to vote tomorrow on whether to change the law to extend the UK's exit date until at least April 12.
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay arrives in Downing Street after a humbling defeat for the Government in the Commons last night
Brexiteer Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss arrives for the crunch cabinet meeting where Theresa May will need to set out what she needs to do to get her deal through
The cabinet is split over Brexit with Business Secretary Greg Clark Minister of State for Immigration Caroline Nokes pushing for the remain side
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox told a meeting of the Cabinet that failure to pass Mrs May's plan in the coming weeks would almost inevitably lead to an election.
Writing in the Daily Mail, he today makes a last-ditch appeal to hardline Leavers to get behind Mrs May – or face losing Brexit altogether. Two weeks ago his legal advice led many Tory MPs to reject the withdrawal agreement because of fears the UK could remain in the Irish border backstop.
But today he argues the plan's disadvantages have been 'exaggerated and demonised' by opponents of Brexit.
If MPs do not vote for the agreement in the coming days, he says the Commons will 'exert itself' and try to force either a second referendum, or a plan that keeps the UK inside the customs union and single market.
He warns 'powerful and unreconciled forces' who opposed Brexit were still trying to stop it and says his biggest fear is the UK will never regain its 'independence'.
He says: 'We must grasp our freedom now and heed the beckoning call of the future, for if we do not, history will marvel that we spurned this fleeting moment of opportunity.'
At yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay repeated his weekend warning that an election would be the logical conclusion of the Government losing control over the Brexit process.
Fellow ministers Liam Fox, Andrea Leadsom and Alan Cairns also warned that they believed an election was increasingly likely.
One source said: 'If we lose control of the process then we are heading for an election.
'We'll either lose a confidence vote – in which case you could even get Corbyn without an election – or we will be forced to go for an election ourselves.'
Another source said: 'It's not just scaremongering, it's the only way out of this.'
A Downing Street spokesman said that Mrs May was opposed to a general election.
But a senior Tory source acknowledged it was a growing possibility, adding: 'The reason the Cabinet is so determined to get this deal through is that there is a full understanding that the alternatives are pretty grim.'
Theresa May indicated in the Commons earlier today that she would allocate Government time for indicative votes if the Letwin Amendment was defeated
The historic moment the Government lost the Letwin amendment by 329 votes to 302, a whopping majority of 27 for the rebels. The last time a similar vote was held a fortnight ago it lost by two votes
No one wants another election! Only 12 PER CENT of the public say they want to go to the polls - but ministers say they WILL call one if MPs try to force a soft Brexit
Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay leaving Downing Street with Theresa May today after cabinet, at which he is said to have again floated the idea of holding a General Election
The Government is prepared to pull the plug and force a General Election if MPs try to seize control of Brexit and make it softer than Theresa May's deal.
Ministers including Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay are said to have raised the prospect if Parliament votes this evening to wrestle control of the withdrawal process.
The talk of forcing a General Election come despite an Opinium poll from two months ago finding that only 12 per cent of Britons would welcome another one, just two years after the last resulted in a hung Parliament.
Mr Barclay reportedly repeated at Cabinet today warnings he gave on television yesterday.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show he said that if the Commons took control of the order paper and votes for a different outcome, it would 'potentially collide with fundamental commitments the Government has given in their manifesto', though he said the vote itself would 'not be binding'.
Explaining the scenario, he said: 'What Parliament has done is vote for a number of contradictory things so we would need to untangle that but ultimately, at its logical conclusion, the risk of a general election increases because you potentially have a situation where Parliament is instructing the executive to do something that is counter to what it was elected to do.'
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox this morning gave a stark warning to MPs, telling BBC Radio 4's Today: 'I was elected, as 80 per cent of members were, to respect the referendum and leave the European Union.
'I was also elected on a manifesto that specifically said no single market and no customs union.
'That, for Conservative MPs who are honouring the manifesto, limits their room for manoeuvre.
The former hardline Brexiteer turned May loyalist added that the prospect of a longer Brexit delay meaning participation in May's European Elections would 'unleash a torrent of pent-up frustration from voters'.
'I'm not sure that there are many people in the House of Commons who would fancy that particular meeting with voters,' he said.
'It would unleash a torrent of pent-up frustration from voters and I think that the major parties will do what they can to avoid having to fight those European elections.
'There is nothing in politics like a little bit of self-interest to concentrate the minds, and I think, as we get towards that date, increasingly my colleagues will have to decide which of the limited options they want to follow.'
He urged MPs to back Mrs May's deal, warning: 'For a lot of my colleagues, I think they still believe there is a route to no deal. I have come to the conclusion some time ago that was unlikely given the House of Commons that we have.
'I think we will see today that there is a mood in the House of Commons to stop us leaving without a deal, even if that means no Brexit. I think that is a constitutionally disastrous position.'
Mrs May told yesterday's emergency Cabinet meeting that she hoped to put her agreement to the vote for a third time today.
But the move was vetoed by the DUP, whose support is seen as critical in persuading Eurosceptic Tories to fall in line.
