Theresa May’s last-ditch attempt to push through her Brexit deal with a ‘new’ set of pledges is in tatters, with her own Tory MPs, Labour and the once loyal right-wing press all united in their opposition of the beleaguered UK PM.
No sooner had May outlined her new ‘compromise’ 10-point Brexit offering to the nation and parliamentarians on Tuesday afternoon, could the sound of knives sharpening be heard on the Tory backbenches – with calls for her to quit.
It has ostensibly been the prime minister's opening of the door on a second referendum that has really riled Tories across the board, from those previously loyal to May to the hardline Brexiteers.
Former London Mayoral candidate, Zac Goldsmith took to social media to unleash a scathing critique of May's deal with a second referendum as bait. He tweeted: “That it takes us towards a rigged referendum between her deal and no Brexit is just grotesque. The PM must go.”
I supported the PM’s rotten deal last time as I felt we could then draw a line and select a new PM to pick up the pieces.
But I cannot support this convoluted mess. That it takes us towards a rigged referendum between her deal and no Brexit is just grotesque.
The PM must go.
But I cannot support this convoluted mess. That it takes us towards a rigged referendum between her deal and no Brexit is just grotesque.
The PM must go.
Jacob Rees-Mogg, chair of the influential Tory Brexiteer group the European Research Group (ERG), also gave a damning verdict, claiming the PM's latest proposals were “worse than before.” While former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, who is hotly tipped to succeed May as prime minister, singled out the prospects of a customs union and second referendum as reasons he would vote it down.
The Prime Minister’s latest proposals are worse than before and would leave us bound deeply in to the EU. It is time to leave on WTO terms.— Jacob Rees-Mogg (@Jacob_Rees_Mogg) May 21, 2019
With great reluctance I backed MV3. Now we are being asked to vote for a customs union and a second referendum. The Bill is directly against our manifesto - and I will not vote for it. We can and must do better - and deliver what the people voted for.— Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) May 21, 2019
The front pages of Wednesday's papers made for grim viewing for May. You know when things are bad when the consistently loyal Daily Mail turn against you with their ‘Theresa's Gamble Too Far’ headline. Fellow right-wing paper, The Daily Telegraph, went with the brutal: ‘Desperate, deluded, doomed.’
Labour has been equally scathing of May's fresh proposals, with leader Jeremy Corbyn contesting that they were “basically a rehash of what was discussed before.” He raised the issue of May's weak position as leader, calling into question the “deliverability” of her new deal, adding that his party would not be supporting the Bill.
The End is Nigh?
It's increasingly apparent that the prime minister's position is becoming untenable. In a desperate last bid to please everyone, she has essentially pleased no-one. It was never going to be an easy task to unite a House of Commons with no overall majority for the government.
May has managed to push lawmakers further away and not closer to backing her deal. Her attempt at compromise has come at the end of the process, when it should have been instigated after the 2017 General election which produced a hung parliament.
The dark clouds appear to be circling above the besieged prime minister. The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports that “there is a new push to oust PM asap.” At Wednesday's meeting of the powerful Tory 1922 committee, there will be an attempt to change the rules to allow for another confidence vote in May, according to backbench MP Nigel Evans.
House of Commons leader Andrea Leadsom has resigned from the government, citing frustration with Prime Minister Theresa May’s latest Brexit plan and “dangerous” proposals such as the second referendum.
“I no longer believe that our approach will deliver on the referendum result,” Leadsom wrote in her resignation letter, handed to May on Wednesday. Leadsom stated that the chance of a second Brexit referendum – offered by May to MPs who agree to back her withdrawal agreement bill – is “dangerously divisive,” and could risk “undermining our union.”
“The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government’s position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility,” Leadsom, who had opposed any deal that may involve a customs union with the EU, added.
“The tolerance to those in Cabinet who have advocated policies contrary to the Government’s position has led to a complete breakdown of collective responsibility,” Leadsom, who had opposed any deal that may involve a customs union with the EU, added.
Leadsom’s departure comes not just at a critical time for May at home, but a critical time for her party in Europe. The Tories are already slated to perform poorly in Thursday’s European Parliament elections, with the party predicted to take around 12 percent of the vote. Labour aren’t in great shape either, forecast to win 18 percent.
Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party has surged in the polls, and is predicted to take 35 percent, more than Labour and the Conservatives combined.
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