The Prime Minister told MPs: 'With great regret I have had to conclude that as things stand, there is still not sufficient support in the House to bring back a third meaningful vote.'
Mrs May's deputy David Lidington last night said the Government still hoped to hold a vote this week. But the DUP appeared to be digging in. Deputy leader Nigel Dodds rounded angrily on Mrs May in the Commons yesterday after she said more time was needed to prepare Northern Ireland for the possibility of No Deal.
Mr Dodds said the Government was 'entirely responsible' for what he described as a 'fundamental lack of preparation'.
Plans for the Government to put forward its own proposals for indicative votes were dropped ahead of yesterday's meeting. Many ministers, including Dr Fox, Chris Grayling, Gavin Williamson and Mrs Leadsom, are opposed to the process. But Mr Lidington tried to head off a defeat last night by pledging that the Government would provide Commons time for MPs to try to reach an agreement on an alternative Brexit.
Sir Oliver told MPs his plan, which has been rejected by MPs twice since the start of the year, would allow Parliament to vote tomorrow on a string of Brexit options. These might include a customs union, a single market, a second referendum and even revocation of Article 50.
Mrs May said she was sceptical that the process would find a solution, adding: 'No government could give a blank cheque to commit to an outcome without knowing what it is.' Asked whether she would be prepared for a customs union if Parliament backed it, she replied: 'No one would want to support an option which contradicted the manifesto on which they stood.'
Labour backed Sir Oliver's plan. But its Brexit spokesman, Sir Keir Starmer, also refused to guarantee to back any resulting proposal.
Sir Oliver's move to give MPs control over the path to Brexit attracted cross-party support and won by a convincing margin in the Commons to heap fresh pressure on Theresa May
Rebel MPs seize control of Brexit: Three ministers quit on night of drama in the Commons as 30 Tories defy May
MPs wrestled control of Brexit from the hands of Theresa May last night, voting to hold a series of votes that could determine how - if at all - the UK leaves the European Union.
The Commons voted by 329 votes to 302 - a majority of 27 - to approve an amendment brought by Tory ex-minister Sir Oliver Letwin allowing it to take control of business on Wednesday from the Government.
This will allow MPs to select their favorite Brexit option in so-called 'indicative votes', which are likely to include soft Brexit options and the possibility of remaining in the European Union.
Three ministers were among 29 Tory rebels who defied the Prime Minister and backed the amendment.
Minutes before the vote Watford's Richard Harrington quit as an energy minister in order to support the Letwin plan, accusing the Government of 'playing roulette' with people's lives.
He was followed by Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt and health minister Steve Brine.
Other high profile Tories to rebel included former ministers Ken Clarke, Nicky Morgan, Justine Greening, Andrew Mitchell, Sam Gyimah, Damian Green, Alberto Costa and Dominic Grieve, plus Damian Collins, chairman of the Culture Committee.
The Government later lost the main motion by 327 votes to 300, the same margin.
It came after MPs had narrowly rejected a backbench amendment brought by Dame Margaret Beckett to allow the Commons to have a vote if the UK is seven days away from leaving the EU without a deal, by 314 votes to 311, a majority of three.
Pro-Europe Tory MP Nick Boles, who backed the indicative votes amendment, told the BBC: 'It is a much better victory than any of us had dared hope.'
Mr Boles added: 'We will be relying on the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes.
'If, ultimately, the Government refuses to listen to what Parliament has voted for then we will look to bring forward a Bill, pass an Act of Parliament that will require the Government to reflect Parliament's wishes in its new negotiating mandate.'
Fellow Tory rebel Guto Bebb said: 'The scale of the Government's defeat and the principled resignations of ministers Richard Harrington, Alistair Burt and Steve Brine are more nails in the coffin of a Brexit deal that very few in the country or Parliament have ever wanted.
'The Prime Minister has now lost control of this process.
'What is needed now in this national emergency is not more posturing or playing roulette with people's lives but to give Parliament the time and space needed to work out what Brexit means, as well as begin preparing for important democratic elections to the European Parliament.'
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also welcomed the result, hailing the fact the House had now 'taken control'.
He said: 'This Government has been an abject failure and this House must now find a solution...
'This House must also consider whether any deal should be put to the people for a confirmatory vote.
'Where this Government has failed, this House must, and I believe will, succeed.'
Tory former minister Ed Vaizey voted both for and against Sir Oliver's amendment, which is regarded as a formal abstention.
Brexiteer Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen said it was time for Theresa May to quit.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/26/mogg-leads-a-new-brexiteer-climbdown-but-is-it-too-late-to-save-brexit/
Main photo article Jacob Rees-Mogg and two other leading Brexiteers today revealed they would back Theresa May’s Brexit deal hours after rebel MPs seized control of Britain’s levers of power in an attempt to force a softer exit from the EU.
The Prime Minister has until Friday to pass her deal and...
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/2019/03/26/11/11464270-6851149-Remainer_Nick_Boles_has_hailed_a_momentous_victory_over_his_Prim-a-41_1553598996691.jpg
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